Dow Crag and the Old Man of Coniston

2555 feet & 2633 feet

Date                    20/6/2009

Walk done by:  Susan, Paul, Jed, Ceri, Meg, Jack, Sam. Paul and Pam Aldren, Naeem & Hanna & Ruby

Weather:            Occasional light rain to start then brightening up

Distance             8.0 miles.

Started at:          The Sun Hotel, Coniston

After meeting in The Sun and having a very nice coffee, we set off up the steep Walna Scar Road. As it began to level off the first of several light showers started. We took lunch at Cove Bridge, before the climb to Brown Pike. Although there were a few distant points of brightness, we seemed to be continually in gloom, especially so as we reached the top of the Walna Scar Road and lost all visibility as we entered the low cloud.

However as we neared the summit of Brown Pike, the cloud thinned and visibility improved slightly, but not enough to reveal any views. Upon reaching Buck Pike the occasional misty view started to appear and by the time Dow Crag was reached we were getting good views in all directions. The last time I walked the Dow Crag it was done in heavy mist and we got no views whatsoever - this time thankfully we did see Blind Tarn below Brown Pike, and we did see Goats Water glistening a little at the foot of Dow Crag, and we did see the spectacular views across the Duddon Valley to Caw and the coast beyond. It is a wonderful ridge.

Leaving Dow Crag, we descended to Goats Hause and then began the 510 feet climb to The Old Man of Coniston's summit. Views were now very good with the cloud base at around 3000 ft. After a brief stop at the summit, the highest point of old Lancashire, we started the steep zig zag descent to Low Water and Coniston beyond. Surprisingly, Susan, who is usually overtaken by snails when descending, went down like a jack rabbit.

Finally, 6.5 hours later, after ascending 2900ft, and descending 2900 feet, we entered the Sun Hotel again. This time it wasn't coffee, but a well earned pint followed by a very very nice meal.

Thanks to EVERYONE for making it a day I thoroughly enjoyed. Special praise must go to Meg and her two sons for driving up from Stafford, and to Hanna, who for her age did remarkably well, and to Pam and Paul, who didn't give up finding us when we lost our mobile signal.

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View looking east from the Walna Scar Road minutes after leaving the Sun Hotel

 

 

Another view of the Coniston fells from Walna Scar Road

 

It's dull and dank as we progress along the Walna Scar Road

 

 

Jack, Sam, Ruby, Meg and Paul on Walna Scar Road

 

The beck above Cove Bridge

 

Lunch was taken at Cove Bridge. Here we are ready to set off.

In view are Paul, Paul, Pam with Hanna behind her, Naeem, Ceri, Ruby Susan, Meg, Jack and Sam

The shelter near the top of the Walna Scar Road. Wainwright said of it, "Just big enough for one, or a honeymoon couple".

 

Jack, Paul, Ruby, Ceri, Susan and Sam on Brown Pike summit

 

Jack, Paul and Ruby on Brown Pike

 

Sam and Paul on Brown Pike

 

Shortly after leaving Brown Pike gaps in the cloud started to appear. Blind Tarn, at the foot of Brown Pike was first to appear. Blind Tarn gets its name from the fact that it is only one of a very few number of tarns that have no outflow.

 

But the cloud was still there. Here are Pam and Paul in the mist waiting for the rest of us to catch up

 

Ruby at Buck Pike, There's still mist around but there are signs of improving weather

 

Here is another break in the cloud. This time the path to Goats Water is revealed way below us

..and there is Goats Water

 

Suddenly appearing in the murk was the steep rock face of Dow Crag

 

And for the first time, The Duddon Valley makes it's first appearence

Jack, Sam and Paul attempt to reach the suspended stone slab

 

And around the same time, the whole ridge suddenly appeared out of nowhere

 

Looking down Great Gully

 

Pam and Paul approch the "hole in the wall" on the ascent to Dow Crag

 

Paul, Susan, Jack and Sam approach Dow Crag summit

 

....and get ever nearer

 

Looking down Dow Crag's North Gully

 

Sam and Jack head for Goats Hause, with Far Gill as a back drop

 

Sam, Jack and Susan on the path to Goats Hause

 

Paul and Naeem looking happy. (Naeem is probably telling his "calculator" story to Paul (yet again) Pam and Paul follow behind.

 

Smiles all round

 

Then the mist re-appeared. Here Pam, Paul Meg and Ceri are descending Dow Crag for Goats Hause

 

Then it was back to breaks in the cloud, and the lovely Caw and the Duddon Valley appear.

 

The view of Coniston Water from the descent to Goats Hause

 

Ceri, Meg, Pam and Paul nearing Goats Hause

 

Cloud would rem ain a threat all day. Here the Duddon Valley appears.

 

The OMC from the col

 

Another view of Coniston water

 

The final section of the descent to Goats Hause

 

The ridge to Swirl How

 

Susan and Paul approach the col

 

The Old Man of Coniston and the path from Goats Water

 

Goats Water and Coniston Water in the distance

 

Some of our group wait at the col before the 510 feet climb to Coniston Old Man's summit

 

Hanna begins the climb

 

.... as do Paul and Pam

 

The Dow Crag Ridge, the skyline was our path up

 

Paul, Susan and Pam head for the final summit of the day

 

Ceri and Meg ascending the path from Goats Hause

 

Ceri and Meg

 

Hanna, Naeem, Ceri and Meg reach the Old Man's ridge

 

Coniston Water from near the Old Man's summit

 

The Old Man of Coniston's summit, nearly there now!

 

People looking like ants on the ridge and summit

 

Below is the path to Levers Water

 

Low Water and the Coppermines Valley

 

Climbers ascending the direct path from Coniston

 

Sam and Ceri approach the summit

 

Pam and Paul on the summit

 

Hanna and Naeem at the Trig point on TOMC

 

The steep drop to Low Water - our route of descent

 

Pam looks at the Staffie crossed with a Border Terrier - it's not often you see a bearded Staffie!

 

...and Ruby makes friends with him

 

the scene at the summit

 

The Victorian steam gondola 2500 ft below us on Coniston Water

 

Susan and Paul begin the long and steep descent

 

...as do Naeem, Hanna, Meg, Ceri and Pam

 

Zooming in on Meg, Paul and Pam

 

Meg on the descent to Low Water

 

A tiny Susan and Paul approach Low Water

 

Zooming in on them

 

Leaving Low Water we entered the disused mine workings

 

....where Meg and ceri plot their way through the spoil heaps
...and after a few pints and a lovely meal I was treated to a view of Naeem's right ear for 60 miles
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