A very rewarding walk with really incredible views! Not an easy one but various return options after reaching the top to shorten the route.
Distance – 10.3km not an easy walk for little ones, includes some scrambling. Recommended for experienced little hikers. There are versions of the route we took, see below
Highest Point – 802m Old Man of Coniston, 778m Dow Crag, 682m Brown Pike
Food – shops in Coniston
Toilets – public toilets in Coniston
Parking – you can park at Walna Scar Car Park, this is at the base of the Old Man so misses the just “getting to the walk” walk from Coniston. If you park at Coniston it is a good long walk up to the car park!
Note- make sure you have maps (this route is not a replacement for a map/gps), suitable clothing, food, water and first aid kit. Always be prepared for changes in the weather and circumstances.
The Route
There are various loops you can walk, or just out and return. We planned to go up and back down past Goat’s Water however when we got to the top of the Old Man of Coniston the draw of Dow Crag, Buck Pike and Brown Pike was too much to not keep going!
From Walna Scar Car Park take the wide, well marked track.
The track takes you past Low Lake and is easy to follow.
There are some great industrial ruins along the way.
As you head further up the track becomes more uneven and steeper with areas to scramble up to the summit.
The track takes you right to the summit, where’s there’s a great cairn and you might even see some snow too! Make sure you take the time to stop and soak in the views, they really are breathtaking and something else on this walk, well worth the climb.
From the top there are various routes back down depending how far you would like to walk. You can head back down the same way if you prefer, we tend to like a loop and had intended to head back down via Goat’s Water but after having chatted to a lady with her dog near the summit we decided to carry on over Dow Crag and make the most of our time now we were at the top. This does add to the route and there is a longer walk back along Walna Scar Road
Note- if heading round Dow Crag, Buck Pike and Brown Pike there are scrambling sections that are extremely close to the edge where we took one child through at a time to be safe.
The views along this section are absolutely amazing, you really are up in the mountains with incredible views all around, well worth the walk with little legs.
Follow along the ridge until the clear path down Walna Scar Road.
This is a long walk back along the track, at least it’s down hill! Just keep following it all the way back to the car park. A walk that you will remember for the views of not the feeling of satisfaction!
Just A Normal Mum 