The Old Man of Coniston is, to some, the jewel in the crown of the Southern Fells. Standing proud above Coniston Water and the beautiful namesake village, the mountain makes for a shapely peak with gentle sloping sides reaching down to the valley below when viewed from the south and east. However, there is some excellent mountain terrain to enjoy around the Old Man with glacial corries and tarns, foreboding crags and scree slopes.
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It is possible to link up at least two further neighbouring summits with ease, which is exactly what we will be doing on this walk. However, if time, weather and overall group ability allow, there is a chance to add up to three extra peaks onto the walk. This is not guaranteed and will depend on my judgement on the day.
​​The overall distance of the core route is 13 kilometres, or just over 8 miles, with 900 metres of ascent and the walk is expected to take up to 8 hours at a steady pace. Extended versions may amount to 17.5km with a whopping 1,350 metres of ascent.
This outing does involve some steep hillside paths and rugged terrain, previous hill walking experience and a moderate level of fitness is required to take part in this activity.
The route is intended to start at the Herdwick Cafe in Coniston village centre. This provides the opportunity walk up through beautiful woodland beside Levers Water Beck and past the Miners' Bridge, now a modern footbridge but one a well used pack horse bridge that allowed for transportation of copper ore down to local mills and further afield.
There is a steep climb up to Coniston Old Man but it is very interesting as old mining buildings are passed as well as spectacular post glacial features at higher elevation. In good weather conditions the view from the summit is spectacular, especially over to the Scafell Group.
From here there may be a traverse to Brim Fell and Swirl How, heading down the Prison Band, past Levers Water and through the old Copper Mines. The whole route is perfect to inspire lots of informative discussion about the industrial and natural history of the area.
Extra summits may be included ONLY if appropriate.
SUMMITS "BAGGED" ON THIS WALK:
CONISTON OLD MAN (803m)
BRIM FELL (796m)
SWIRL HOW (802m)
POTENTIAL EXTRAS:
DOW CRAG (778m)
GREAT CARRS (785m)
WEATHERLAM (762m)
NOT GUARANTEED - WILL DEPEND ON WEATHER, TIME AND GROUP ABILITY AT WALK LEADER'S DISCRETION.
​Important details about this specific activity.
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The core route accrues 13km, or just over 8 miles, with 900m ascent.
Extended versions, only if deemed appropriate, could reach 17.5km with 1,350m ascent.
The outing is expected to take up to 8 hours​.
A steady, moderate pace is required to complete the activity in good time.
It is necessary to have previous hill walking experience and a moderate level of fitness to take part in this activity.
There are steep, rocky hillside slopes on both ascent and descent paths. Some areas may require a hands-on approach.
If an individual is for any reason unsure of their ability, please email moorstomountains@gmail.com to discuss things further before making a booking.
If the walk leader observes a concern with fitness levels of an individual participant,
it may be necessary for that person to return the start of the activity for their own safety, where it is safe to do so.
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This activity requires sturdy boots or trail shoes with stiff soles. NOT trainers, approach or trail shoes with soft soles.
Please refer to the Moors to Mountains Footwear, Clothing and Equipment Requirements.
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Certain breeds of dog are welcome to attend by prior arrangement only.
Children and young people over the age of 14 are welcome to attend with a parent or guardian by prior arrangement.
Please bear in mind that the activity duration is calculated based on average walking speeds over the types of terrain encountered and previous occurrences of this specific route. The activity may be completed in a quicker or longer time than expected based on individual fitness levels within the group.
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It should be mentioned that weather in the Lake District can be unpredictable at all times of the year and so it isn't possible to guarantee excellent views on every walk. It may be necessary for the walk leader to change the itinerary of the route for safety or other reasons, meaning that is is not possible to included certain advertised objectives.
Unless there is a safety concern posed by the weather forecast, activities will go ahead regardless of conditions.
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Please see the Moors to Mountains Terms and Conditions before booking.
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​​Meeting point and transport information.
​The activity meeting point is Herdwicks Cafe in Coniston village (LA21 8DU).​​
Participants should meet at the time advertised on the booking page. You will be contacted if there are any changes.
The Bluebird Car Park is adjacent to the cafe with pay and display or Ring Go options.
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There are frequent, reliable bus services from Ambleside, Hawkshead and other neighbouring villages, with good connections to Windermere, Kendal and beyond.
Various accommodation is available in the vicinity of Coniston, Torver, Hawkshead and Ambleside, including camping, hostels, B&B's. It is advisable to book accommodation well in advance to avoid disappointment.
Please ask me if you need advice on where to stay or transport links.
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What to expect when booking a professionally
guided activity with Colin from Moors to Mountains.
A friendly and supportive group ethic is promoted on all activities.
It is normal for participants to feel anxious or nervous about joining a guided walk for the first time, meeting new people or just stepping out of their usual comfort zone. This is normal. Please try to remember that other people in the group will likely be feeling the same, and I can assure all participants that they will be making new friends and feeling comfortable in the surroundings in no time.
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Knowledge and enthusiasm is shared throughout the activity.
Not only am I here to keep you safe and lead the group, I like to engage all participants in interesting conversation. Whether we are visiting a site with interesting geology and natural features or perhaps somewhere of historic significance, I like to make sure participants go away having learned something new. And as an environmentalist and lover of the outdoors, it is my mission to try and pass on my passion and knowledge to all who sign up to a Moors to Mountains activity.
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Safety, motivation and attentiveness is guaranteed.
All Moors to Mountains activities are designed for smaller parties. The number of participants that is allowed will depend on the terrain of each specific activity. Suitable group sizes allow me to give each individual client the maximum attention throughout an activity, whether this is to answer questions, provide some guidance or physical assistance.
My promise is to deliver a high level of care and individual attentiveness to each member of the group.
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It is not a race, everybody is here to enjoy the activity!
The benefit of booking onto my activities for small groups for many participants is that the reasonable pricing makes joining a qualified, knowledgeable and experienced Mountain Leader to be more affordable. However, participants in each group are likely to be of mixed abilities. All participants will move together as a group and support each other throughout the activity. If you are a very fit and fast hill walker and would like to experience more of a physical challenge, I am available for private bookings that may be more enjoyable for you than my usual group activities that are at a moderate or even gentle pace.
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I am qualified, insured and experienced in the mountains and hills of the UK.
As your guide, I am a qualified and insured Mountain Leader registered with the British Mountaineering Council and Mountain Training Association. I will only ever operate in areas where I have experience of the terrain and local knowledge. I have also volunteered with my community walking group for since 2011, where I have organised and led innumerable walks and expeditions across the whole of northern England, many areas of Scotland and Eryri/Snowdonia in North Wales. I also have a lot of personal experience in walking, wild camping and completing solo expeditions in these areas.
In that time, I have been lucky enough to spend time out on the hills and mountains with many people of different backgrounds and abilities. This experience has enabled me to develop an extensive knowledge of particular outdoor areas, and a penchant for designing routes that are both scenic and interesting. There are often places of historical or geological interest along the way and I enjoy sharing my knowledge of the landscape, history, industry, wildlife and geology.
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​Once a place has been booked on any activity.
I will personally contact each participant by email with any relevant information to the specific activity. The booking system will email participants a ticket but there is no need to present this when attending an activity. Participants will be sent thorough information and a Participation Consent Form that should be completed in good time before any activity takes place. This will ask for important medical information, important contact details and also request consent for me to give first aid where necessary, take any photographs (or not) and anything else relevant.
Participants are advised to take out their own travel insurance for any booked activity, accommodation, travel costs and any other expenses involved in attending the booked activity in the event of cancellation or unforeseen personal circumstances preventing attendance.
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Thank you for reading and I hope to see you on the activity.
COLIN - MOORS TO MOUNTAINS.