| Name of walk | Coniston Old Man |
| Date of walk | 2015-12-29 |
| Distance walked (miles) | 7 |
| Duration of walk | 4 hours 30 minutes |
| Weather | Low cloud |
| Peaks on walk | Coniston Old Man |
| Walked with | Ged and blind Kas |
| Parking | Car park ar start of Walna Scar Road |
There was yet another storm forecast for Tuesday night, so we decided to try and get a walk in before it arrived. With the recent relentless rain and gales it has been ages since we have been able to get out. Our choices were limited as we can no longer access mountains on the other side of Dunmail Raise. We needed somewhere dry and rocky, so chose the walk up to Coniston Old Man via Low Water and down via Goat’s Water. Only 6.8 miles, but with lots to see on the way up and an easy route to tackle if you are out of walking practice. We made an early start and parked in the car park at the start of the Walna Scar Road. Three cars were already there.
The early morning sunshine brings out the colours of the bracken. We head up past The Bell on the right. The cloud is well down.
Looking back at the sunrise.
View back to the car park and Coniston Water.
We head ever upwards.
Still hoping that the cloud will lift with the wind and some of that sunshine will come our way.
We head up beside the slate pile.
It is like looking up at one massive game of Jenga. Dislodge the wrong piece of slate and its 'Game Over'.
View back down the path towards Coppermines Valley.
The old mine buildings.
View from the edge down to the valley and Coniston Water.
Mine entrance.
Just off the main track on the left is a much larger old mine entrance.
Looking straight down a mine shaft.
View from further in the tunnel. The end is blocked off as I have explored this before, but today the rocks are wet and slippery so we go no further.
Back out again, we see our route up through the slate on the other side of this fallen pylon.
Sunshine on the slopes of Black Sail and Wetherlam.
Looking back down on some more mine buildings.
View into an old quarry.
Sunshine in Coppermines Valley.
Low Water.
We continue up the track.
We ascend into the clouds. No more views.
Ged and Kas on Coniston Old Man summit.
Kas and me by the O.S. Cairn. We have to imagine the views!
We head along the ridge then take a left down in the direction of Goat's Hawse
At Goat's Hawse we take a left and head down towards Goat's Water. This is the moment that we can finally see where we are. Goats Water, and above that is the sunshine that has been shining on the Furness peninsula while we have been getting soggy in the mist!
We are now just below the clouds. That's much better!
We will stop at the tarn for a bite to eat.
Our lunch spot.
Quite a few people are on their way up. Looking back along Goat's Water.
We head towards the light, which looks quite dramatic with the mist rolling down off Dow Crag above.
A small window of sunlight.
Out on the track that leads back to the Walna Scar Road around the base of The Old Man.
View back to the corrie that contains Goat's Water.
Hill regression. We continue back to our car. The car park is packed. Cars are parked all the way up the quarry track. I'm glad we got an early start! The walk took us four and a half hours.
The important family members at Christmas. Felix, Peaches and Tigger,
We had a quiet Christmas Day. Tom, Brendan and friend, Mike.
Amazingly, not one bauble was lost from the tree this year. Last year the whole tree ended up on the floor surrounded by three "butter wouldn't melt" cats.
A present from Tom, Gummy Ghost, Habanero and Jalapeno chilies....I have not tried them yet. I still have some Chili Beer he gave me left from last year, that you can only drink using a very small shot glass! If there are no more web posts assume the worst!
Wishing you all a happy and peaceful New Year,
Keep walking! (physically or vicariously!)
Jo.
