Name of walk	Walna Scar and the Slate Quarry
Date of walk	2020-03-13
Distance walked (miles)	5
Duration of walk	3 hours 40 minutes
Weather	Blue skies and sunshine
Peaks on walk	Walna Scar, White Maiden, White Pike.
Walked with	Brendan
Parking	Start of Wana Scar Road.

On Friday Brendan and I drove through Seathwaite to the road signed ‘Coniston 4 miles, unfit for cars’, a single track road. At the end of the road is a gate that requires opening then closing, and 20m further on is a small parking area. We planned to walk up the Walna Scar Road and visit Walna Scar, White Maiden and White Pike. Then descend down the grass slopes to the slate quarry ruins. A walk of just under five miles. The weather was excellent and the visibility good. Walna Scar is one of the Outlying Fells, but this is not a Wainwright route, his is from Coniston. I have followed his route many times but have always turned towards Dow Crag, as it is irresistable from the east, but looks nothing from the west, so temptation should be more easily resisted!

View from the start of the walk, our path on the right. On the left is the path to Seathwaite Tarn.

Looking back to our parking spot.

The start of the path is very rocky underfoot, but improves the further up you go.

I wait for Brendan approaching the wall, with Harter Fell behind. The mine path goes in one direction, we go in the other.

The rather uninteresting back of Dow Crag towards the left, Walna Scar summit, the peaky bit on the right.

The track is just a gentle incline.

Great views over to the Scafell range in snow.

Slight Side, Scafell and Mickledore.

Mickledore and Scafell Pike.

I wait for Brendan to catch up again. White Pike and Caw on the left.

Green Crag with the sea behind.

I take a walk down the other side of the Walna Scar Road. Coniston Water now in view.

I return to the confluence of the paths, right to Dow Crag, left to Walna Scar. I manage to resist the temptation to go right!

Sellafield.

Walna Scar summit. 2037ft. Ahead left is White Maiden, to the right White Pike.

Summit view in the other direction looking to Dow Crag, Buck Pike and Brown Pike.

It is very windy and black clouds are coming over. We don't hang about. I head for White Maiden, Brendan goes directly to White Pike.

View back as I take the direct route to White Maiden.

White Maiden summit.

Looking across Morecambe Bay to Heysham Nuclear Power Station.

Duddon Estuary, Barrow-in Furness and Walney Island.

Looking down on Broughton Moor Slate Quarry.

The way ahead towards White Pike.

I can see Brendan making his way up to White Pike.

Summit view down the Duddon Valley with Caw left.

We met one person on our walk, and this was on the summit. He took our photo by the cairn.

We head down the slopes of White Pike towards the quarry below.

There will be lots of ruined buildings and mine entrances.

We keep to the right where the descent is less steep.

View into the quarry.

Looking down into one of the mines.

View back over to Brendan as he makes his way down.

We explore all the nooks and crannies.

Another mine entrance.

The site is on multiple levels. The hole below is the entrance to a mine level. I go and take a look.

Mine level entrance.

View down to the path to Caw.

View back to the mine level entrance.

Large slate retaining wall.

We descend again.

This bridge has stood the test of time.

There are buildings further down still.

View back to the Scafell range from the ruins on the small hill before we rejoin the main track back down.

The track follows Long House Gill.

Almost back to my car as the gill goes under the bridge.

An excellent little walk that I’ve been meaning to do for a long time! The walk took three hours and forty minutes, an hour of that was spent in the quarry. The Newfield Inn was closed so we had lunch at a cafe in Broughton.

Jo.