Five Fell Walks from Coniston village
If you’re coming to stay in Coniston village, you’ll discover it’s the perfect place to park your car at your accommodation, and find you don’t actually need it for the rest of your holiday.
There is some of the best walking in the Lake District direct from the village centre. Mighty mountains, hidden tarns and far-reaching views; there are so many incredible hikes to discover in this spectacular area.
We’ve put together a list of some of our favourites, so you can give your car a well-earned holiday in Coniston too.
Dow Crag and Goats Water 13km 4.3 hours
This walk follows the ancient Walna Scar Road from Coniston Village to Walna Scar before heading up to the ridge home to Brown Pike, Buck Pike and finally Dow Crag. There is ample dramatic scenery to enjoy on route and you’ll find the paths far quieter than those on the ever-busy Old Man.
From the village head towards to the petrol station, turning right to head uphill into Station Road. Follow the road as it sweeps right then left then go past the junction to Olf Furness Road to continue up the steep single-track road through the woodland. Contnue along the road until you reach the informal Walna Scar car park at the very end of the lane. Go through the parking area and take the stone track straight ahead. It’s then a simple matter of following this, the Walna Scar Road, as it heads towards the summit of Walna Scar. The incline steepens as it approaches Walna Scar, zig-zagging it’s way past the slopes of Brown Pike to your right. Near the top of the pass you come to a cross roads in the path. Straight ahead descends into The Duddon Valley, left heads to the summit of Walna Scar and right heads up to the summit of Brown Pike. Turn right to continue up hill. Emerging on Brown Pike you’re treated to dramatic views down to Coniston Water, across to Old Man and along the ridge to Buck Pike. Turn left to follow the ridge north to Buck Pike, taking care of the steep drops to your right, then continue on to Dow Crag. On a clear day the views from the compact and rocky summit of Dow Crag are simply incredible with the Grey Friar and Scafells beyond visible to the north, the Duddon Valley to your left and Old Man to your right. From the summit continue north then east to drop down to Goat’s Hawse. Here you’ll meet the pitched stone path coming up from Goat’s Water. Ahead continues on up to Old Man but we are turning right to head down to Goat’s Water.
Once at the tarn the past continues along its rocky easter shore before continuing south to eventually re-join the Walna Scar Road. Turn left to retrace your steps back into Coniston village.
Wetherlam and Black Sails 10km 4 hours
Head out of Coniston village centre along Coppermines Lane. After Miner’s Bridge take the track branching off to the right towards Irish Row cottages. At the next fork, keep right then as the track turns left, take the path on the right to follow the obvious path behind and above the cottages, aiming towards the stone tower belonging to some ruined mining buildings. You’ll reach an old waterwheel pit and ruined engine house which date from the middle of the 18th century. Continue on to the head of Red Dell. At Red Dell Beck you’ll see Black Sails ridge ahead.
Beyond a large waterwheel pit, take the very straight stone path called the Thriddle Incline, built to carry the Thriddle Shaft’s winder and pumping rods which were once part of the copper mining operations. The incline leads up to the left hand side of Kennel Crag and passes some mine entrances as it nears Kennel Crag col.
Before the path begins to descend to Lever’s Water take a fainter path on your right to follow to ridge line along to Black Sails summit. Continue on until you meet up with the path heading to Wetherlam from Swirl Hawse. Turn right to head up to the summit of Wetherlam.
Here you’ll be treated to incredible views of the Langdale Pikes, Helvellyn, lake Windermere and the Scafells to name but a few inconic Lakeland locations. It really is one of the most impressive views in the Lakes.
From the summit, head southeast along Wetherlam’s ridge, running parallel to Black’s Sail ridge you climbed earlier. The path finally crossed the obvious path joining Coppermines and Tilberthwaite Valleys. Turn right to head down into Coppermines Valley, emerging above Irish Row Cottages. Descent onto the mountain road and turn left to return to Coniston village.
Swirl How and Great Carrs via Lever’s Water 6.3km 2hours 50 (one way)
Approximately the same height as Old Man, Swirl How benefits from stunning, uninterrupted views north towards the Scafells and Skiddaw. It’s also considerably less walked that its more famous neighbour, making it the perfect choice for getting off the beaten track.
From Coniston take Coppermines Lane behind the Ruskin Museum and continue up into Coppermines Valley. Stay on the path as it turns left at the Coppermines Mountain Cottages, go past the YHA and stay on the mountain road with waterfalls on your left. The track turns right to continue heading uphill, stay on it as it switches back on itself towards Tougnue Brow then switches again towards Lever’s Water. On approaching Lever’s Water you are treated to an impressive view of your pointed target, as Swirl How towers proudly over the tarn.
The path follows the eastern shore of Lever’s Water, leaving it behind you, head north to Swirl Hawse. This section can feel like a bit of a slog but you’re rewarded with outstanding views north once reaching the hawse.
Turn left to lake the rocky path along the Prison Band, eventually emerging on Swirl How’s Summit. Follow the ridge called Top of Broad Slack, north west to reach Great Carrs. Partway along you’ll encounter the sad remains of wartime plane crash with a memorial to the Royal Canadian Air Force bomber which crashed here during a night-time navigation exercise in 1944.
Continue along the ridge to reach Great Carrs summit. From Great Carrs, retrace your steps to Swirl How. You can then descend the prison bands to return to Lever’s Water or alternatively, head due south along the cairn-marked ridge route to reach Coniston Old Man summit via Brim Fell. The descent route is shown in the Old Man walk below.
Coniston to Tilberthwaite Circular 9km, 3 hours
If the weather is not being particularly kind, or you are just in the mood for a lower level walk, then this circular route to Tilberthwaite is perfect for getting out and about amonst stunning mountain scenery without reaching the dizzying heights of the other walks in this list.
Starting in Coniston, head towards Coppermines Valley on Coppermines Lane. Shortly after Miner’s Bridge take the track branching off on your right heading towards Irish Row miner’s cottages. Before you reach the cottages, take another track branching on the right to head up the fellside. Just before the path reaches behind the cottages, turn right to take the higher level track, which switches back to head north with Coppermines Valley, Irish Row and the Mountain Cottages below. The incline lessens as you begin to pass between Yewdale Crag on your right and the lower slopes of Wetherlam on your left. The path begins to descend into the picturesque valley of Tilberthwaite, and, shortly before descending to the parking area at Tilberthwaite, there are some interesting quarries to explore should you be so inclined.
Once in Tilberthwaite turn right to take the quiet single track road leading out of the valley. Immediately prior to reaching the much busier A593, a footpath on your right heads back in Coniston via the woods, finally emerging once again on Coppermines Lane. Turn left to return to the village centre.
Coniston Old Man 10.5km 4 hours
There are various routes to walk this iconic Lake District Mounatin (see our Coniston Old Man 5 ways). But we have taken the most direct route from Coniston village via Low Water. From the Coppermines Lakes Cottages office, head up the lane towards the Sun Inn. Immediately after the pub turn right at Dixon Ground, go past Bend or Bump Cottage and Dixon Ground Farm then continue up the path and into Coppermines Conservation Area. At Miner’s Bridge, keep with the river and waterfalls on your right, eventually reaching open fellside. Continue up the main path, eventually joining the wide path from Walna Scar Car Park. Keep heading uphill, ignoring the path branching off on your right which skirts the mountainside towards Lever’s water.
The rocky path zig zags uphill and towards some ruined slate quarry buildings. Conitune uphill past a huge spoil heap on your right. There are huge wires to pass under or over as you ascend. This is an arial flight cable which was used for transporting the slate down from the mountainside for processing. The winches and brake mechanisms are still in place on the upper banks.
Past the quarries, the path emerges at Low Water which makes for a perfect spot for picnic refreshments or feet cooling on a hot day. From Low Water the continues steeply, with more zigzags towards the east ridge of Old Man. From the ridge there are beautiful views down to Coniston Water.
Evenually the summit cairn on Coniston Old Man comes into view. Once reached, you can enjoy stunning views of Dow Crag, the Scafells, Wetherlam and down to Low Water and Coppermines Valley.
To return either retrace your steps to Coniston Village, or to make the walk a circular one, head north west, then west to reach Goat’s Hawse. Take the pitched stone path down to Goat’s Water and follow the return from route the Dow Crag and Goat’s Water route above.
