Distance: 8 miles (13km)
Start/finish: Walna Scar Road car park, LA21 8HD
Terrain: Trail, path, ridge
Toughness: Challenging
Ascent: 714 metres
Navigation: Moderate (dependent upon visibility)
Good for: Ascents, wildlife
Lat Long / Grid Ref of Start: 54.364, -3.0956 / SD2891197049

A stunning run around Coniston Fells, with its thrilling ridge path between The Old Man of Coniston and Swirl How, and the lone
trail linking Swirl How with Wetherlam, the Prison Band. This classic loop takes in the summits of Wetherlam, The Old Man, Great How (Swirl Band), and Brim Fell. From the car park, head N towards Crowberry Haws and Stubthwaite Crag. A steep climb W brings you to tranquil Low Water before gaining the summit ridge at the Old Man of Coniston. Follow the clear path of Prison Band, then drop down to Levers Water over some technically challenging terrain. Pass Kennel Crag, Grey Crag and Low Water
Beck before returning over a footbridge to the start. CAUTION: Navigation can be extremely challenging in poor weather.

Miles Km Directions
0.0 0.0 From car park head north along track to Crowberry Haws
0.8 1.3 At track junction turn left and head west towards Low Water, passing Stubthwaite Crag
1.4 2.3 At Low Water head south west, ascending steeply to summit ridge at the Old Man of Coniston
1.9 2.0 Follow ridge north to Swirl How
3.7 6.0 At path junction at summit of Swirl How turn right and head north east along the Prison Band, continuing to the summit of Wetherlam
4.8 7.7 Return on outward path to path junction at head of Swirl Haws Beck
5.5 8.8 Before Prison Band turn left and head south, descending to Levers Water, following eastern shore
6.5 10.5 From south-eastern corner of Levers Water ascend past Kennel Crag on footpath heading south east
6.8 11.0 At path junction turn right on footpath contouring hill south west past Grey Crag
7.3 11.7 At path junction turn left, crossing Low Water Beck and heading south east back to Crowberry Haws to rejoin outward path

Download and print route directions (right click to download)

Download .GPX file (right click to download)

How to use .GPX files

OS Map

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Open Street Map and interactive elevation profile

[map style=”width: auto; height:400px; margin:20px 0px 20px 0px; border: 1px solid black;” lat=”54.364″ lon=”-3.0956″ maptype=”OSM” z=”11″ gpx=”http://wildrunning.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Around-Coniston.gpx”]

 

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