The Old Man of Coniston via the Coppermines and Walna Scar
Coniston's mountain by its most interesting line: up through the old copper and slate workings to Low Water and the summit, down by Goat's Water and Walna Scar.
- Distance
- 11.7 km
- 7.3 miles
- Ascent
- 772 m
- High point 800 m
- Time
- 3 hours 30 minutes
- Walking time, no stops
- Grade
- Hard
- Circular
Take this walk with you
Google Maps does not know most fell paths, so use it to get to the start, then follow the GPX in an app like OS Maps, Komoot or AllTrails. To see the line in Google Maps, open Google My Maps, create a map, choose Import and pick the KML file. It then appears in the Google Maps app under Saved, Maps.
Weather on this walk
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The Old Man of Coniston towers over the village, and its eastern flanks are scarred by centuries of copper mining and slate quarrying. Climbing through the workings is part of the appeal: ramps, ruined buildings and old levels lead you up to the hidden corrie tarn of Low Water and the summit above.
This circular route starts in the village, climbs beside Church Beck and up through the quarries, tops out on the Old Man, then drops into the wild hollow of Goat's Water under Dow Crag before returning along the old Walna Scar Road. It is a proper mountain day without any scrambling.
The route
- 1
Coniston to Church Beck
From the car park walk through the village to the bridge over Church Beck and turn right by the Lakes Cottages. Follow the lane past the Sun Hotel and take the track signed for the Old Man and Levers Water.
- 2
Miners Bridge and Crowberry Haws
Follow the track to Miners Bridge, but do not cross. Stay on the south side of the beck and climb past the walls to the junction at Crowberry Haws.
- 3
Through the workings
Bear right and keep to the main path, which zigzags steeply up through the old quarry workings and their ramps. Keep out of all mine entrances.
- 4
Low Water and the summit
The path reaches Low Water, cupped beneath the summit crags, then climbs a final steep zigzag to the ridge and the summit.
- 5
Down to Goat's Water
Head north along the ridge a short way to the col above Goat's Water, then descend west into the hollow of Goat's Water below the cliffs of Dow Crag.
- 6
Walna Scar Road
Follow the path down the valley to meet the Walna Scar Road and turn left. Follow this old track east and then the lane down into Coniston.
Questions people ask
How long is the Old Man of Coniston walk?
About 11 to 12 km as a circuit from the village, with roughly 750 metres of ascent. Mud and Routes gives 11 km for this loop.
What is the easiest way up the Old Man of Coniston?
Starting from the Walna Scar car park above the village saves about 1.5 km and 210 metres of climbing, according to Mud and Routes.
Are the Coppermines safe to walk through?
The paths are, but keep out of all mine entrances and away from shafts and quarry edges.
Where do you park to climb the Old Man of Coniston?
In Coniston village at the Ruskin Avenue car park, or higher up at the Walna Scar Road car park.
More walks nearby
Tarn Hows circular walk
Easy, 3.0 km, 38 m up, about 30 minutes
An easy loop on a good path around Tarn Hows, the wooded tarn between Coniston and Hawkshead with the Langdale and Coniston fells behind.
Carron Crag trail, Grizedale Forest
Moderate, 8.3 km, 257 m up, about 2 hours
Grizedale's purple waymarked trail from the visitor centre to Carron Crag, the forest's highest point, with views to the Coniston fells.
Lingmoor Fell and Side Pike from Elterwater
Moderate, 11.6 km, 536 m up, about 3 hours
A small fell with a huge view: from Elterwater through old slate quarries to Lingmoor's ridge, over Side Pike above Blea Tarn, and back along Great Langdale.
Food, drink and beds near the start
The Black Bull
Traditional, Coniston, £, dogs welcome
Home of Coniston Brewing Co and their legendary Bluebird Bitter. A proper village local with world-class ales.
The Sun Inn Coniston
Traditional, Coniston, £
A 16th-century Coniston inn with Donald Campbell memorabilia on the walls and proper Lakeland character throughout.
Grizedale Forest
Outdoor Adventure, Hawkshead, £, dogs welcome
Mountain biking, Go Ape, sculpture trails and walking routes through ancient woodland between Coniston and Windermere.
The Drunken Duck Inn
Gastropub, Barngates, £££, dogs welcome
A Lakes institution on the hillside at Barngates, with a lively bar, good food, rooms and wide views towards the Langdale Pikes.