Old Man of Coniston via Dow Crag

Overview

About Old Man of Coniston via Dow Crag

Why go

Big mountain day with three named summits and Goat's Water
Excellent ridge and lake views

Heads up

Rough, exposed ground makes progress slower than the mileage suggests
Steep, narrow approach road and no facilities at the start

The route earns a much better sequence than the direct ascent: the ridge opens views across Coniston Water and the southern fells, Dow Crag's dark gullies rise above Goat's Water, and the Old Man provides the high point and broad panorama. The return through Low Water and the abandoned slate and copper workings adds genuine industrial history. Allow about four to five hours at an ordinary walking pace, longer for photos or unsettled weather. Clear, dry days give the best ridge views; there is little shade and no dependable refreshment point on the route.

Parkwolf’s verdictWhy go

Map & elevation

The route

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Full map

Elevation236–780 m

TrailheadOld Man of Coniston via Dow Crag54.36358, -3.09630

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Plan your hike

Before you go

Parking

Start at Walna Scar Car Park, also known as Fell Gate, at the end of Walna Scar Road above Coniston. The final approach from the village is steep and single-track. This car park is the trail access; using a village lot adds the road walk to the route.

Safety

This is exposed high-fell walking with unprotected drops around Dow Crag, rough slabs and loose rock, route-finding that becomes difficult in cloud, and old mine shafts and adits on the return. Do not enter the workings. Keep dogs on a lead where livestock is present and carry a map and compass because the route is not a marked lowland trail.

8 active Lake District alerts

ClosureChapel Stile footpath closed for retaining-wall riskPart of Footpath 543030 between Chapel Stile and Baysbrown campsite is closed because a retaining wall beside the path could collapse and material it supports could fall across the footpath.Official details
ClosureStanley Ghyll Lower Falls footpath closed for rockfallThe section of Footpath 408037 leading towards Stanley Ghyll Lower Falls is closed because severe rockfall damage has made the path unstable and further rockfall remains a danger.Official details

See all 8 alerts

A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone — Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Lake District Tour Guide

Your drive to Old Man of Coniston via Dow Crag, narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Lake District National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.

Recorded for this trailhead

Walna Scar: Dow Crag and Goat’s Water

0:00 / 1:15

“Up ahead is Walna Scar car park, the starting point for a mountain loop over Dow Crag and the Old Man of Coniston.”

Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Lake District Tour Guide.

Hiking Old Man of Coniston via Dow Crag

The routeThis is a 6.2-mile loop from Walna Scar Car Park at Fell Gate.

This is a 6.2-mile loop from Walna Scar Car Park at Fell Gate. It follows the Walna Scar track before climbing over Brown Pike, Buck Pike, and Dow Crag, then crosses Goat's Hawse to the Old Man of Coniston. The return drops by the summit path to Low Water and continues through the old quarry workings to the starting track.

What it feels likeThis is a hard mountain walk rather than a long stroll.

This is a hard mountain walk rather than a long stroll. Expect a sustained climb, rough rocky ground, steep steps, and an exposed ridge where progress is slower than the mileage suggests. The Dow Crag section is bouldery and has short rocky moves; bypass paths are available around some of the roughest tops, but this is still serious fell terrain in poor visibility.

Access and alternativesThere is no trail permit requirement identified for this public fell route.

There is no trail permit requirement identified for this public fell route. Dogs can use the route, but keep them close and on a lead where livestock is present. For a shorter and more straightforward Old Man outing, the direct tourist path from Coniston via Low Water is easier to follow; choose this loop when Dow Crag and the ridge are part of the point.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Lake District

All Lake District wildlife maps

81 sightingsRed DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map

13 sightingsEurasian OtterMost seen around 6 AMSighting map

76 sightingsOspreyMost seen around 8 AMSighting map

51 sightingsEuropean BadgerMost seen around 8 PMSighting map

233 sightingsMute SwanMost seen around 6 PMSighting map

176 sightingsGrey HeronMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Lake District. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.