Revised
Key facts
- Distance 17.4 km
- Ascent ~1147 m
- Descent ~1147 m
- Time ~5.4 h
- Difficulty Moderate
- Direction Clockwise
- Best season Any season in good conditions; rough and rocky, with old mine workings to keep clear of.
- Type Loop
- Start Coniston village
Free mapping: OpenTopoMap / OpenStreetMap (switch layers top-right).
Elevation profile
The walk
A satisfying round of the Coniston fells, and a simpler approach to the Old Man than my longer outing. From Coniston it climbs to the Old Man itself, then follows the high ridge over Brim Fell and Swirl How and back over Wetherlam, with Grey Friar an easy extra along the way. You can extend it further by adding Dow Crag. Big views over the southern fells and the sea, old copper-mine history underfoot, and a proper mountain feel without the biggest mileage.
Summits bagged (5)
- The Old Man of Coniston (Coniston Old Man) 802 m · Southern
- Brim Fell 796 m · Southern
- Grey Friar 773 m · Southern
- Swirl How 802 m · Southern
- Wetherlam 763 m · Southern
🅿️ Getting there & parking
Coniston village (paid) — 0.3 km from the start (straight line)
Main village car parks — full Coniston round.
Directions ↗Walna Scar Road, Coniston (free, rough track) — 1.4 km from the start (straight line)
High free car park above Coniston — Old Man, Dow Crag, Brown Pike with a head start.
Directions ↗Positions are approximate. Lakeland car parks fill before 9am on fine weekends.
🚌 Buses
Stagecoach 505 “Coniston Rambler”
Windermere – Ambleside – Skelwith Bridge – Hawkshead – Coniston
Catch it from: Windermere · Ambleside
Daily in season (reduced winter service). Best access for the Coniston fells (Old Man, Wetherlam group).
Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com or Traveline before travelling.
⚠️ Safety & conditions
- Disused mine shafts and quarry spoil on the flanks, especially toward the Coppermines valley — keep to the paths.
- The high ridge is exposed and the broad tops need care in cloud.
Hazard & incident notes: The Old Man of Coniston (Coniston Old Man) · Brim Fell · Grey Friar · Swirl How · Wetherlam
Check live conditions in the “From the fells” panel, on MWIS and the Met Office mountain forecast before you set off.
A planned line is a suggestion, not a guarantee — conditions change. Navigate independently and carry a map & compass.