The Sun Pub Walk (Coniston)
Key facts
✎️ Starts and finishes at The Sun, which sits right at the foot of the Old Man of Coniston ascent. No summits are bagged — this is the gentle version, for the view and the pub.
Difficulty profile
Five independent axes, not one score — all field-checked on the ground here, with nothing left as a desk estimate.
Access & barriers
Can a dog, a buggy or dodgy knees manage this route? A quick read from the gates and stiles mapped along the way.
- Dog: Gates and kissing gates only — a dog can do the whole route.
- Buggy: Not a pushchair route.
- Knees: No sustained steep descent — kind on the knees.
On the line: 18 gates · 6 kissing gates
These are mapped barriers, from OpenStreetMap — coverage in the Lakes is good but not guaranteed complete. Spotted a stile or gate we’ve missed? Tell us (opens in new tab) and we’ll fix it. Barrier data as of 2026-07-09. Access data © OpenStreetMap contributors (via Overpass).
☀️ Daylight & turnaround
Daylight is short from October to February — check today’s sunrise and sunset before you set off, and carry a head-torch and spare batteries. On short days, decide your turn-back time before you start.
Why this matters: 78% of Mountain Rescue call-outs come after midday — the day runs out on the way home, not on the way up. See also walking in bad weather and today’s conditions.
Free mapping: OpenTopoMap / OpenStreetMap (switch layers top-right).
This walk covers about 6.42 km with around 202 m of ascent. The map above shows the line; the elevation profile and stage notes are below.
Pacing
| Summit | Cumulative | Ascent | Time (fast–steady) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | 6.4 km | 202 m | 1:37–2:09 |
Naismith-based estimate — a fast/steady range. Your pace will vary.
The walk, stage by stage
The Sun, Coniston → Coppermines valley (high point) (3.0 km, 180 m)
From the pub, climb out of the village beside Church Beck toward the old Coppermines valley, the Old Man rearing up ahead.
Coppermines valley (high point) → The Sun, Coniston (3.4 km, 22 m)
Loop back down toward the village, Coniston Water spread out below, to finish at the door of The Sun.
Stage-by-stage field notes coming soon.
Summits bagged (0)
🅿️ Getting there & parking
Positions are approximate. Lakeland car parks fill before 9am on fine weekends.
💧 Water, shelter & getting away
On-route facilities © OpenStreetMap contributors — an absent marker does not mean the facility isn’t there.
🚌 Buses
Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com (opens in new tab) or Traveline before travelling.
⚠️ Safety & conditions
- The Coppermines tracks and Church Beck paths are rocky, uneven and slippery when wet.
- Old mine workings and shafts lie near the paths above the village — keep to the trodden line and keep children and dogs close.
- Church Beck rises fast in spate; take care at bridges and crossings.
Check live conditions in the “From the fells” panel, on MWIS (opens in new tab) and the Met Office mountain forecast (opens in new tab) before you set off.
Make it easier or harder
Harder: The same start is the usual launch point for the Old Man of Coniston and the Coniston round.