Coniston to Seathwaite - Monday 9 December 2024
Route
Coniston - Park Coppice - Little Arrow - Banishead Quarry - Torver Bridge - Top of Walna Scar Pass - Walna Scar - White Maiden - White Pike - Pikes - Green Pikes - Caw - New Close - Newfield Inn Seathwaite
Parking
This was a 2 day walk where we would be staying in Seathwaite and walking back to Coniston via a different route. There is plenty of parking in Coniston both free and pay & display.
Mileage
10 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths for the most part. It should be noted that between White Pikes and Caw Quarry there are no paths as such marked on the OS Map. There are paths on the ground therefore walkers need to be able to navigate, particularly in poor visibility.
Weather
Extremely cold with the odd light shower. Visibility was excellent.
Time Taken
6hrs 5mins
Total Ascent
3366ft (1026m)
Wainwrights
4 Outlying Fells (Walna Scar, Pikes, Green Pikes & Caw)
Map
OL6 - The English Lakes (South Western Area)
Walkers
Dave & Angie
Coniston - Park Coppice - Little Arrow - Banishead Quarry - Torver Bridge - Top of Walna Scar Pass - Walna Scar - White Maiden - White Pike - Pikes - Green Pikes - Caw - New Close - Newfield Inn Seathwaite
Parking
This was a 2 day walk where we would be staying in Seathwaite and walking back to Coniston via a different route. There is plenty of parking in Coniston both free and pay & display.
Mileage
10 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths for the most part. It should be noted that between White Pikes and Caw Quarry there are no paths as such marked on the OS Map. There are paths on the ground therefore walkers need to be able to navigate, particularly in poor visibility.
Weather
Extremely cold with the odd light shower. Visibility was excellent.
Time Taken
6hrs 5mins
Total Ascent
3366ft (1026m)
Wainwrights
4 Outlying Fells (Walna Scar, Pikes, Green Pikes & Caw)
Map
OL6 - The English Lakes (South Western Area)
Walkers
Dave & Angie
|
GPX File
|
| ||
If the above GPX file fails to download or presents itself as an XML file once downloaded then please feel free to contact me and I will send you the GPX file via e-mail.
Route Map
Early doors as the sun rises over Coniston Water on a lovely December morning
This walk was one we had been trying to fit in for a while and the next two days gave us the opportunity to enjoy it in fine weather. This, coupled with a B&B vacancy at The Newfield Inn meant that we could finally enjoy this fantastic walk - and so it proved.
This walk was one we had been trying to fit in for a while and the next two days gave us the opportunity to enjoy it in fine weather. This, coupled with a B&B vacancy at The Newfield Inn meant that we could finally enjoy this fantastic walk - and so it proved.
The Bluebird Cafe on the edge of Coniston Water - the cafe opens at 0930 and as we had plenty of time today we started off with a hearty breakfast.
Looking over Coniston Water to Monk Coniston Moor
From the cafe the route heads back towards the village and crosses a footbridge over Church Beck
Shortly after crossing the footbridge the route heads through a small industrial estate to emerge back on to Lake Road. After a few yards a hand gate is reached at a way marked sign to Torver.
The beginning of the lakeshore path to Torver
The Coniston Fells over Cat Bank
The Yewdale Fells
These smaller fells above Coniston make for a lovely walk in their own right - a route we completed in 2021 can be found here
These smaller fells above Coniston make for a lovely walk in their own right - a route we completed in 2021 can be found here
Nice morning welcome from some of the locals as we head towards the path turn off at Bowmanstead
Reaching Bowmanstead the route crosses the A593 to reach The Ship Inn. We would be heading around to the right in order to pick up the path of the old railway track.
Above The Ship Inn, the route joins and old railway trackbed
The Coniston Railway ran from the village to Broughton-in-Furness from 1859 to 1962. It was originally designed for the transport of slate and copper ore from the mines near Coniston to the coast and later developed into a line for tourists to the Lake District.
The Coniston Railway ran from the village to Broughton-in-Furness from 1859 to 1962. It was originally designed for the transport of slate and copper ore from the mines near Coniston to the coast and later developed into a line for tourists to the Lake District.
At the end of the trackbed the A593 is crossed at Park Gate and after hand railing the edge of a field arrives at the Caravan Site at Park Coppice
From Park Coppice the route continues through a plantation to emerge on to the A593 just north of Little Arrow. There is a verge path here which is followed for a 1/4 of a mile.
Reaching Little Arrow there is a way marker on the opposite side of the road. The route follows an access track gently uphill to then reach a hedge lined path.
The gurgling waters of the falls of Torver Beck (Click Play to view)
On open fell side now as we enjoy views of the Coniston Fells - Brown Pike, Buck Pike & Dow Crag with The Old Man of Coniston (or Coniston Old Man) over to the right
A big smile on my face as I knew we had picked two cracking days in order to enjoy this fabulous walk
The route crosses Torver Beck via a small footbridge to reach the Banishead Quarry spoil heaps
Banishead Quarry is also sometimes called Tanearth Quarry, the different names exist because the quarry lies between the two areas on the fellside.
Banishead Quarry is also sometimes called Tanearth Quarry, the different names exist because the quarry lies between the two areas on the fellside.
The bridleway turn off for Torver near the spoil heaps - we would be carrying straight on here
From the path junction the route continues on a path through the spoil heaps
The deep quarry pit and waterfall at Banishead
The sloping area to the right of the waterfall is where the slate would have been hauled up from the quarry below. The waterfall came later - Torver Beck rushes down to one side of the quarry and the quarry men had to block off the beck to stop it flooding the quarry. The mine was abandoned as the slate ran out and the years passed until two schoolboys roaming the fells decided to remove the stone slab stopping the beck running into the quarry. The quarry filled with water and today it is about 6m (19ft 6ins) deep and although the perimeter is fenced off it still remains a draw for wild swimmers. The water remains at a constant level because of the sandstone layer that lies within the slate.
The sloping area to the right of the waterfall is where the slate would have been hauled up from the quarry below. The waterfall came later - Torver Beck rushes down to one side of the quarry and the quarry men had to block off the beck to stop it flooding the quarry. The mine was abandoned as the slate ran out and the years passed until two schoolboys roaming the fells decided to remove the stone slab stopping the beck running into the quarry. The quarry filled with water and today it is about 6m (19ft 6ins) deep and although the perimeter is fenced off it still remains a draw for wild swimmers. The water remains at a constant level because of the sandstone layer that lies within the slate.
From the quarry pit the route climbs gently towards the Walna Scar Road
Just before reaching the Walna Scar Road the path splits. We took the right hand fork however both paths end up reaching the Walna Scar Road.
Crossing Torver Beck via Torver Bridge - also known as Cove Bridge
Brown Pike, Buck Pike & Dow Crag from the Walna Scar Road
The Walna Scar Road path continues to climb gently as it zig zags its way to the top of the pass
The south face of Coniston Old Man
Looking down the Walna Scar Road towards Coniston - and one of many rainbows we would see today
Near the top of the pass is a small stone shelter just off the path. Not much is known as to who built it and why but research has indicated that it may have been constructed for the use of travellers in bad weather when the road was a main packhorse route.
The top of the Walna Scar Pass - we would be turning left here. Straight on heads down Walna Scar Side to Seathwaite and Dunnerdale whilst turning right leads to Brown Pike and onward to Dow Crag.
Heading for the summit of Walna Scar looking back to the top of the pass. Brown Pike, Buck Pike and Dow Crag provide the backdrop.
Angie on the summit of the Outlying Fell of Walna Scar looking to White Maiden, White Pike & Caw
Heading for the next summit of White Maiden
The summit of White Maiden looking to the Coniston Fells
We were now off to White Pike which is certainly worth visiting - we would handrail the wall leaving White Maiden and head west
Looking south to the Duddon Estuary from near White Maiden
The route breaks away from the wall to head over to the summit of White Pike, the large cairn of which can be seen to the left
Looking to Harter Fell and another rainbow
Angie approaching White Pike with the Coniston Fells beyond
The summit of White Pike
Looking down towards Torver & Broughton Moor Quarry
The southern face of White Pike framed by yet another rainbow
Descending White Pike - by the time I got over there someone had nicked the pot of gold
The descent of White Pike is quite tricky but its just a case of picking the best way off as there are no paths as such. Here Angie makes her way down a grassy rake to join me approximately half way down the descent.
Angie makes her way over to me on the descent of White Pike
The approach to the summit of Pikes
Another rainbow frames our approach over from White Pike
Up on the summit of Pikes - and yes, another rainbow
Harter Fell from the summit of Green Pikes
From Green Pikes the route drops into a depression and follows a vague path onward to Caw
It was about 1500 as we made the approach to Caw but the light was holding very well as we look back to the Upper Duddon valley
The final approach to Caw as the Trig Point on the summit comes into view
The summit of Caw looking to our outward route
The sun starts to set as we look to Black Combe from the summit of Caw
What a day as we enjoy a summit selfie on Caw - by this time we were both yearning for something cold in a warm place
The lovely summit of Caw complete with miniature tarn - this really is an idyllic spot
Descending to Caw Quarry from the summit of Caw - there is a vague path and it is easily followed
Approaching the disused Caw Quarry with Harter Fell & The Scafells distant
Caw Quarry and the old mining hut. To the right of the hut is an old adit (horizontal passage into a mine) which is not sealed off therefore open to explore although at your own risk.
The descent follows the old mine access road down to Park Head Road
Seathwaite and the welcome sign pointing the way to our bed for the night
Almost dark now as we reached the welcome arms of The Newfield Inn
That's right you check us in love, I'll be with you in a minute
To view Day 2 of this fantastic walk click on the link below