This walk starts in Coniston, a beautiful lakeland village on the A593 between Ambleside and Broughton-in-Furness.

It was a glorious July morning when I arrived in Coniston, parking in the Pay & Display car park off the Hawkshead road.

I left the village by the road running up the hill to the

"Black Bull Pub".

Immediately after the pub I turned right, through a farm yard on a path which is signposted "Old Man & Levers Waters".

I followed alongside "Church Beck" with the early morning sun dripping off the leaves and the brook murmuring softly in my ears. There are some delightful waterfalls at this point of the walk.

After crossing "Miner's Bridge" I turned left and, shortly thereafter, right on a track which began rising up the hillside. At this point some mineworkings were revealed, as "The Old Man" was mined extensively for copper. This is very evident in the red colouration of the rock in this vicinity.

Following the path along the hillside the beaty of Coppermines Valley was evident below. The temptation to explore the old workings in this place is to be resisted as many of the shafts are in a dangerous state.

The track leads into the upper valley of "Red Dell" and I passed a smelting mill and a large opening known as

"Cobblers Hole" before I crossed the beck. On the hillside above was a raised tramway running up to some levels below keppel crag. It is quite steep at this point and I couldn't help imagining what tough lives the miners had working up here in all weathers.

I followed the path to the left of the stream and up to the foot of the cascades above. I followed a sketchy path to the left of the stream into the upper corrie where it crosses to the right of the stream.

Climbing up the ridge to the top I emerged on Wetherlam's summit tired but elated.

Following a path slightly to the right of the ridge took me back down to Swirl Hause then up again to Swirl How. Leaving its summit I headed south along the main ridge. This is a fantastic walk on a broad ridge giving extensive views of the surrounding area and all above 2,000 feet.

The path followed the line of the ridge and led to Levers Hause and on to Brim Fell at 2,612 feet. Fantastic!

Eventually tired legs reach The Old Man himself. At 2,635 what better place to rest awhile and enjoy a bite to eat.

From the Old Man I followed the popular route South-East then East which eventually ended up back at the Miners Bridge.

I can still remember savouring that pint of bitter in the

"Black Bull".

copyright: C.A.Robinson 2003

Note: Walkers following this route do so at their own risk. Always carry a map, compass, and supplies. See our Survivors section for more information on safe hiking and our Lakes Walks News section for current happenings. Enjoy!

February 6, 2003 14:31