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Planning on a mid-week couple of days in the lakes in the next month or so as my first away trip in a year.
I've always fancied doing Coniston Old Man, and the desire has been spurred on by a mate being up there a few days ago.
However - well aware its all cheeky once you get above Walna Scar (and I've not walked up there either), so any advice on what works, or doesn't gratefully appreciated. I'm not averse to hike-a-bike, and I do like a bit of tech descending. Said mate's route involved a down-scramble apparently, which I would prefer to avoid. Not fussed about descending endless slabby steps, either - unless it takes me to something worthwhile.
Also toying with doing Sourmilk Gill/Red Pike/High Stile/High Crag/Scarth Gap, which I know is supposed to be a bit of a pig. Is there a preferential direction to do it? In my head its the order as written above.
Thanks!
Also toying with doing Sourmilk Gill/Red Pike/High Stile/High Crag/Scarth Gap, which I know is supposed to be a bit of a pig. Is there a preferential direction to do it? In my head its the order as written above.
That's the best order - it's not the worst carry ever up Red Pike, but the steppy section is tough as a descent. Scarth Gap can be busy; it's quieter late in the day.
I'd ascend CoM via the Goats water track, not excessive hiking that way. Then descend the main tourist path past Low water as far as Crowberry Hause, and leave it there to descend into the copppermines valley to Miners Bridge. The top part down to Low Water is pretty full on steepness to begin with, but all rideable and entertaining. Then from the tarn it's fast and rocky until you split for Coppermines descent, which is excellent rocky singletrack.
The whole descent will be a walker-jammed nightmare unless you do it late in the day mid week. The other cracking descent in the area (but quite a slog to access and make into a loop) is Wetside Edge, the ridge heading North from Swirl How down to Greenburn. Wetherlam descending South is also good, as is the descent from the plauteau to Tilberthwaite past the quarries which can be linked into it.
friend did it yesterday afternoon with no walker problems. Went up via Brown Pike, and Buck pike, along the ridge to Swirl Hollow and then down past Levers Water.It does include some hike a bike
@chrismac - I think we may have similar taste in friends...
He said the descent off Swirl Hollow down the Prison Band was a down-scramble, which is why I was inquiring about other options
@the kettle - useful, thanks!
Always fancied carrying on over the back and coming down via green-thingy reservoir. Don't reckon I'd ride all the descent down the main path, a couple of butt clenching sections near the top!
I was up that way walking last weekend....it wasn't THAT busy given that it was an amazing weekend of weather.