Today's walk would follow the Swirl How- Coniston Old Man ridge. I would normally climb Wetherlam to start this round, but today I decided to gain the foot of Prison Band via Levers Water. It was a fantastic day, I added Dow Crag as I made good progress and found time for a detour on the way back. Lots of photo's, apologies in advance!!.....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_Anh_Hd3CHlPzTar_s-wJvaDXoKk4gF-ojlQCUI-Q2blECUvvpR7g4-dOPKPyXWA7DChbWKcRGiDUDhQ02GFYIKrUW7J8iwDoekHmDKjQIAYfPK1iG-ktCRbSoUnXd1SGPDJVNpa82k/s1600/Coniston+fells+Feb+2015+003.JPG) |
Coppermines Valley |
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Levers Water from Kennel Crag |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj22OhAvoylsjNf_Qg_C7nd1a5-fmVoA6_KoRVB8UdVOPt-XcJ_5xrRDKptMkIs738IjwvOfnV3cN7Dh3mvr16ly39FpyysWL5yYgTBGvtU7a-ARvHfr1iyt7I3r_H_X2w55E9KKF4mW4w/s1600/Coniston+fells+Feb+2015+008.JPG) |
Coniston Old Man and Brim Fell from Kennel Crag |
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A very cold looking Levers Water |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZtjU8v3faPgjXs8jNf3SCU9OqDnxq-te39n5hbxhvZ1obakjsYJGX_ct4AkhV6DIqtaLT3n-SYC0lXgobniorEZLPC8pVAo426aKpgZXQzMUyaZHFoPsuO5twbFWTa-Sf2B8g81K25ss/s1600/Coniston+fells+Feb+2015+015.JPG) |
Looking back to Levers Water, Coniston Old Man in the background. |
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Helvellyn and Fairfield seen beyond Lingmoor Fell from Prison Band |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0Cl9lcWy82hyphenhyphen8o3-0NiwqpECGgG9ZEhmYyIZLqyqtl7pewhYYCJgz-otUvClMlyrB5HXgzOIhVdXEuNheMNPjHVsuEcRL88Rs2QLAxQMOwycJLXncrYDfij1WMmNd9TkX2PT7YTP9og/s1600/Coniston+fells+Feb+2015+025.JPG) |
Old footprints.....guess it's been windy! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0t7WPQTHnDJHFOWk05dja1aJZQl3O87g5tSb1bL71X9rtByYw6yyHyXKp0aHFXldvH_gYzJJ2h_htDMbTxpbzVgVeBhQwTJ01yuNH1B9bipAkoRmLj_sJiIhJ8H16hMemkWZnJKtTBmU/s1600/Coniston+fells+Feb+2015+027.JPG) |
The summit of Swirl How, Langdale Pikes in the middle distance |
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There wasn't much snow on the ridge as you can see! |
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The summit of Brim Fell |
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Coniston Old Man trig point, looking back along the ridge I'd just walked |
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Dow Crag looking just great! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimrcbJU1S51w8ceF9VZmG9D8wd_O2TtQi6vay2KxXpMfOWGpIcRu5rZ4ZIx1ij7uzECN-41Od82P_yd_oSiO1LNbCP7f4sDmkB6zQ_w92ZoH8pUdM0mWpGoHy59Ey93k-XlN9LTR3QNA/s1600/Coniston+fells+Feb+2015+045.JPG) |
South towards Walna scar from Dow Crag |
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Lots of ice rime all along the ridge. |
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Back to the summit rocks of Dow Crag, the Scafell group in the background. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizwv9RBUhFNsQZH7FLV-BP1xmSWGaYlyW7pny0Y7A0ZR9yOkJ9n-yMWsai41Rh41dVRdwNJD76qu5RmLXVl_VAtxYg6SN6en2asBPng4Av5AtGcanySrlj5XakfxfnzjOGlLZcrkQjzQs/s1600/Coniston+fells+Feb+2015+052.JPG) |
Blind Tarn below Brown Pike |
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I walked back along the "improved" Walna Scar track.....is this the best that can be done? :-(( |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCxA67KnvJ40l3LB_TkgHX947g3HDeiSqJkBCogqfM_CfDdyt9bEKbqsaZ1u84eetCHWZK7sbVu03ZwQKAxxxzVAh-Igt9umMefxp_DQRJVVH3PRd8Qiewb6oIr68He7DjW-j4G1ARMk/s1600/Coniston+fells+Feb+2015+056.JPG) |
As I got back to the gate on the edge of the moor, I had time on my hands so walked back up the track to the old Mandalls Quarrys. Then turned down into Coppermines valley, thence down to the car in Coniston. A great day, as usual the weather makes it! |