Coniston via Levers Water and the Prison Band up Swirl How: route map, distance and time

802 m · Cumbria

Swirl How is an 802m Coniston fell at the hub of the range, where the ridges from Wetherlam, Great Carrs and the Old Man of Coniston meet.

A miners' track climbs past the copper mine workings to Levers Water, then a path reaches Swirl Hawse and the rocky Prison Band takes you to the top.

Coniston via Levers Water and the Prison Band at a glance

Distance	5.5 km one way, to the top
Ascent	748 m
Time up	2h 20m by Naismith's rule
There and back	3h 25m, down the same way
Grade	Moderate
Start	Coniston village
Start grid reference	SD 302 975
Summit grid reference	NY 272 005

Coniston via Levers Water and the Prison Band map

The start (green) and the summit (blue). Peakify has no GPX track for this route yet, so follow the description and your map.

Height profile and getting to the start

Start grid ref SD 302 975 · Driving directions · By bus or train

Near the start

From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.

How long Coniston via Levers Water and the Prison Band takes

Pace	To the top	There and back
Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up	1h 55m	2h 50m
Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up	2h 20m	3h 25m
Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up	2h 50m	4h 15m

Times leave out stops. Coming down the same way, the table counts the ascent once; steep descents on rough ground can be as slow as the climb.

Today: sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:06. Start by 13:41 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 25m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Tomorrow: sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:03. Start by 13:38 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 25m for the walk and an hour for stops.

Swirl How summit weather for this route

Poor Today Monday 19 October

Light drizzle, up to 8°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 41 mph gusting 51 mph, 67% chance of rain. Rated Poor. Sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:06.
Marginal Tomorrow Tuesday 20 October

Moderate rain, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as 0°C, summit wind 25 mph gusting 31 mph, 88% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:03.

Best day of the next seven for Coniston via Levers Water and the Prison Band: Thursday 22 October, with summit gusts around 34 mph and a 57% chance of rain.

Hour-by-hour Swirl How forecast

Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.

What to take today

An insulated jacket, hat and warm gloves: it feels like -2°C on top.
Waterproof jacket and overtrousers: 67% chance of rain.
A windproof layer, and poles for balance in gusts to 51 mph.
Map and compass, and the skills to use them. A phone is a backup, not a plan.
A head torch, food, water, a charged phone and a small first aid kit.

About Swirl How

Swirl How is an 802m Coniston fell at the hub of the range, where the ridges from Wetherlam, Great Carrs and the Old Man of Coniston meet. More about Swirl How, with the live forecast.

On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, HuMP, Birkett.

Extend the walk: tops near the summit

Great Carrs (785 m), 0.4 km north-west
Black Sails (745 m), 1 km east
Grey Friar (773 m), 1.3 km west
Wetherlam (763 m), 1.6 km east
Brim Fell (796 m), 2 km south
The Old Man of Coniston (802 m), 2.7 km south

Challenges that include Swirl How

More walks from Coniston village

Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.

Coniston via The Old Man up Brim Fell
Coniston via the quarries and Low Water up The Old Man of Coniston
Coniston via Lad Stones up Wetherlam

Other routes up Swirl How

Route	Distance	Ascent	Time up	Grade
Coniston round via the Old Man	8.3 km one way	999 m	3h 20m	Moderate
Wrynose Pass via Wet Side Edge	2.7 km one way	424 m	1h 15m	Moderate
Walna Scar via Goat's Water and Goats Hawse	6.0 km one way	770 m	2h 30m	Hard
Wrynose via Wet Side Edge	6.4 km one way	—	—	Hard

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SD 302 975, the summit at NY 272 005), what happened and how many are in your group. If you have no signal for a call, a text to 999 works once you have registered your phone with emergencySMS: text "register" to 999 before you go.

Coniston via Levers Water and the Prison Band: questions and answers

How far is Coniston via Levers Water and the Prison Band?

Coniston via Levers Water and the Prison Band is 5.5 km one way to the summit of Swirl How, with 748 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 11.0 km.

How long does Coniston via Levers Water and the Prison Band take?

About 2h 20m to the summit of Swirl How and 3h 25m there and back by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops. A relaxed group takes nearer 4h 15m for the round trip.

Where do you park for Coniston via Levers Water and the Prison Band?

Coniston via Levers Water and the Prison Band starts from Coniston village. The grid reference is SD 302 975.

Is Coniston via Levers Water and the Prison Band suitable for beginners?

Yes, for fit walkers on a clear day. Peakify grades it Moderate: a long climb on a made path, but the top is high, exposed and colder than the start. Turn back if the cloud comes down and you can't navigate.

What time should I start Coniston via Levers Water and the Prison Band today?

By 13:41 at the latest. Sunset on Swirl How today is 18:06, Coniston via Levers Water and the Prison Band takes about 3h 25m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.

Is there a GPX for Coniston via Levers Water and the Prison Band?

Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).