Walna Scar via Goat's Water and Goats Hawse 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 hard mountain walk to the summit from Walna Scar car park, Coniston.
Walna Scar via Goat's Water and Goats Hawse starts at about 230 m and gains 735 m over 6.0 km to 783 m on the track. It is steep from the start: the first kilometre climbs 169 m (17%). The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 2 km, which climbs 259 m at an average of 26%, with a 500 m stretch from 0.9 km at about 33%. The final kilometre eases to the top. About 23% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Walna Scar via Goat's Water and Goats Hawse at a glance
| Distance | 6.0 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 770 m |
| Climb on the track | 735 m up, 188 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 230 m to 789 m (summit 802 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 33%, from 0.9 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 23% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 30m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 40m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Walna Scar car park, Coniston |
| Start grid reference | SD 288 970 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 272 005 |
| Parking | Walna Scar car park, Coniston |
Walna Scar via Goat's Water and Goats Hawse map
The track from the start (green) to the summit (blue), with a marker at each kilometre.
Height profile and getting to the start
Near the start
- The Ship Inn1.1 km
- Sun Hotel Pub1.3 km
- The Yewdale Inn1.4 km
- The Green Housekeeper1.5 km
- Park Coppice1.5 km
- Herdwicks1.5 km
- Public toilets1.4 km
- Public toilets1.5 km
- Public toilets1.5 km
- Coniston Hall Campsite1.9 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Walna Scar via Goat's Water and Goats Hawse GPX
Ascent only: plan your way down. A planning track, not checked on the ground; it doesn't show safe scrambling moves. Track data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), heights from a terrain model.
Walna Scar via Goat's Water and Goats Hawse kilometre by kilometre
Height, climb and average gradient for each kilometre of the track, with a grid reference at the end of each one to check your position on the map.
| At | Height | Climb | Gradient | Grid ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 km | 399 m | +169 m | 17% | SD 280 970 |
| 2 km | 658 m | +259 m | 26% steep | SD 275 976 |
| 3 km | 737 m | +79 m | 8% | SD 269 981 |
| 4 km | 706 m | -30 m | -3% | SD 268 986 |
| 5 km | 692 m | -15 m | -1% | SD 271 995 |
| 6 km | 783 m | +91 m | 9% | NY 272 005 |
How long Walna Scar via Goat's Water and Goats Hawse takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 0m | 3h 0m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 30m | 3h 40m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 3h 0m | 4h 30m |
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 13:26 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 40m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:03. Start by 13:23 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 40m 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 Walna Scar via Goat's Water and Goats Hawse: 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 Walna Scar car park, Coniston
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Walna Scar via Goat's Water and Goats Hawse up Brim Fell
- Walna Scar via Goat's Water and Goats Hawse up Dow Crag
- Walna Scar via Goat's Water and Goats Hawse up Great Carrs
- Walna Scar via Goat's Water and Goats Hawse up Grey Friar
- Walna Scar via Low Water up The Old Man of Coniston
- Walna Scar Road and the southern ridge up Walna Scar
- Walna Scar Road and the southern ridge up White Maiden
Other routes up Swirl How
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coniston via Levers Water and the Prison Band | 5.5 km one way | 748 m | 2h 20m | Moderate |
| 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 |
| 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 288 970, 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.
Walna Scar via Goat's Water and Goats Hawse: questions and answers
How far is Walna Scar via Goat's Water and Goats Hawse?
Walna Scar via Goat's Water and Goats Hawse is 6.0 km one way to the summit of Swirl How, with 770 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 12.0 km.
How long does Walna Scar via Goat's Water and Goats Hawse take?
About 2h 30m to the summit of Swirl How and 3h 40m 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 30m for the round trip.
How steep is Walna Scar via Goat's Water and Goats Hawse?
The steepest 500 m averages about 33%, starting 0.9 km from the start, and 23% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Walna Scar via Goat's Water and Goats Hawse climbs 735 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Walna Scar via Goat's Water and Goats Hawse?
Walna Scar via Goat's Water and Goats Hawse starts from Walna Scar car park, Coniston. The grid reference is SD 288 970. Walna Scar car park, Coniston
Is Walna Scar via Goat's Water and Goats Hawse suitable for beginners?
Not as a first mountain. Peakify grades it Hard: steep, rough ground where a slip matters. Build up on an easier route first, such as Coniston via Levers Water and the Prison Band.
What time should I start Walna Scar via Goat's Water and Goats Hawse today?
By 13:26 at the latest. Sunset on Swirl How today is 18:06, Walna Scar via Goat's Water and Goats Hawse takes about 3h 40m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Walna Scar via Goat's Water and Goats Hawse?
Yes. Download it from this page. It is an ascent-only planning track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths and not checked on the ground.