The Old Man of Coniston routes, easiest to hardest: times, distances and GPX

Peakify lists 3 measured routes up The Old Man of Coniston, traced on OpenStreetMap paths from the start to the summit. Distances and ascent are one way, to the top.

The Old Man of Coniston routes, easiest to hardest

Sorted by grade, easiest first: Easy, Moderate, Hard, then Scramble. Routes with the same grade keep the order in which Peakify's editors listed them.

The Old Man of Coniston route times by Naismith's rule

The times above use Naismith's rule: 5 km/h on the flat plus 10 minutes for every 100 m of ascent, rounded to the nearest 5 minutes. "There and back" doubles the distance and counts the ascent once, for coming down the same way. Naismith assumes a fit walker and no stops, so add time for breaks, a heavy pack, rough or snowy ground, and a group that moves at its slowest member's pace.

Each The Old Man of Coniston route

Coniston via the quarries and Low Water

Climb through the old slate quarries to Low Water, then up the steep stony path to the summit. It starts from Coniston village. 4.2 km one way with 743 m of ascent. About 2h 5m to the summit and 2h 55m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Moderate.

Walna Scar Road via Goat's Water

Follow the Walna Scar Road and climb past Goat's Water to Goat's Hawse, then turn east to the summit. It starts from Walna Scar Road car park, above Coniston. 3.1 km one way with 422 m of ascent. About 1h 20m to the summit and 1h 55m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Moderate.

Walna Scar via Low Water

A hard mountain walk to the summit from Walna Scar car park, Coniston. It starts from Walna Scar car park, Coniston. 3.1 km one way with 580 m of ascent. About 1h 35m to the summit and 2h 10m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Hard.

The Old Man of Coniston route GPX

Download a GPX for each route with a track: Walna Scar via Low Water. Each is an ascent-only planning track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths and not checked on the ground.

Before you pick a route

The grade describes the ground in fair weather. Wind, rain, cloud and ice change it: a Moderate path can be hard to follow in mist, and a scramble in strong gusts is a different proposition from the same rock on a calm day. Check whether it is safe to climb The Old Man of Coniston today and the The Old Man of Coniston 14-day forecast before you set off, and allow for the walk out in daylight.

Planning a day on The Old Man of Coniston routes

The walking times above use Naismith's rule, which assumes a fit walker on good paths with short stops. Most groups take longer: add a quarter for a mixed group, more for children or heavy packs, and plan the descent as carefully as the climb, because tired legs and fading light cause more trouble on the way down than on the way up.

Start early. Car parks at popular starts fill by mid-morning in summer and at weekends, and an early start leaves spare daylight if the weather turns or the walk takes longer than planned. In winter, work back from sunset and leave a margin of at least an hour.

Carry a map and compass and know how to use them, even on a well-trodden path; a phone battery fails fastest in cold, wet weather. Pack a waterproof jacket and trousers, a warm layer, a hat and gloves in every season, plus food, water and a head torch. Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.

If you are new to The Old Man of Coniston, choose the easiest route in the table for a first ascent and save the harder lines for a settled day when you know the mountain. Turning back is always an option; the summit will still be there.

Questions about The Old Man of Coniston

What is the easiest route up The Old Man of Coniston?

From the car park on the Walna Scar Road above Coniston, follow the track and climb past the quarries to Low Water and the summit.

How much time does each The Old Man of Coniston route take?

Coniston via the quarries and Low Water: about 2h 5m up and 2h 55m there and back. Walna Scar Road via Goat's Water: about 1h 20m up and 1h 55m there and back. Walna Scar via Low Water: about 1h 35m up and 2h 10m there and back. Times are by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops.

Can I get a GPX file for a The Old Man of Coniston route?

Yes. Open a route below and download its GPX: an ascent track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths.