Coniston via the quarries and Low Water up The Old Man of Coniston: route map, distance and time

802 m · Cumbria

The Old Man of Coniston is the highest of the Coniston fells, a popular climb from Coniston village past old slate quarries and Low Water.

Climb through the old slate quarries to Low Water, then up the steep stony path to the summit.

Coniston via the quarries and Low Water at a glance

Distance	4.2 km one way, to the top
Ascent	743 m
Time up	2h 5m by Naismith's rule
There and back	2h 55m, down the same way
Grade	Moderate
Start	Coniston village
Start grid reference	SD 302 975
Summit grid reference	SD 272 978

Coniston via the quarries and Low Water 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 the quarries and Low Water takes

Pace	To the top	There and back
Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up	1h 40m	2h 25m
Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up	2h 5m	2h 55m
Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up	2h 30m	3h 35m

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 07:46, sunset 18:08. Start by 14:13 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 55m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Tomorrow: sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:06. Start by 14:11 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 55m for the walk and an hour for stops.

The Old Man of Coniston summit weather for this route

Good Today Sunday 18 October

Partly cloudy, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -4°C, summit wind 17 mph gusting 22 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:46, sunset 18:08.
Poor Tomorrow Monday 19 October

Light drizzle, up to 8°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 42 mph gusting 53 mph, 48% chance of rain. Rated Poor. Sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:06.

Best day of the next seven for Coniston via the quarries and Low Water: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 22 mph and a 0% chance of rain.

Cloud inversion tomorrow morning: 18% (Low), best around 07:00. 7-day inversion outlook.

Hour-by-hour The Old Man of Coniston forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb The Old Man of Coniston?

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 -4°C on top.
A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
Microspikes for icy paths. In snow, an ice axe and crampons and the skills to use them.
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 The Old Man of Coniston

The Old Man of Coniston is the highest of the Coniston fells, a popular climb from Coniston village past old slate quarries and Low Water. More about The Old Man of Coniston, with the live forecast.

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

Extend the walk: tops near the summit

Brim Fell (796 m), 0.8 km north
Dow Crag (778 m), 1 km west
Walna Scar (621 m), 2.1 km south-west
Swirl How (802 m), 2.7 km north
Grey Friar (773 m), 2.8 km north-west
White Maiden (613 m), 2.8 km south-west

Challenges that include The Old Man of Coniston

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 Levers Water and the Prison Band up Swirl How
Coniston round via the Old Man up Swirl How
Coniston via Lad Stones up Wetherlam

Other routes up The Old Man of Coniston

Route	Distance	Ascent	Time up	Grade
Walna Scar Road via Goat's Water	3.1 km one way	422 m	1h 20m	Moderate
Walna Scar via Low Water	3.1 km one way	580 m	1h 35m	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 SD 272 978), 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 the quarries and Low Water: questions and answers

How far is Coniston via the quarries and Low Water?

Coniston via the quarries and Low Water is 4.2 km one way to the summit of The Old Man of Coniston, with 743 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 8.4 km.

How long does Coniston via the quarries and Low Water take?

About 2h 5m to the summit of The Old Man of Coniston and 2h 55m 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 3h 35m for the round trip.

Where do you park for Coniston via the quarries and Low Water?

Coniston via the quarries and Low Water starts from Coniston village. The grid reference is SD 302 975.

Is Coniston via the quarries and Low Water 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 the quarries and Low Water today?

By 14:13 at the latest. Sunset on The Old Man of Coniston today is 18:08, Coniston via the quarries and Low Water takes about 2h 55m 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 the quarries and Low Water?

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