Walna Scar Road and the southern ridge up Walna Scar: route map, distance and time
621 m · Cumbria
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Walna Scar car park, Coniston.
The Walna Scar Road and the southern ridge starts at about 231 m and gains 369 m over 3.6 km to 599 m on the track. The first 2 km are the easy part, averaging 7%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 3 km, which climbs 163 m at an average of 16%, with a 500 m stretch from 2.5 km at about 22%. It keeps climbing at 10% to the top. About 17% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Walna Scar Road and the southern ridge at a glance
| Distance | 3.6 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 390 m |
| Climb on the track | 369 m up, 0 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 230 m to 603 m (summit 621 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 22%, from 2.5 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 17% of the way |
| Time up | 1h 20m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 2h 5m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Walna Scar car park, Coniston |
| Start grid reference | SD 288 970 |
| Summit grid reference | SD 257 963 |
| Parking | Walna Scar car park, Coniston |
Walna Scar Road and the southern ridge 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 Road and the southern ridge 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 Road and the southern ridge 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 | 292 m | +61 m | 6% | SD 280 966 |
| 2 km | 376 m | +85 m | 8% | SD 271 964 |
| 3 km | 540 m | +163 m | 16% | SD 262 963 |
| 3.6 km | 599 m | +59 m | 10% | SD 257 963 |
How long the Walna Scar Road and the southern ridge takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 5m | 1h 45m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 20m | 2h 5m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 1h 40m | 2h 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 07:48, sunset 18:06. Start by 15:01 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 5m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:03. Start by 14:58 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 5m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Walna Scar summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Walna Scar right now. The main Walna Scar page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Walna Scar forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.
About Walna Scar
More about Walna Scar, with the live forecast.
Challenges that include Walna Scar
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 Goat's Water and Goats Hawse up Swirl How
- Walna Scar via Low Water up The Old Man of Coniston
- Walna Scar Road and the southern ridge up White Maiden
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 SD 257 963), 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 Road and the southern ridge: questions and answers
How far is the Walna Scar Road and the southern ridge?
The Walna Scar Road and the southern ridge is 3.6 km one way to the summit of Walna Scar, with 390 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 7.2 km.
How long does the Walna Scar Road and the southern ridge take?
About 1h 20m to the summit of Walna Scar and 2h 5m 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 2h 35m for the round trip.
How steep is the Walna Scar Road and the southern ridge?
The steepest 500 m averages about 22%, starting 2.5 km from the start, and 17% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. The Walna Scar Road and the southern ridge climbs 369 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for the Walna Scar Road and the southern ridge?
The Walna Scar Road and the southern ridge starts from Walna Scar car park, Coniston. The grid reference is SD 288 970. Walna Scar car park, Coniston
Is the Walna Scar Road and the southern ridge 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.
What time should I start the Walna Scar Road and the southern ridge today?
By 15:01 at the latest. Sunset on Walna Scar today is 18:06, The Walna Scar Road and the southern ridge takes about 2h 5m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for the Walna Scar Road and the southern ridge?
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.