In August 2012 the UK Mega Event is coming to Cartmel in Cumbria. This walk up the Old Man of Coniston, the most prominent peak in the Furness Fells, is one of a varied series of events supporting this Mega Event. It is hosted by Mike (muttoneer) supported by other members of the North West Mega Event Team.
The Old Man of Coniston is a fell in the Furness Fells in the English Lake District. It is 2,634 feet (803 m) high, and lies to the west of the village of Coniston and the lake of the same name, Coniston Water. The fell is sometimes known by the alternate name of Coniston Old Man, or simply The Old Man. The mountain is a popular with tourists and fell-walkers with a number of well-marked paths to the summit. The mountain has also seen extensive slate mining activity for eight hundred years and the remains of abandoned mines and spoil tips are a significant feature of the north east slopes.
The Old Man is the highest point in historical Lancashire, though following the 1974 revision of county boundaries in England it now lies, for administrative purposes, within Cumbria.
The summit of the fell carries a unique construction, a combined slate platform and cairn. The extensive view from the summit on a clear day includes much of the southern Lake District, Morecambe Bay, Blackpool Tower, Winter Hill, the Lancashire coast and the Isle of Man. It goes without saying that you'll also be able to see Cartmel from the top!
Interestingly, the Old Man of Coniston is the inspiration for Kanchenjunga, the mountain Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons climb in the Swallows and Amazons novel Swallowdale.
When & Where:
Wednesday 8th August 2012
Meet at the Walna Scar Car Park (see additional waypoints below) at 10:15am, and be ready to step off no later than 10:30am for the ascent of the mountain. Please note that the Walna Scar car park is accessed via a steep and uneven road, which is not suitable for large vehicles, or those with particularly low suspension. If this presents a problem for you, simply park in Coniston town itself and walk up the Walna Scar road, which will take you under an hour.
The Route
We will be taking the Boo Tarn route to the top, following fellsmanhiker's Peak a Boo series of caches to the top. This is a fairly steep route, but provides a quieter option than the main tourist track via Low Water. We are aiming for a leisurely lunch at the summit of Coniston Old Man at noon, before heading north and then west to Dow Crag and Buck Pike. The route down is along the Walna Scar Road, and the group should be back at the car park between 3pm and 4pm (allowing time for finding the caches along the route).
All told we will be going 6.5 miles / 11km and climbing around 800m.
It must be stressed that everyone partaking in the walk is responsible for their own safety (and that of any children under 18 or dogs accompanying them). Due to the steep terrain this walk is not suitable for young children. It is NOT a guided walk, rather a group walking together, where various members know the route being taken. Although the route is following established roads, tracks & paths, some stretches are steep, whilst others are rough under foot.
The “British Mountaineering Council - Participation Statement” best summarises the individual risks and responsibilities applicable to all participants in this event:
“Climbing, hill walking and mountaineering are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions and involvement.”
Furthermore, everyone MUST:
i: Have the appropriate skills and abilities to complete the walk
ii: Have their own navigation equipment – map and compass (and know how to use them) as well as GPSr
iii: Recognise that there is no Group Leader; it is just a group of like minded people walking together, and nothing more.
The weather can change quickly on the Lake District fells and everyone should be properly prepared for a mountain walk by wearing and bringing:
- Waterproof walking boots
- Waterproof clothing
- Warm clothing
- Drinks and food (lunch for the summit as well as fluids and snacks for the walk)
- A map and compass (and know how to use them!)
- A camera (for the excellent views)
- Basic survival and First Aid equipment
- A torch (we are not planning to be on the mountain after dark, but participants should be prepared for the eventuality)
Before arriving to start the walk, all participants are advised to check the weather forecast by visiting the Lake District Weatherline website or by calling 0844 846 2444 and make sure that they are prepared for all possible weather conditions. Please note that if the weather is particularly bad, we reserve the right to change the walk, or abandon it all together on the grounds of safety.
If you plan to come on this walk, please log a “will attend” indicating the numbers of adults/children/dogs in your group (please bear in mind that it is not suitable for young children).
Please remember to keep visiting the North West Mega website for the latest information on the UK’s 5th Annual Mega Event in 2012.
Attendee Badge for Geocaching Profiles
If you attended this event as part of the UK Mega-Event programme, why not add this special badge to your public geocaching profile.
Copy the code below (in blue) and paste it into your profile page.
<img src="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j440/harveyjj/Crawl-up-Coniston.gif" border="0" alt="GC3B93D - Mega2012: Crawl Up Coniston" height="200">
If you have any queries about this profile badge, then mail “Sir PhilPamandRob” through their profile.