Cumbrian Way, Over the Tops to Langdale.

Ascent from Coppermines Valley, Swirl How on the skyline ahead.

On the second day of our epic adventure we walked from Coniston to Great Langdale 12.5km, the highest point of the day was Swirl How 770m. We descended to the Three Shires Stone on Wrynose Pass then walked N. over the pass between Cold Pike and Pike of Blisco past Red Tarn and down into Langdale and a welcome pint at the ODG.

Kennel Crag above Levers water is ahead, beyond the old mine buildings, the route went up the right hand side of the crag on a stone causeway just visible to the left of the stone built buttress in the foreground. 

The group take a break beside the old mine buildings above Coppermines valley.

Looking S. down Red Dell Beck into Coppermines valley

Ascending the stone causeway that leads from Red Dell past Kennel Crag to Levers Water 410m

The hot dry weather had left Levers Water at low ebb. Beyond the reservoir are Great How Crags on the E face of Swirl How. 

Ascent from Levers Water towards Swirl Hawse the 620m col between Swirl How and Wetherlam.

Prison Band is the steep ridge that ascends from Swirl Hawse to the summit of Swirl How. Levers Water is in view below and far beyond is Coniston Water. 

The group with Pete and Bella on the summit of Swirl How 770m

Great Carrs from Swirl How. To the right of the peak of Great Carrs, far in the distance can be seen Red Tarn, our objective before descent into Langdale.

Red Tarn lies in the dip between Pike of Blisco and Cold Pike, beyond are Crinkle Crags and Bow Fell. Our descent into Great Langdale is to the right following the outflow of the tarn, Browney Gill.

Red Tarn looking back along our route towards the Coniston fells



The steep descent down Browney Gill into Oxendale, the view dominated by Pike o' Stickle above Great Langdale.

A windy recce of the Cumbrian Way route.

Coppermines Valley Coniston

Pete, Lyn, Bella and their old college mate Graham went down to Coniston on Tuesday to recce part of the Cumbrian Way route which they were unfamiliar with. The plan was to see if the path marked on the map from Levers Water up onto Swirl Hawse, between Wetherlam and Swirl How, actually existed or was it one of those rights of way that the OS mark so prominently by a green broken line that may or may not exist on the ground.

Mysterious constructions above Coppermines Valley

It was wet and the wind was increasing, but not too wet and windy to deter the intrepid quartet on their route finding quest. In addition they found an alternative way up to Levers Water from the one we followed last year.

The stone ramp below Kennel Crag

There was a stone-built ramp above the old mine workings in Red Dell, marked on the OS map by two parallel lines. We ascended it then followed a steep path to the top of Kennel Crag from where Levers Water is just a short distance beyond.

Levers Water from Kennel Crag

Levers Water looked grim, enclosed by mist with columns of spray whipped up by the wind, we decided that we would continue alongside the tarn to try and find the path to Swirl Hawse but we would not climb higher. The outlet of the lake (centre) was a raging torrent which we would not be able to cross today.

View across Levers Water to Black Sails, mist lifting.

The path we were looking for is marked on the map ascending the West flank of Black Sails above Swirl Hawse Beck. We discovered that the path does undoubtedly exist and though we didn't follow it far up the valley because of the wind we could clearly see it snaking up the fellside towards Swirl Hawse, which is the pronounced dip in the skyline in the photo above. We crossed swollen Swirl Hawse Beck with difficulty and completed a circuit of Levers Water then as we couldn't cross the outlet we descended into Boulder Valley, traversed across below Grey Crag and went on down to the YHA in Coppermines valley for tea.

Coppermines Valley YHA for tea and a bun.