The Old Man of Coniston

Also known as:Coniston Old Man
Area:Lake District - Southern Fells
County:Westmorland and Furness
Country:England
Classification:Wainwright, Birkett, Marilyn, Hewitt, Nuttall, and HuMP
(also Clem, Sim, County Top - Historic, Fellranger, Synge, and Tump)
Height:802.4m (with a drop of 415m)
Maps:OL6(N) Explorer or 96, 97 Landranger
Grid Ref:SD272978         Hills nearby: 5km 10km 20km
Summit:cairn 12m SE of trig point - photos
Daylight:dawn 05:40, sunrise 06:15, sunset 18:24, dusk 19:00

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The Old Man Of Coniston and Wetherlam
The Old Man Of Coniston and Wetherlam


The Old Man is the highest of the Coniston Fells ... perhaps until it and Swirl How are measured with modern GPS equipment as their heights are rather close. It towers over the village of Coniston to the east, to the north east is the Coppermines Valley: an area of ancient copper and slate mining. Further mines can be found on the lower southern slopes.

The Old Man appears in Arthur Ransome's book Swallowdale renamed as "Kanchenjunga".

The Old Man can be climbed from Coniston, or the handy parking area at the end of the Walna Scar Road. The main ascent route being a track for the most part until the final section that is steep and eroded. Some rather fine less popular alternatives exist.

The Coniston Fells are situated in the Furness region of Cumbria.

Why not try walking up this hill using one of our walks:

... or, if you've walked it already, why not log on or register and record your walk?

Other walkers registered on our site who have already walked up this hill include: 3mz0, @woody, abbyrich1965@aol.com, Achandler, adgl (twice), adylanfan, AGJ64, ahampson (x4), Ajnoma, ajpicky1995, Alan0409, Alexwalking123, andrew_poyner, Andrewc1980, Andy Duff, andypresley, AngieC, annie26793, anthbowles, Ashleighatkinson, atessa, awall, bally6872, Baxtertrek, Bazwell (x3), beaumont.dan@gmail.com (x3), Becky28, beckylindeman, BeckyST, BeckyTheBaker (twice), beeeeeh, beth, Biggeoff, Bilberry, Biscuits17, Bluebeard (twice), Bogtrotters, Bonnister, boromonkey, budgie, Burgpa, Burneyc, CarlandHay, CARLOS (x9), Carolwildbird, Cat.White, ccoleby, cejackson1951, CEW, CharlieG, charlottegetsaround, chloealina, Chris Mac, Chris the rambler, Chrisajones, chrisandbex, chrisfry35 (x9), ClaireN, clmyers, CodyJ, COLIN CHILDS, Cowles, craig808, crawflakes, DANE2766 (x3), Danrobinson (x4), DaphneLibby, darby1963, darrendixon, Darrenh, Dave Martin, Daver64, davew, David_F (x13), DavidMBurnett, Davidohara, Daz Graham, dbirch (twice), demig, denise1971, Denny2211, digby (twice), distantecho, djhulluk@aol.com, DJSibbald, dmcarroll87, domusmantell, Dora the explorer, DrewBrown, Drpjohnston, drsylvester68, dsutton101 (twice), DukeNukem, DuncanG22, duncbarnes (x3), Econ, Ejuk (twice), Elaineb, Elina, emlov8, encho, euant, fabio, Fell1979, Felltopper, Fellwalker, fellwalker68 (x3), fidds (twice), filthymanc, finndougal, fizzerfox (x3), Floydian1, frothyraptor, gallowshill (x4), gary1981, GaryR, gbh (x3), gdh200, Geaorgina Brough, geordiegary, GeorgiaEvans (twice), gerainta, gerard.hurst (x10), gergiz, gill4rolo, Gillian7660, gilly_3886 (twice), Ginty (twice), Glen.Horrocks, gossy251, goth_angel, GraemeLackford, Graywoodhouse, griff44, h.d.edwards@hotmail.co.uk, Hannahfw, Harter hod carrier (x7), Harveys, HayleyT, Hench, hhampson, HikingKidd, hillbilly (twice), Hillwalker68, HollySalaman (twice), Homesick Scorrie, Howdo, Hubbards, Hutchy22 (twice), i2am2no2man, Iainp21, ian_hay@ymail.com, ianjhardie, iggsypoo, IKW, inkblatt, Itismegann, Ivesylew, ja5ca, JA_Gorman, JackKendall, jackyburke80@yahoo.com, James48 (x4), James82 (twice), Jamieandmel, JamieL, Jandy (twice), Jasimo16, jasonkirkby, JasonMason, JazMeg26, jcolvinjarvis, jdennington, jegger (twice), Jennie, JennyPeachey, JimRiley, JJH94, jkpole, jodyd, john09cw, johngraham5056@aol.com, Jojo777, JonLI, jonsteward (x6), Josh1395, joturner72, Jrule_vision, JSutton (x3), Jul3scorn3ll, JulesMC, Julieabram, Kanianne, Karen.m.burns, KarenWAL4, karroo22, Katherined (x8), Katie McBride, Kieranatt, Kieranatt98, kierandol, Kingskerswell, kwetal, Lambo330, Lancashire Lad (twice), lancashirelass2, Lb2007, leedrich, Lenny0018 (twice), lfaulder, lilyybarnes (twice), lludwinski (twice), Louandmo, LozJessNacho, LucyD, Luizawoods, lulatigerlily, Luly (twice), luverlyjuberly, Mandbar, Mandy1836, Mandymoo, mariablky (x9), MarjWatson, mark.soulby1@btinternet.com, markexploring, markfaulkner9@gmail.com, markhallam (x8), martutd, mattmanutd, Mc49, McLeish, Michaelholbrow, michaelrusman@hotmail.com, Michal7, mickeyg, Mickha, MickRadford, mikedowsett, Mikew92, MikeyMcC, mintcake, motley 55 (twice), Mountain Zulu, MrAndyG, munrobracket (twice), Muzz On The Run, Nathaniel Hillman, navdave (x4), neil_h, NickiG, Nigel Dewhirst, Nottspanther (x3), On The Rivet, onceuponatime, Orayner15, pah800, pandy, Paperballpark, patrickonthefells, PaulSpink, PDB1963, peterb (x4), Peterfishwick, philipsteak, PipT, Pop17, racheljanemchugh, rampton60, RayK, Rebecca55, Ricey, rileyjayde, rjlawless, Rmully, ronin55jlc, Rosehip (twice), RuslandRambler (x10), s.lee90, Samlegg11, sammc, sammyb7, Samndigger, samross, Samrust, Sarahlou42, ScoutScarShuffler, Scuba6936, shane1974, sharpshooter1969, Sheelagh, Shemayand (twice), shivtc@yahoo.co.uk (x5), Shortnick, Skipper, sophielucywalking, SophieWalker, Spacemonkey (twice), spookyfish, springfishblue, Squareybee, starfury6, Stephenmshanks, Steve1607, stevegunter, StevetheRover (x5), Stoney, Strangerclur, strawberryjam4, StuartL, Stuchlik, Sue.campbell1@hotmail.co.uk (twice), Suecash (twice), Susanna (twice), sushiwalkies, swiftcavo, Sylwia J Kociemba (twice), talk2mack@hotmail.com, taxiken98, The Ozard (twice), TheaEvans, thehappymundays, ThinArthur, ThrowerBell, tiamaria, Tirama, tom bruise, tom.coleman18@gmail.com, Tony Roberts, TONYL31, TonyRogerson, Toohey100, Toy poodle, Traverse (twice), Trevor123 (twice), Tricia15, tunebluez, Union1, VelandoL1711, Vicksey22 (x7), vinmac, vonnieflossy1, Walmo124 (twice), walsh581 (twice), We11za, Westcoasthiker , wezboyes@hotmail.com (x3), wittonweavers, wolfgangb, Wrighty41, wrowlands3, XanderPY (twice), yasmin189, Yeti, and yorkmunrobagger.

In our forum you can read the following walk reports which include this hill:

Photo by Rodney Clark and is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0) licence. For more information about this photo, including on copyright, see the photo's home page.

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Participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions.