The Old Man of Coniston

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:

• The Old Man of Coniston
• The Old Man of Coniston, Brim Fell, Swirl How, Wetherlam
• The Old Man of Coniston, from Coniston village

... 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: @woody, abbyrich1965@aol.com, Achandler, adgl (twice), adylanfan, AGJ64, ahampson (x4), Ajnoma, andrew_poyner, Andy Duff, AngieC, anthbowles, atessa, awall, Baxtertrek, Becky28, beckylindeman, BeckyST, beth, Bilberry, Biscuits17, budgie, Burgpa, CarlandHay, CARLOS (x9), Carolwildbird, Cat.White, ccoleby, cejackson1951, CEW, chloealina, Chris the rambler, chrisandbex, chrisfry35 (x9), clmyers, Cowles, craig808, crawflakes, DANE2766 (twice), Danrobinson (x3), DaphneLibby, darby1963, darrendixon, Darrenh, Dave Martin, Daver64, Daz Graham, dbirch (twice), demig, Denny2211, digby (twice), distantecho, domusmantell, DrewBrown, Drpjohnston, drsylvester68, dsutton101 (twice), DukeNukem, DuncanG22, duncbarnes (twice), Econ, Ejuk (twice), emlov8, encho, euant, Fellwalker, fellwalker68 (x3), fidds (twice), filthymanc, finndougal, fizzerfox (twice), Floydian1, frothyraptor, gallowshill (x4), GaryR, gbh (x3), gdh200, geordiegary, gerainta, gerard.hurst (x10), gill4rolo, Gillian7660, gilly_3886, Ginty, gossy251, goth_angel, GraemeLackford, Graywoodhouse, griff44, Hannahfw, Harter hod carrier, Harveys, Hench, hhampson, HikingKidd, hillbilly (twice), Hillwalker68, Howdo, Hubbards, i2am2no2man, Iainp21, ianjhardie, iggsypoo, IKW, Ivesylew, ja5ca, JackKendall, jackyburke80@yahoo.com, James48 (x4), James82 (twice), JamieL, Jandy (twice), Jasimo16, jasonkirkby, JasonMason, JazMeg26, jdennington, jegger, Jennie, JennyPeachey, JimRiley, jodyd, john09cw, Jojo777, JonLI, Jrule_vision, JSutton (x3), JulesMC, Julieabram, Kanianne, Karen.m.burns, KarenWAL4, karroo22, kierandol, Kingskerswell, kwetal, Lambo330, Lancashire Lad (twice), lancashirelass2, Lenny0018 (twice), lfaulder, lludwinski (twice), Louandmo, Luizawoods, lulatigerlily, Luly, luverlyjuberly, Mandy1836, Mandymoo, mariablky (twice), MarjWatson, mark.soulby1@btinternet.com, markhallam (x8), mattmanutd, Mc49, McLeish, Michal7, mickeyg, Mickha, mikedowsett, Mikew92, motley 55 (twice), MrAndyG, munrobracket (twice), navdave (x4), neil_h, NickiG, Nottspanther, On The Rivet, Orayner15, pandy, Paperballpark, patrickonthefells, PaulSpink, peterb (x4), Peterfishwick, PipT, Pop17, racheljanemchugh, rampton60, rileyjayde, rjlawless, ronin55jlc, Rosehip (twice), RuslandRambler (x6), s.lee90, Samlegg11, sammc, Samndigger, samross, Samrust, ScoutScarShuffler, Scuba6936, shane1974, Sheelagh, shivtc@yahoo.co.uk (x3), Shortnick, Skipper, sophielucywalking, Spacemonkey (twice), spookyfish, springfishblue, Squareybee, starfury6, Stephenmshanks, Steve1607, StevetheRover (x4), Stoney, Strangerclur, StuartL, Stuchlik, Suecash (twice), Susanna (twice), sushiwalkies, swiftcavo, Sylwia J Kociemba (twice), taxiken98, thehappymundays, ThrowerBell, tiamaria, Tirama, tom bruise, Tony Roberts, TONYL31, TonyRogerson, Toy poodle, Traverse (twice), vinmac, vonnieflossy1, walsh581 (twice), Westcoasthiker , wezboyes@hotmail.com (x3), wittonweavers, wolfgangb, wrowlands3, XanderPY, yasmin189, Yeti, and yorkmunrobagger.

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

• 14/09/19 - Lancashire Lad - Wet Side Edge to Dow Crag - (and a Brocken Spectre).
• 23/06/19 - Yeti - Coniston Old Man

If you need accommodation we have details of 33 properties offering rooms near The Old Man of Coniston. Here are some examples:

4 Sykes Cottages Assessed Cottage

Mountain Escape, Coniston

£625-4214 per week
3.0km (1.9 miles) away, sleeps 8

3 Sykes Cottages Assessed Cottage

Swallowdale, Torver

£484-3064 per week
3.8km (2.4 miles) away, sleeps 6

3 Visit England Assessed Hostel or Bunkhouse

Elterwater Hostel, Nr Ambleside

£18-25 per bed
8.7km (5.4 miles) away

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.