Trip report of the Sunday trip to Coniston in the Lake District on 6 November 2011. Photos and report by Sam Harrison. For a full album of photos from the trip, click here.

Bright sunlight and a distinct lack of clouds – weather not often encountered in the Lakes – greeted us as we arrived in Coniston. It was a little on the chilly side but after a few minutes of brisk walking most people were down to t-shirts (and even the odd pair of shorts).

Scrambling up Raven Crag

There were quite a few walk options, from a relaxed bimble up the Old Man to longer options traversing the whole Wetherlam-Swirl How-Old Man ridge. Jim suggested a grade I scramble up Raven Crag onto Holme Fell followed by said ridge back to Coniston.

The scramble was good fun, making a nice change from the Lakeland classics and was of good enough quality to warrant the diversion to it. There were a surprising amount of people on the top of Holme Fell.

By the time we got to the summit of Wetherlam, the sun was setting and the walk along the ridge was in some of the best lighting I’ve ever seen. It was seriously stunning and we could see (with the aid of Jim’s binoculars) right down to Snowdonia.

The descent back to Coniston was rather quick and we were down by 6pm – quite impressive considering the length of the walk!

Swirl How summit

Seathwaite Tarn

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