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Date: 15 Dec 2003
Start / Finish: Coniston.
Maps: Outdoor Leisure 6: English Lakes South West.
| Day 1 | Wetherlam to Brim Fell | 7 miles / 3800 feet (11.3km / 1158m) |
| Day 2 | Coniston & Goats Water | 5 miles / 270 feet (8.0km / 83m) |
A short trip with easy paths. The original idea was to return via the Dow Crag ridge, but as the tops were misted out on the second day and we had never visited Goats Water before, we descended below the crags instead.
From Coniston we took the Church Beck path and crossed at Miners Bridge to approach Wetherlam from the S ridge. Unlike our previous visit, we kept to the right hand path on the upper slopes to ensure that we found the beautiful group of tarns before the first false summit.
Taking the main highway W, a thin path branches L to the often bypassed summit of Black Sails. Rejoining the main path over Swirl How to Great Carrs, with great views N in very clear conditions, we descended to the Grey Friar col to collect water at the stream head a short distance down to the N. From here we took the contouring path back to the main ridge and climbed to Brim Fell for the pitch.
The morning saw the tops misted out and a strong wind. After a cursory visit to the Old Man, we descended to the Dow Crag col and then down the repaired path to Goats Water beneath the towering buttresses which were engulfed in swirling mist. The well used path continues around the lake to the Walna Scar road, which joins the lane to Coniston.
