It’s been a busy summer and we haven’t had much time to go walking so this was our first outing since June.  Peter picked me up at 6 sharp in the pouring rain although the forecast was looking good.

We had planned on doing the Central Ridge but thought we would decide as we got over Bowes Moor.  The Central Ridge is a boggy walk so plan b was Dow Crag.  As we reached Bowes Moor the rain had died off but we thought Dow Crag would be a better walk as it was a little shorter (I have a 20 mile sponsored walk along Hadrians Wall to do next week). So we headed in the direction of Coniston, drove up the very steep Walna Scar road and parked at the car park at the top.  We arrived at 8.30 ready to set off with a piece of Gala pie to get us going.

We set off up the track used by 4×4 vehicles towards The Old Man and Dow Crag.  The path was wide and steady as we climbed slowly.  The tops were covered in low cloud but even at this early hour the cloud was clearing occasionally.  After about 30 minutes we took a right off the main track and started to climb towards the Cove.  Even though there was low cloud it was still quite warm and the cloud was coming and going all the time.

We arrived at Goats Water about 9.30 and had a sit on some rocks for a cuppa.  Dow Crag was directly in front of us, one minute you could see it the next you couldn’t. We could just pick out a couple of climbers on the crags about half way up.

We set off again towards Goats Hawse where we could turn right towards The Old Man or left towards Dow Crag, our target for today.  It was still quiet on the fells and we met our first walker at Goats Hawse, heading the same way as us.  We climbed towards the summit stopping before the top for another bait stop and some pictures of where we had just come from.

Dow Crag summit

We reached the summit about 11.30 am, still in and out of cloud but enough time to get a picture with The Old Man of Coniston in the background. There was hardly any breeze today so it was pleasant just sitting getting rehydrated.  This was a milestone top as it was number 50 for me out of 71 so only 21 to go now.  Really going to have to work out which one will be my last soon!

The descent

We continued along the ridge in the direction of Buck Pike and then Brown Pike where we would join the Walna Scar road again.  It was getting warmer and the cloud was continuing to clear all the time. 

It was only 1 pm and we were only about a mile from the car park so we had a final bait stop next to Cove bridge.

A very pleasant walk today, quite easy as well, no trouble at all for my knee.  Time for a pear cider in the Sun hotel in Coniston.  Just make sure you order your plate of chips before 2.30 pm!! Hoping to get another walk done at the end of September.