Wetherlam, Swirl How, Brim Fell & Coniston Old Man circular walk.

Parked up on the Walna Scar road just round the corner from The Sun Inn. Better than paying a painful £8.50 in the town car park.

I popped into the to the town first to grab a sausage roll from a small cafe just in case I run short of supplies. I always have too much food in my bag, but I'd hate to one day run out.

Back to the Sun Inn. The route I took today is just behind the pub.

Two paths run parallel alongside Church Beck, one on either side of the water - spot the chaps getting wet down below

I crossed the bridge and headed up the eastern side of the Coppermines Valley for a while.

The Coppermines Valley is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, is included in The Schedule of Ancient Monuments and is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest. There are all sorts of old mining relics and buildings, especially around the Coniston Old Man side.

Leaving the valley path, I head upwards in the direction of Wetherlam with views of Coniston Old Man and Brim Fell to my left.

The well defined path gradually ascends the fell.

Looking back with Coniston Water now in view.

Getting closer to 'Above Beck Fells' (strange name I agree), its time to put the waterproofs on as a heavy shower moves in.

After the rain subsides, I reach the subsidiary peak of Above Beck Fells at 616m.

Approaching Wetherlam summit with Swirl How and Great Carrs to my left.

Wetherlam summit cairn.

A closer view of Swirl How and Great Carrs.

A descent down Prison Band before the stiff climb back up to Swirl How.

A brief stop for a breather with a view down to Levers Water.

Last section of uphill as the sun starts to break through again.

Swirl How summit.

The relatively easy stroll over to Brim Fell.

Seathwaite Tarn and the shapely Harter Fell to it's right.

Brim Fell summit.

The impressive Dow Crags can be seen to the West - I'm not visiting that one today, can easily be done but wanted to ease myself back in easily after the week away.

Above Goat's Water with the town of Coniston in the distance.

Arriving at Coniston Old Man summit, I thought that for the first time ever I was the only one there - only to find there was a whole host of folk hiding on the other side of the cairn.

Time to start the descent in lovely warm sunshine.

Goats Water.

Last time I was here I witnessed a real life emergency. Someone had fallen down the cliffs of Brim Fell and they had to be rescued by the Mountain Rescue Team and be air lifted out by helicopter - Pretty impressive work. No such dramas today fortunately.

Goats Water and a late lunch I agree, but a lovely secluded and still place to enjoy it.

This brought back memories of when I was a small boy walking with my dad and his ICI Walking Group. We visited here on our way up to The Old Man - It was eerie and still with some low cloud, it was actually quite scary for me I can remember. How I wish I could bring him here again now - but at 90 and with very dodgy knee's, that's not going to happen.

The descent is always interesting - I wasn't aware that mining had been undertaken here for so long

The Old Man slate quarries were believed to have started in the 12th and 13th centuries, although there is little evidence on site of this. By the 1500s the quarries were well established. 'Saddlestone' here has a sign dating it 1690 - 1960, relatively modern stuff then.

The winding track downwards. I turned left at the bottom and headed back down Coppermines and eventually re-joined the path I arrived on.

The more popular path is to turn right head back to the car park at the top of the Walna Scar Road.