Tilberthwaite, Old Man of Coniston, Levers Hawse, Swirl How and Wetherlam

It was another of those wonderful Lakeland mornings with the sun beaming high into the midsummer sky when I opened my curtains. Raring to go, I parked up in Tilberthwaite barely one hour after rising.

Setting out from Low Tilberthwaite, I climbed the Tilberthwaite Ghyll path past abandoned slate quarries being reclaimed by nature. After exploring the old works, I emerged into the open valley of Crook Beck and picked up the Hole Rake path toward the Coniston range.

Reaching the summit of Hole Rake provided a stupendous reveal of the Old Man of Coniston and the Coppermines valley below. Descending carefully down the loose scree track to Levers Water Beck, I waded across the stream to cool my feet and take a refreshing drink.

What followed was one of the toughest climbs in the Lake District: 630 metres of continuous climbing from Church Beck to the Old Man of Coniston. Pacing myself in the high summer heat, I passed old mine workings and derelict infrastructure around Stubthwaite Crag and Low Water before reaching the summit cairn at 803m.

After lunch at the summit alongside fellow walkers, I set off along the high ridge toward Swirl How. Passing Brim Fell Rake and descending to Levers Hawse before climbing to Swirl How, the views of the Scafells and the Coniston Fells were magnificent.

Descending the steep Prison Band brought me to Swirl Hawse, prelude to the final mountain climb of the day up Wetherlam. Reaching Wetherlam's shattered rock summit offered a wonderful northern view across Great Langdale to the Langdale Pikes and Jack's Rake on Pavey Ark.

Descending Wetherlam, a navigational lapse led me down via Lad Stones and Steel Edge rather than Wetherlam Edge—adding a bit of extra adventure, a small fall (resulting in a grazed arm!), and a safe return through Tilberthwaite Ghyll back to the car park. A brilliant day out!