Meet report by Matt Cripsey
Low attendance notwithstanding, this was another top meet. I think I’m right in saying it was our first ever stay at the YMC’s Coniston Coppermines hut. Well, we should definitely make a return visit — although it would be hard to replicate having the entire place to ourselves despite only booking one of the three bunk rooms! What a result. We were able to spread all our crap around the living space without bothering anyone.
Prospective member Nik travelled up with Del, while I set off a little later with Peter. We arrived minutes apart, some time around 12.30 am. Not bad going, especially given my slight wrong turn because of some M6 roadworks.
Saturday
Nik said he was keen for a big walk, so he and I were up and out early. We headed straight up the Old Man — Nik setting a strong pace. We made our way between the mine workings, eventually reaching the tarn and the final steep ascent to the summit. It was nearly completely still at the top and we milled around for a while (a very brief while, naturally) to soak it all in. And then we were off. Dow Crag next, then along the ridge until we met the Walna Scar Road, which we followed down into the Duddon Valley. Somewhere near Tongue House we managed to get ourselves into the middle of a water meadow. Nik got wet. We then realised we’d missed the path, which went around the edge on raised boards. Lesson learnt. After that, we crossed the beck by some stepping stones and entered some woodland to the south of Harter Fell. Beyond that, we crossed a cleared plantation, buzzards soaring above. After scrambling up the summit rocks and having a snack, we descended north to Hardknott Pass. From there, we followed the road to Cockley Beck and then up the side of Grey Friar. This was a bit of a slog after all the ascent of the preceding few hours. By the top the light was starting to come good, ready for a few photos. We made our way over to Swirl How, down the Prison Band and then descended via Levers Water to the mines, where we bumped into Del and Peter for the final steps to the hut. 9 hrs 30 mins and 27 kilometres later, we were ready for some food. The early start after a 3 am bed time had done for me and I was asleep in the lounge by midnight.
Having opted out of our big walk, Del and Peter had set out for Wetherlam, ultimately deciding to skip the summit and return via Levers Water.
Sunday
Having spent the previous day as two parties, today we teamed up. The weather was unseasonably warm and dry again. Nik needed to get home by evening and Peter had decided to join him rather than stay on till Monday, so we made a plan to do an easy scramble and return to the hut for some lunch.
We walked down nearly into Coniston and took the Grade 1 line up Long Crag. It starts off with a series of relatively uninspiring craglets before gradually ramping up to a really very pleasant line. It deserves the stars it gets, not least because of the views over Coniston. By the top, Peter’s knee was playing up, but we made our way steadily over to the Hole Rake path, which led us back down to the hut. Nik and Peter left around 2.30 pm, then Del and I very slowly gathered our gear together and headed up to Great How crag to enjoy its Grade 3 route. After a few rope lengths that may or may not have been the correct line — those scramble guidebook descriptions are so opaque… — I persuaded Del that it was probably going to get dark before we’d even got half way. So we traversed out left to escape via a grass ramp and unroped just as the sun was setting. Despite not managing the route, it was good to do a few pitches, making the most of the weather and light.
Once back at the hut, we decided it would be worth a trip to the pub down in Coniston. They weren’t far off closing, but we managed to squeeze in two quick pints and some good conversation before trudging back up hill to bed.
Monday
The weather turned, although it still wasn’t atrocious. We didn’t start early but took on Wetherlam, ascending its Southeast Ridge and planning to come down via Red Dell (also Del’s cowboy name). In the clag, I made a navigational error and began descending our ascent path - I didn’t realise for a quite a while, by which point we had to traverse some fairly steep ground to get back on track and into Red Dell. It was worth it, though. I’d never been through Red Dell before, but as you descend you get to see some of the older workings, including a very steep track for the mine carts and an old wheel for the pump. They mined there from Elizabethan times onwards, which is pretty staggering.
The valley has definitely been made more ‘touristy’ in recent years. There are now signs dotted around and a small network of paths to lead you between the information points. You can also stay at the old coppermines buildings, where they have cottages and hot tubs and other luxury things — in case the YHA hostel or the club huts aren’t enough.
All in all, it must have been a good meet because Nik is now a fully paid up member!
Roll call
Matt (meet leader)
Nik (prospective member)
Del
Peter