Sunday, 13th October 2013

Walk: Coppermine Valley, Wetherlam, Swirl How and Levers Water
Start Point: Torver Grid Reference: SD 281 941
Distance: 13 miles Ascent: 3,900 feet
Time: 7 hours    
Weather: Varying from sunshine to heavy clouds with strong winds on the tops but no rain.
Comments: The walk started by following a new path along a disused railway before following various undulating paths to the Miners Bridge at the entrance to the Coppermine Valley. From here our path took us past disused mines and Red Dell Beck before the steep ascent to Wetherlam. With grass underfoot this ascent is extremely hard. Having made the top we then set off for Swirl How, this climb is mainly on rock and therefore much easier. At Levers Hawse we waved goodbye to the Old Man of Coniston and descended to Levers Water Here we made our way to the bronze age mines at the head of Levers Water before descending further past the impressive waterfalls on outflow from the reservoir. Our final leg was along Walna Scar Road and disused quarries. Six people in all did the walk and they seemed pleasantly tired by the end.

Scroll down to see photos of the walk

The gang, Corser ready for the arctic, Tony being brave, jenny's sister ????? and Jenny

 

Not all the Lake District is made up of hills as this disused railway shows

 

Looking north to the Old Man of Coniston with Dow Crag, Buck Pike and Brown Pike on the left

 

Looking down on Coniston and Coniston Water

 

With hills beckoning, we looked back over Coppermine Valley and Coniston Water in the distance

 

The steepest part of today's walk and if you think it looks hard then you won't be far off the mark

 

Hard or not we reached the top of Wetherlam

 

With Wetherlam now but a memory, Tony leads the pack up the rock face of the Prison Band to Swirl How

 

Swirl How, the highest point of the day

 

Levers Water, our next point of call, with its mine workings at the far end

 

A closer view of the mine works

 

Heading down again via these waterfalls which are only accessible via steep scree slopes

 

The afternoon wears on as we reach this flooded quarry with its waterfall,
but with steep sides all around how does the water flow out.
For the answer you will have to join Betsy on a walk planned for the future

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