Old Man of Coniston Hike - G/LD-013 SOTA (2020)
Summits on the Air Activation Report
Activation Date: Tuesday 22nd December, 2020.
Activator(s): Richard M1HAX.
Summit: Old Man of Coniston, Lake District, England.
Summit ID: SOTA reference G/LD-013 (8+3 points).
Summit Height: 802m elevation, 415m prominence.
Summit Location: Lat./Long. 54.37066, -3.12145. Maidenhead Grid IO84ki.
Distance: 6.9km travelled with 594m of ascent.
Difficulty: SAC Grade T5 / Grade 2 Scramble.(?)
Elapsed Time: 2hr 55m (including operating).
Weather: Feels like 5.6°C, 7 kph W wind, 91% humidity.
Radio Equipment: Yaesu FTM100D, Diamond SRH770S, Zippy 4200mAh 4S LiFePo4.
Callsign Used: M1HAX/P.
Contacts: 17 (2m FM).
Trip Notes
The Old Man of Coniston, standing at 802 metres, is a prominent fell in the Furness Fells of the Lake District. Historically significant as the highest point of the old county of Lancashire, this mountain is renowned for its rich mining heritage and stunning landscape.
For centuries, the north-east slopes bore witness to extensive copper and slate mining activities, with abandoned mines and spoil tips still clearly visible. These industrial remnants add a fascinating historical dimension to what is already a visually spectacular mountain.
I began my route from the spacious car park at the end of Walna Scar Road, which can accommodate around two dozen vehicles. An early start is advisable, as the parking area fills quickly, especially during peak times.
The route initially tracks northward towards The Bell, a subsidiary peak offering an enjoyable short scrambling opportunity (not shown in route map below). After The Bell, expansive views open up towards Levers Water and the valley’s historic quarry workings. Passing Colt Crag, the path steepens as it approaches Low Water - a picturesque spot perfect for a mid-hike break.
Seeking a more adventurous ascent, I deviated from the main path, exploring the steeper, loose terrain beneath the standard route. I must emphasize that this off-path scramble is only suitable for experienced hikers looking for a challenge, and should not be attempted by those uncertain of their capabilities. You may wish to carry a climbing rope for self rescue if you take this path.
At the summit, I spent about thirty minutes operating my Yaesu FTM100D radio on the two-metre band. The activation was very successful, with 17 contacts including three summit-to-summit (S2S) connections with activators in the Pennines and Lake District.
For those seeking alternative routes, there are various options. I recommend exploring the scrambling potential of The Bell or considering a more ambitious circular route via Goat’s Water and Dow Crag’s Giant’s Crawl climb (Diff grade).
The Old Man of Coniston offers something for every hill walker - from casual tourists to keen mountaineers. Its accessibility, historical intrigue, and stunning views make it a must-visit Lake District summit.
Photos
Below are some photographs taken during my activation of Old Man of Coniston on Tuesday 22nd December, 2020.
Walking Route for Old Man of Coniston
The interactive map below shows my GPS track taken to the SOTA activation zone for Old Man of Coniston. The G/LD-013 summit area is marked on the map with a blue pin icon.
You can download the route shown above as a GPX file suitable for use with most GPS devices. This file is provided for information only, to support your own walk planning and research (it may contain navigation errors, detours and/or safety hazards). The route downloads provided here are governed by the Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
Station Log
I logged the following 17 amateur radio contacts operating as M1HAX/P from G/LD-013 Old Man of Coniston on Tuesday 22nd December, 2020 (all times shown are UTC):
| Time | Callsign | Band | Mode | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10:28 | 2E0FTU/P | 2m | FM | Mark, 5/8, S2S G/NP-031 |
| 10:30 | G6MMS | 2m | FM | Jeff, 5/7 |
| 10:35 | GW4ZPL | 2m | FM | John, 5/7 |
| 10:36 | G1OHH | 2m | FM | Sue, 5/9 |
| 10:37 | G0LWU | 2m | FM | Andrew, 5/9 |
| 10:38 | G7CDA | 2m | FM | Douggie, 5/9 |
| 10:39 | 2E0XYL/P | 2m | FM | Karen, 5/9, S2S G/SP-004 |
| 10:39 | 2E0OMB | 2m | FM | Matt, 5/9 |
| 10:41 | G6PJZ/P | 2m | FM | Andy, 5/9, S2S G/LD-032 |
| 10:42 | G7OEM | 2m | FM | Tony, 5/9 |
| 10:43 | G4OBK | 2m | FM | Phil, 5/6 |
| 10:44 | M0NOM | 2m | FM | Mark, 5/9 |
| 10:45 | GM4WHA | 2m | FM | Geoff, 5/3 |
| 10:46 | G6HMN | 2m | FM | Ray, 5/9 |
| 10:48 | G6XBF | 2m | FM | Walt, 3/3 |
| 10:51 | G0TDM | 2m | FM | John, 3/1 |
| 10:51 | GW0FEU | 2m | FM | Eirwyn, 5/9 |
In the notes field I will usually log the other operator’s name and the signal report they provided. In accordance with the Summits on the Air rules, I do not make a log entry where a complete exchange of callsigns and signal reports was unsuccessful.
Additional Information
The following resources may be helpful to walkers, mountaineers and SOTA activators interested in Old Man of Coniston:
- Sotl.as Summit Page for G/LD-013 Old Man of Coniston.
- Hill Bagging UK Summit Page for Old Man of Coniston.
- Google Earth view of Old Man of Coniston.
- Wikipedia entry for Old Man of Coniston.
- 360° Panorama near summit of G/LD-013 Old Man of Coniston.
If you found this content valuable, why not Buy Me a Coffee?
