The seven Coniston fells all start on foot from the village: Coniston Old Man, Dow Crag, Brim Fell, Swirl How, Great Carrs, Grey Friar and Wetherlam. All are in the Southern Fells, and all can be walked in one long day. Two lower fells, Holme Fell and Black Fell, sit north of the village around Tarn Hows and Yew Tree Tarn, which makes nine.
Parking and buses
The WalkLakes route up the Old Man from the village starts at the tourist information centre, next to the Lake District National Park pay and display car park. The Coppermines guide to five ways up the Old Man also lists Ruskin Avenue and the Bluebird car and coach park in the village. For the Old Man and Dow Crag, the rough car park at the end of the tarmac on Walna Scar Road starts you higher. Space there is limited and it takes cash.
The Stagecoach summer 2026 timetable (23 March to 1 November) has the 505 running daily between Ambleside and Coniston via Skelwith Fold and Hawkshead, roughly hourly, with a few journeys through from Windermere and Kendal. It stops at Monk Coniston, at the head of the lake, and at the Crown Inn in the village. The X12, run by Blueworks, links Coniston with Torver and Ulverston.
Short walks from the village
The two low fells, Holme Fell and Black Fell, go well together. WalkLakes walks them together from Tarn Hows, about 3 km from the village: 13.1 km with 562 m of ascent, a minimum of 3 hours 30 minutes. It crosses the A593 twice and passes Hodge Close quarry, which has an unfenced drop into deep water. The Old Man by itself is the shortest of the high fells. From the Walna Scar Road car park it is 6 km and 600 m on the WalkLakes route, up through the old quarries to Low Water. WalkLakes times leave out stops, so allow extra.
Shorter walks from Coniston
| Rank | Fell | Height | Area | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 213 | Holme FellSouthern Fells | 317 m | Southern Fells | Easy |
| 212 | Black FellSouthern Fells | 323 m | Southern Fells | Easy |
| =31 | Coniston Old ManSouthern Fells | 802 m | Southern Fells | Moderate |
Full days from the village
From the village itself, the Old Man is 9.1 km with 773 m of ascent. Wetherlam by the Lad Stones ridge is 12.2 km and 786 m, about 3 hours 45 minutes. Dow Crag from Walna Scar Road, back past Goats Water, is 10.5 km and 574 m. Great Carrs and Grey Friar sit at the far end of the ridge. WalkLakes approaches them from Wrynose Pass, but from Coniston they are an extension of the round below.
Full days from Coniston
| Rank | Fell | Height | Area | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48 | Dow CragSouthern Fells | 778 m | Southern Fells | Moderate |
| 37 | Brim FellSouthern Fells | 796 m | Southern Fells | Moderate |
| =31 | Swirl HowSouthern Fells | 802 m | Southern Fells | Moderate |
| =55 | WetherlamSouthern Fells | 763 m | Southern Fells | Moderate |
| =42 | Great CarrsSouthern Fells | 785 m | Southern Fells | Moderate |
| =51 | Grey FriarSouthern Fells | 773 m | Southern Fells | Moderate |
Classic rounds from Coniston
The Coniston round
The full round takes in all seven fells from the village. Wikipedia notes that Grey Friar is often climbed with the other six Coniston fells, usually starting from Coniston. One common line goes up the Walna Scar Road to Dow Crag, crosses Goats Hawse to the Old Man, then runs north over Brim Fell to Swirl How, with out-and-back detours to Great Carrs and Grey Friar, before crossing to Wetherlam and dropping back to the village. Mud and Routes goes the other way, up the Coppermines Valley to Wetherlam first. Their version is 23.2 km with 1,617 m of ascent, and they allow eight hours.
The Old Man, Brim Fell, Swirl How and Wetherlam
A shorter take from the Walna Scar Road car park leaves out Dow Crag, Great Carrs and Grey Friar. WalkLakes gives 15 km with 935 m of ascent and a minimum of 4 hours 30 minutes, finishing down past Levers Water and the Coppermines Valley. Its route notes warn of one very boggy section, so wear boots that keep water out.
Dow Crag and Goats Water
Walk up the Walna Scar Road to Brown Pike, follow the edge north to Dow Crag, and come back down past Goats Water under the crag. The Old Man is a short climb from Goats Hawse if you want a second summit.
On any of these, carry a map and compass and check the Mountain Weather Information Service (MWIS) forecast before you set out. For how the Coniston fells fit into a full round of the 214, see how long it takes to walk the Wainwrights, and for company on the long days, doing the Wainwrights together.