The trail starts beside Coniston's Black Bull Inn and heads uphill past the disused railway station to a drysone wall at the end of the paved road. Where the tarmac ends, the Walna Scar Rd continues across the open fell-side. Continue west along the vtrail past the small reed-covered pond of Boo Tarn, where a zigzagging path leads north to the summit via Bursting Stone Quarry. Carry on west instead, across the fell for another mile or so, until you reach a right-hand fork that leads north past the scree slopes of Dow Crag to Goat's Water.

Take a break at the tarn and fuel up - the climb up to Goat's Hawse is steep and can be slippery, so take things slow. Ascend via the east side of the lake and when you reach the saddle you'll need to turn sharp right; the hump of the old man is clearly visible to the southeast.

After the slog up Goat's Hawse, the final hike ip Old Man feels like a breeze; at the top you'll be rewarded with a 360 degree panorama east over Coniston Water, north to the Langdale Pikes, northwest to the Scafell range and west to Dow Crag.

From the summit you should be able to see a zigzag trail tracking down the peak's northern side. Follow the path down to the shores of Low Water, and then east past the old copper mines and stone works beneath Colt Crag. Continue along the old quarry road, and at the nest junction take the left-hand fork, which skirts the banks of Levers Water Beck and Church Beck down to Coniston.

Pubs nearby