With rain forecast for this evening (which has duly arrived) I headed south over Dunmail Raise early this morning for a route I have had my eye on for a while.  I parked in the carpark at the Walna Scar fell gate and headed off up the tourist route up Coniston Old Man.  I followed this through the mines to Low Water.  Polly of course took the plunge but berated me loudly for not having any sticks to throw.  How she expects me to find sticks when there are no trees within a mile, I don't know!

We then headed round to the north side of the tarn and headed up a faint path which led alongside a dry gully towards the col between Raven Tor and the East Ridge of Brim Fell.  The path is very faint but there is the odd cairn to keep you on route.  At the col I paid a brief visit to the cairn on Raven Tor and then set off up the East Ridge of Brim Fell.  This has a few easy rock steps but they can all be avoided on grass.  Soon a big cairn came into view.  This is not the summit cairn but marks the top of the East Ridge path - the main summit cairn is 100 yards away.

Next down to Levers Hause and on to Great How Crags.  By now a surprisingly strong wind had started and it was clear that the promised weather front was on the way form the south.  Half way between Great How Crags and Swirl How I met two distressed ladies who had realised that one of their dogs was missing.  They asked me to look out for a "Whippet/Staffs Bull Terrier cross" - my mind boggled!  In the event I found it near Swirl How summit.  Despite the dubious parentage it was rather sweet and I was able to send it in the right direction and watched as it picked up speed when it spotted its owners.

I had lunch out of the wind just below Swirl How summit cairn.  The obvious way down is via the ridge of "Prison Band" which I have done many times.  I fancied something different and worsening weather meant I would not be going on to Wetherlam so I retraced my steps to Levers hause and headed straight down the path to Levers Water.  The path bends round to skirt the water and pass the amazing collection of shafts and cracks around Simon's Nick.  Then down Boulder valley, past the Pudding Stone and back down the easy angled mine tracks back to the carpark which was full to bursting.

Unfrequented Wainwright routes are a mixed bunch but this one was a good 'un.  Most people will never want to climb Brim Fell other than by traversing along the ridge but this is an enjoyable way up and would be good as part of a circuit involving the Old Man, Dow Crag and Walna Scar.  Note:  I used the tourist route to Low Water but Wainwright describes an approach to Low water from a point just north of the Pudding Stone which well off the beaten track and looks interesting.

Enjoy the pictures.

The full album is available on Webshots at http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/564050199BiPUMk

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