The first part of the night was quite windy but by morning it had eased. The sky continued clear and starry and I managed to see a couple of shooting stars shortly after getting up. I was on my way by 8:20 and just as I reached the summit ridge of Swirl How the sun was just rising over the distant Yorkshire hills.

Star speckled night sky to the west.

Sunrise from Swirl How. Ingleborough is on the left horizon

Swirl How summit cairn at sunrise.

Its red glow illuminated the summit cairn as I started my tricky descent of Prison Band. I’d put my ice studs on and I’m glad I did because even though there weren’t many icy patches it only takes one to cause a fall. I was glad to reach the flat of Swirl Hause and continued down the easy path towards Levers Water.

It is normally a boggy walk in places but not this morning, thanks to the frost. The clear blue sky and sunshine made for some very nice views across to Coniston Water and the distant fells. When I reached the stony access to Levers Water reservoir I took the ice studs off and continued to descend. I reached the better road in Coppermines valley and enjoyed the last mile or so down into Coniston. I didn’t have long to wait for the bus to Ambleside and the next bus to Windermere was waiting and set off just as I got on it. At the railway station the direct Manchester Airport train arrived after about 15mins and I was able to reach Chorley without changing trains.

Final descent towards Coniston