It is possible to just do a "there and back" via the descent route marked here, or on one of the other paths on the mountain's broad east face, but taking this route past Dow Crag and Goat's Water is much more spectacular. Even the parking area, cut into a broad and featureless little valley, feels far removed from the real world.

From the parking area follow the path which winds around the Old Man's blunt southern ridge and makes it way over some rocky outcrops to the shore of Goat's Water. In the height of summer the braver amongst you might consider a swim, but even in the middle of a heatwave the water is chillingly cold - you have been warned!

Goat's Water itself is beautiful, and Dow Crag - which looms high above it - is an impressive and somewhat intimidating sight too. In anything resembling good weather the crag is likely to have rock climbers scaling it, so try to pick them out to gain a sense of scale. Some of the routes on the crag are close to 200 metres long so the climbers will look pretty small if they're midway up one of the classic longer lines such as Giant's Crawl or Eliminate A.

Head due north from Goat's Water to a pass and then swing around to head up a broad and beautiful ridge which leads to the summit of Coniston Old Man. Take in the spectacular vista and then descend the - at times - steep track which leads down past Low Water to the parking area.