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Little Langdale > Wetherlam > Swirl How > Little Langdale
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Distance: 7.7 miles (11.3km)
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Height Gain: 3158 ft (963m)
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Overview: Swirl How is only three feet lower than its big brother, the Old Man of Coniston, but it offers a welcome escape from the crowds...
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Maps: Explorer 377
Online: Streetmap
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Strenuousness: 2
Technicality: 1
Photo Grade: 4
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Start Point: NY316 034
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When you think of Coniston it's usually The Old Man that comes to mind, but Swirl How, its lesser known little brother, is the real centre of the Coniston fells. Only 3ft lower than its big brother, Swirl How takes a fraction of the visitors and provides an escape from summer crowds.
The ascent from Little Langdale takes in the hollow mountain, Wetherlam, where Wainwright counted over a hundred entrances to the copper mines. The descent comes down the other side of Greenburn Reservoir, over Great Carrs to join the beck on its way to Little Langdale Tarn.
Wetherlam
From Michael Sayles' Photos by Michael S album
Section 1 - Little Langdale to Wetherlam
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Distance: 2.5 miles (4km)
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Height Gain: 2287ft (697m)
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From the start take the track slightly downhill to Slater Bridge then start the climb up to Low Hall Garth. The natural tendancy beyond the hut is to take the obvious ridge ahead, but instead contour around the nose to join Greenburn Beck. After a few yards you arrive at a five way junction in the paths where a turn half left starts you up the flank of Birk Fell.
The ascent slackens temporarily at Birkfell Hause, then steepens again as you climb Wetherlam Edge. The ridge leads directly up to the summit cairn where the views extend over Little Langdale to Windermere to the north east, and Coniston to the south east.
Wetherlam
From Cath Sullivan's Cath's Photos album
Section 2 - Wetherlam to Wet Side Edge
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Distance: 2.3 miles (3.6km)
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Height Gain: 721ft (220m)
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From the summit of Wetherlam take the path initially heading south west, descending gently over Red Dell Head Moss. You can detour the few yards to the top of Black Sails with its steep crags to the south, or continue directly over Keld Gill Head to reach Swirl Hause. Ahead lies the steep 600ft ascent of the Prison Band, and the summit of Swirl How.
From Swirl How ridges head off in several directions towards The Old Man, Grey Friar and the next target on this route, Great Carrs. The ridge to Great Carrs drops to Broad Slack where it curves to the right before climbing again to a summit cairn perched on the edge of the steep eastern face. A good path takes you from Great Carrs north to Little Carrs, then down the north ridge to Hell Gill Pike. The ridge curves around Wet Side Edge to where it splits in two at a cairn.
Swirl How summit looking towards Wetherlam
from Andy Wallace's Share the Fell Walking Experience album
Scafells from Swirl How
from Marcus Crompton's Latest Pictures album
Section 3 - Wet Side Edge to Little Langdale
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Distance: 2.9 miles (4.7km)
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Height Gain: 150ft (46m)
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From the cairn on Wet Side Edge the path divides in two, with the left branch heading down directly to Three Shires Stone. Take the right hand branch down the continuing remnants of the ridge as it drops over Rough Crags.
After 900 ft of descent, as the ridge ends, the path divides again, but the main track bears right and descends past another mine level with Greenburn Beck. You're now back at the five way junction from the first part of the walk, and have a choice of routes. A climb up to your right alongside Birk Fell Beck puts you on the ridge down from Wetherlam, but to save the ascent it's easier to return along the outbound path. Pass the tarn on your left and finish off with the short rise from Slater Bridge back to your start at Little Langdale.
