Skiddaw Little Man: 865m Height, Walks and Views

Skiddaw Little Man stands south of Skiddaw’s main summit, a distinct fell rather than simply a stopping point on the way up. At 865m, it ranks fifteenth among the Wainwrights, despite its modest-sounding name. Its position above Keswick gives it a particular appeal: Derwentwater and the valleys beyond open out below, while the higher bulk of Skiddaw provides a very different outlook to the north.

A separate summit on the Skiddaw massif

Skiddaw Little Man belongs to the great mass of high ground north of Keswick. Its summit rises from Skiddaw’s southern shoulder, separated from the parent fell by a shallow saddle. Seen from the Keswick side, it has a more pronounced shape than its name might suggest, with steep slopes falling towards the lower ground around Latrigg. Lesser Man, its subsidiary top, adds another feature to the southern skyline.

The underlying rocks belong to the Skiddaw Group, a sequence of ancient sedimentary rocks formed from marine deposits during the Ordovician Period. These rocks distinguish much of the northern Lake District from the volcanic country farther south. Around the higher parts of the massif, exposed stone and loose fragments give the ground a restrained palette of grey, set against the grass of the slopes below.

Views over Keswick and Derwentwater

The southern outlook is one of Little Man’s strongest reasons for a visit. Keswick lies below, with Derwentwater stretching towards Borrowdale and the central fells rising beyond. The Newlands fells occupy the south-western view, while the Helvellyn range forms part of the wider eastern panorama. This is a summit from which the relationship between the town, lake and surrounding valleys is particularly easy to read.

Looking north gives a useful contrast. Skiddaw’s higher summit dominates that direction, making Little Man’s place within the massif clear. Its attraction is not an uninterrupted horizon in every direction, but the combination of a high mountain setting and an open outlook towards the heart of Lakeland. Clear conditions matter: at 865m, the summit can be in cloud even when Keswick remains in sunshine.

Little Man among the Northern Fells

Wainwright included Skiddaw Little Man in The Northern Fells, the fifth book of his seven-volume guide. It is a separate Wainwright, with a summit grid reference of NY266277, and stands fifteenth in height among the 214. Nearby Wainwrights include Skiddaw, Carl Side, Long Side and Bakestall, all part of the surrounding northern fell country.

Little Man is commonly combined with Skiddaw, though the well-used approach from the Keswick side allows walkers to bypass its summit. That helps explain why it can receive less attention than its higher neighbour. Including it gives a fuller sense of the massif and a notably different viewpoint. Any walk here involves exposed high ground, where wind, cloud and navigation deserve proper consideration.

Where Skiddaw Little Man stands

Summit at grid reference NY266277 · open full map

The real Skiddaw Little Man

Walking Skiddaw Little Man

We make artwork, not route guides — these are the guides we'd point a friend to:

• Skiddaw (andrewswalks.co.uk)
• Easy Lake District walks: Skiddaw (sallyscottages.co.uk)
• Skiddaw Walk from Gale Road Car Park (lifehop.co.uk)

Weather on Skiddaw Little Man

Conditions estimated at summit height (865 m) via Open-Meteo. For a walker's forecast, use the Mountain Weather Information Service.

Skiddaw Little Man on your wall

A painting of Skiddaw Little Man can bring back more than a summit reached: the grey upper slopes, the spread of Derwentwater below, or familiar ground seen from a new height. As a print or canvas, that view has a quiet place at home.

Own “Skiddaw Little Man Sunlit Ridge” — our painting of Skiddaw Little Man → or browse all Fells & Mountains artwork

Neighbouring Wainwrights in The Northern Fells

• Skiddaw 930 m
• Carl Side 747 m
• Bakestall 674 m
• Long Side 734 m

Part of our guide to all 214 Wainwrights — see the full index.