Wetherlam: Height (763m), Walks and Summit Views

Wetherlam stands at the north-eastern end of the Coniston fells, its broad summit rising above rocky ridges and old mining ground. At 763m, it is lower than several of its neighbours, but has a character quite distinct from the Old Man of Coniston. Walkers value its rougher approaches, far-reaching views and the space it offers to appreciate the country between Coniston and Little Langdale.

A rocky fell above Coniston and Little Langdale

Wetherlam is a substantial, many-sided fell rather than a single sharply defined peak. Its broad upper slopes contrast with the crags, gullies and rocky ridges around its flanks. Wetherlam Edge and Steel Edge are two of its best-known features, giving the fell a more rugged character than its rounded summit might suggest from a distance.

Its position makes it a rewarding viewpoint. The Langdale Pikes and the higher central fells form an important part of the outlook, with the Scafell massif and Windermere also visible in clear conditions. The nearby Coniston summits give the view a strong foreground: this is a place to study the shape of the group as well as look beyond it.

The fell belongs to the Borrowdale Volcanic Group, the ancient volcanic rocks that underpin much of the central and southern Lake District. That geology helps explain the broken, craggy ground which gives Wetherlam much of its appeal.

Wetherlam in the Southern Fells

Wetherlam appears in The Southern Fells, Book Four of Alfred Wainwright’s seven-volume guide to the Lakeland fells. Its recorded height is 763m, or 2,503ft, placing it 56th by height among the 214 Wainwrights. The summit grid reference is NY288011.

Swirl How is its immediate high neighbour to the west, while Great Carrs, Brim Fell and the Old Man of Coniston belong to the same compact upland group. Wetherlam is often included in longer walks across the Coniston fells, but it also makes a substantial objective in its own right.

Coniston, Tilberthwaite and Little Langdale are established starting areas for walks on Wetherlam. They offer different perspectives on the fell, from industrial remains to rocky upland ground. The named edges involve rough terrain and scrambling; choosing an approach deserves more attention than the summit height alone might imply.

A landscape shaped by mining

Wetherlam’s industrial history is visible around its lower slopes. The Coniston Coppermines Valley lies to the south, while Greenburn, on the northern side, also preserves remains of copper mining. Workings, spoil heaps and ruined structures are part of the landscape rather than a separate attraction.

These remains give a walk here an additional dimension: apparently remote ground was once a workplace. Old mine openings and unstable structures should be left alone, but the surviving evidence helps explain why tracks and buildings appear in these rocky valleys.

Where Wetherlam stands

Summit at grid reference NY288011 · open full map

The real Wetherlam

Walking Wetherlam

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

• Wetherlam, via Lad Stones ridge and Black Sails (walklakes.co.uk)
• A walk up Wetherlam from Tilberthwaite (jimearl6.com)
• Swirl How and Wetherlam (where2walk.co.uk)

Weather on Wetherlam

Conditions estimated at summit height (763 m) via Open-Meteo. For a walker's forecast, use the Mountain Weather Information Service.

Wetherlam on your wall

A painting of Wetherlam can bring the familiar outline of the Coniston fells into a room without losing their roughness. As a print or canvas, it offers a quiet reminder of rocky ground underfoot, changing light and a day spent above the dales.

Own “Sunlit Crags of Wetherlam Ridge” — our painting of Wetherlam → or browse all Fells & Mountains artwork

Neighbouring Wainwrights in The Southern Fells

• Swirl How 802 m
• Great Carrs 785 m
• Brim Fell 796 m
• The Old Man of Coniston 802 m

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