Whilst the famous Old Man of Coniston basks in the admiration of those who give stature the greater significance, it is actually Swirl How, mere millimetres shorter, that is the central axis of the Coniston group. Hikes to Swirl How deliver you the beating heart of these fine fells, with huge views and plenty of options to extend an already worthwhile adventure.

This Highlight is in a protected area

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Lake District National Park

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Location: Coniston, South Lakeland, Cumbria, North West England, England, United Kingdom

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Best Hikes to Swirl How

4.3

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1. Old Man of Coniston, Swirl How & Wetherlam loop from Walna Scar — Lake District National Park

13.5km

04:56

830m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

5.0

(25)

375

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2. Old Man of Coniston Summit – Swirl How loop from Coniston

20.7km

07:33

1,150m

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Hard

4.8

(14)

196

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3. Swirl How – Old Man of Coniston summit loop from Little Langdale

15.9km

06:23

1,110m

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Hard

Tips

Adventurer Nic

June 11, 2021

My favourite approach of Swirl How is from Wetherlam, a great route with a few fun scramble sections to enjoy in dry weather. Linking up the 2,633-foot (802 m) Swirl How with it's Wainwright neighbour Great Carrs is one of the easiest connections a Wainwright bagger can hope for! Despite both fells being relatively high, you barely feel like you descend between them and you can make quick progress.

Ian Baines

August 17, 2024

There has been much debate over which is the higher: Swirl How or Coniston Old Man? They have both been comprehensively measured and are both currently 802.4m (2633ft in old money). Both measurements are accepted by the OS but the current maps show Swirl How as 802m and the Old Man as 803m.
Why does it matter? Only one can be a Marilyn while the other must be classed as a Hump though they could be twin peaks. Currently the view is Coniston Old Man remains as the Marilyn and Swirl How is only a Hump. So the Historic County Top of the County Palatine of Lancashire, Coniston Old Man remains the higher.
Swirl How is a very fine hill with a much more interesting ridge structure than the Old Man. Approaches from all directions are rewarding and exciting and there is a good chance you can enjoy solitude by the summit cairn which doesn’t suffer the crowds the Old Man does.
Enjoy!

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Elevation 790 m

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Family Friendly

yes

Wheelchair access

Dog Friendly

yes

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Monday 15 December

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77 %

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Max wind speed: 7.0 km/h

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See hikes here

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Location: Coniston, South Lakeland, Cumbria, North West England, England, United Kingdom

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Swirl How

1. Old Man of Coniston, Swirl How & Wetherlam loop from Walna Scar — Lake District National Park

2. Old Man of Coniston Summit – Swirl How loop from Coniston

3. Swirl How – Old Man of Coniston summit loop from Little Langdale

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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