Wetherlam

Wetherlam, viewed from Great Carrs

Height: 2502 feet above sea level

Volume: Book 4 (The Southern Fells)

Date climbed: First visit:16th October 2009 (walk 6). Second visit: 29th November 2022 (walk 203).

At the time I climbed it Wetherlam was the fell with the longest gap between my first and second visits — 13 years, 2 months and 13 days — but it has since lost that accolade to the Red Screes/Middle Dodd pairing.

Wetherlam viewed from Lingmoor Fell.

Bagged as number: First round: 23 out of 330. [ << Great Carrs (22)  (24) Sallows >> ] Second round: 304 of 330. [ << Top o’ Selside (300-303) (305) Ard Crags >> ]

Route of ascent and descent: First visit: Approached along the ridge from Swirl How, via Swirl Hause: descended to Coniston via the Lad Stones ridge.

Second visit: Started in Elterwater and then came up via Little Langdale and Birk Fell Hawse. Descended to Coniston again, but this time via Swirl Hause and Levers Water.

What Mr. Wainwright says (from page 2 of his chapter): “Ingleborough, which is in view thirty miles away, is often and with much justification considered to be the most interesting mountain in England because of its potentialities to the explorer on, in and under ground. But Wetherlam too is pierced and pitted with holes – caves, tunnels, shafts and excavations – in not less profusion, although, unlike Ingleborough’s, all are man-made. These are the levels and shafts and workings of a dead industry – copper-mining – and of a living industry – quarrying – that between them, over the centuries, have made Wetherlam the most-industrialised of Lakeland mountains. This fine hill, however, is too vast and sturdy to be disfigured and weakened by man’s feeble scratchings on the surface, and remains today, as of old, a compelling presence to which walkers in Brathay will oft turn their eager steps.”

Wetherlam summit, looking east.

What I say: The mines and shafts of which AW speaks are visible around Coppermines Valley: I have yet to visit the Tilberthwaite area which has the greatest concentration. Even without these, Wetherlam is a fine climb, and has a stupendous view, one of Lakeland’s very best — this even without the magnificent atmospherics which I was lucky enough to experience on my second visit.

Definitely worth the time, though note that the climb up Wetherlam Edge, while never dangerous, is long and effortful, and not for the timid. Descents to Coniston are fairly easy, but longer than you will expect.

[ << Wether Hill      Whin Rigg >> ]