Lake District
Skiddaw Little Man
865M
2838FT
About Skiddaw Little Man
Often bypassed by those rushing for the main summit, this subsidiary peak offers a far superior perspective of the Vale of Keswick. Its steep, slate-covered slopes provide a rugged contrast to the broad Jenkin Hill path, making it a rewarding Wainwright for walkers who value views over merely reaching the highest point.
Key Statistics
Rank
25th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Northern Fells
Prominence
?
60.6m
Nearest Town
Applethwaite
Geology
Beneath your feet lie layers of hardened mud and silt, paired with a gritty type of sandstone. These sediments form the rugged foundation of this fell.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY266277
Latitude
54.6399°N
Longitude
3.1376°W
Did You Know?
- •The name 'Skiddaw' likely stems from Old Norse, possibly from 'skyti' (archer) or 'skut' (a projecting crag) and 'haugr' (hill). 'Little Man' is a traditional Lakeland term for a subsidiary summit or a secondary peak that appears smaller than the main 'Man' or summit cairn.
- •Alfred Wainwright was a firm advocate for this peak, stating in his Pictorial Guides that while Skiddaw is the 'great mountain,' Little Man is 'a much better place to be' because its position offers an unblocked foreground that the main plateau lacks.
- •The summit provides a famous, tiered view that isn't visible from the higher Skiddaw peak. From the cairn, you can look directly down the spine of the Lake District, seeing the full length of Derwent Water framed by the Newlands Valley and the jagged ridge of Catbells.
- •The fell is composed of Skiddaw Slate, some of the oldest rock in the Lake District. These ancient sedimentary layers were famously used to create the 'Musical Stones of Skiddaw,' a Victorian-era lithophone that is still housed in Keswick Museum.
- •It serves as the primary site for the 'false summit' phenomenon; many walkers ascending via Jenkin Hill convince themselves this is the top, only to find the main Skiddaw massif still looming another 66 metres above them.