Skiddaw Lesser Man

About Skiddaw Lesser Man

Often overlooked by those intent on the main summit, this subsidiary peak provides a more intimate perspective of Keswick and Derwent Water. Rising steeply from Jenkin Hill, the terrain is characterized by the smooth, dark Skiddaw slate. It is an essential stop for Birkett baggers on the well-trodden tourist path.

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Did You Know?

• •The term 'Man' is a traditional Cumbrian dialect word for a summit cairn or a distinct peak. Standing at 823 metres, this summit serves as the final significant climb on the popular 'tourist route' from Keswick before the final ridge walk to the main Skiddaw plateau.
• •While the main summit of Skiddaw is notoriously broad and rounded, Lesser Man offers arguably superior views to the south. From the cairn, the view drops directly down to the valley floor, framed by the Jaws of Borrowdale and the distinctive profile of Catbells across the lake.
• •The hill is composed of Skiddaw slate, some of the oldest rock in the Lake District National Park. This ancient sedimentary rock breaks down into fine scree and smooth slopes, creating a much softer landscape than the jagged volcanic crags found in the central fells around Langdale or Scafell.
• •Bill Birkett, who classified this as a distinct peak, noted that the approach from the south-east provides a more interesting scramble than the motorway-like main path, particularly where the ground falls away steeply towards the dark depths of Lonscale Crags.
• •It frequently serves as a psychological hurdle for walkers; the prominent cairn and steep final pull often lead first-timers to believe they have reached the top of Skiddaw, only to find the actual summit hidden behind another half-mile of wind-swept ridge.