Lake District
Wetherlam
763M
2503FT
About Wetherlam
Wetherlam is a rugged, bulky mass dominating the northern end of the Coniston Fells. It’s a complex fell to explore, featuring dramatic crags and industrial mining scars. The ascent via Wetherlam Edge provides a satisfyingly airy scramble that avoids the crowds of the nearby Old Man of Coniston.
Key Statistics
Rank
98th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Fells
Prominence
?
146
Nearest Town
Coniston
Geology
You walk on volcanic deposits: rhyolitic ash from Oxendale, andesite ash from Wet Side Edge, ash with small stones from Long Top, and solid andesite from Birker Fell.
Classifications
Find It
Latitude
54.4005°N
Longitude
3.0980°W
Did You Know?
- •The mountain's eastern slopes were a major center for copper mining from the 17th to the 19th centuries, leaving a legacy of deep levels, open stopes, and the impressive Tilberthwaite Gill.
- •The summit plateau is composed of volcanic rock from the Borrowdale Volcanic Group, specifically the Seathwaite Fell Formation, which creates its characteristically craggy and broken appearance.
- •Its name originates from the Old Norse 'vedr' and 'lamb', which translates to 'wether-lamb mountain', indicating its historical importance for grazing castrated rams.
- •While the main summit is clear, the subsidiary top of Birk Fell is notorious for its confusing, undulating terrain that can easily lead tired hikers into a long, unintentional descent toward the wrong valley.
- •The descent toward Tilberthwaite is a notorious knee-shredder, offering a gradient so unrelenting that your joints will likely still be vibrating in protest three days after you have finished the hike.