Swirl How is the second largest of the Coniston Fells in the south of the Lake District, and one of Wainwright's Southern Fells. It is one of the more northerly Coniston Fells, near the Wrynose Pass. The Old Man of Coniston is regarded as larger than Swirl How, but there is debate over whether in fact Swirl How is the larger of the two. Whatever the correct answer, Swirl How sadly proved too high for a Canadian Air Force bomber during World War 2, with a memorial on the ridge between Swirl How and Great Carrs where a crash took place.
Direct Swirl How walks can be begun in Coniston, with a choice of ascent route via Swirl Hause or Levers Hause, while it is often climbed as part of a round of the Coniston Fells including all of the Wainwright Fells in the group. Some Coniston Rounds also include fells in the south of the range not described in Wainwright's Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, but rather in his work about the outlying fells.
There are excellent views across the Wrynose Pass to Pike o'Blisco and the Langdale Pikes, the Scafells and further away, to the Helvellyn range. In other directions the view can stretch as far as Morecambe Bay and the Isle of Man, plus of course, close up views of the other Coniston Fells.
Further reading on Swirl How walks and others in the area can be found in Book Four, The Southern Fells of Alfred Wainwright's Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells.
Plan and record your progress through the Wainwright Fells of the Lake District