Northern Fells · Book 5

Skiddaw Little Man

Skiddaw Little Man is a Wainwright, one of the 214 Lake District fells in Alfred Wainwright’s Pictorial Guides. At 865 m (2,838 ft) it is the 15th highest of the 214 and the 3rd highest in the Northern Fells.

Height: 865 m; 2,838 ft
Rank: 15; of 214
In area: 3; of 24
Difficulty: Moderate

Skiddaw Little Man in the Northern Fells of the Lake District — Photo: Walter Baxter via Geograph, CC BY-SA 2.0

About Skiddaw Little Man

A shapely outlier on Skiddaw’s southern flank, often climbed en route to the parent summit. The steep, stony pull is rewarded by a brilliant balcony view over Derwentwater and the North Western Fells. Short, sharp and satisfying as a standalone. A fine first taste of the Skiddaw massif.

The tourist path to Skiddaw contours round the side of Little Man, so plenty of walkers pass it without going to the top. It is a separate fell, about 1.5 km south east of Skiddaw, with 61 metres of drop on every side.

Start at the car park at the end of Gale Road, behind Latrigg. Go through the gate, along the wall and past the shepherds' monument, then up the zigzags on Jenkin Hill. The track carries on round the side of Little Man towards Skiddaw. The easiest way to take in Little Man is on the way down. From the cairn at the south end of Skiddaw's summit ridge, follow the fence across a grassy plateau, then climb a rough, rocky path to Little Man's cairn. Carry on to Lesser Man, the second cairn, and rejoin the main track at the gate. That round is about 10 km with 700 metres of climbing, on paths that are easy to follow in mist.

From Millbeck and Applethwaite, on the south side, there are steeper routes, including a scrambler's line up the south west arete from Millbeck.

The fell is Skiddaw Slate, with grass patches among large areas of broken stone. The tourist path is wide and rough but there is no scrambling on it.

Lesser Man

Lesser Man, about 500 metres south east of the summit, has a cairn made from rocks and old fence posts, and Jenkin Hill is the flat top beyond it. From here the convex southern slopes fall away out of sight, so you look straight down on Derwentwater and the valleys of northern Lakeland, with many of the best known fells beyond.

In winter

The rough, rocky climb onto Little Man from the Skiddaw fence is loose slate, slippery when wet and worse under ice. The main tourist path below it is wide and easy to follow in mist, so in poor conditions that is the safer line.

Great Views
Dog Friendly

Sources: Wikipedia: Skiddaw Little Man, Walk Lakes: Misty Skiddaw. Updated 22 September 2026.

Summit

OS grid ref: NY 266 277
Latitude: 54.63989° N
Longitude: 3.13761° W
Area: Northern Fells

Walking up Skiddaw Little Man

The nearest car park on foot is Dodd Wood car park, 5.0 km (3.1 miles) from the summit along mapped paths. Directions to the car park

Route from Dodd Wood car park

Distance: 5.0 km; 3.1 miles, one way
Ascent: 804 m; Total climb to the summit
Time up: 2 h 14 min; Allow 1 to 3 hours

Height in metres along the path from Dodd Wood car park to the summit.

Times use Naismith’s rule, 5 km/h on the flat plus extra time for the climb, with Langmuir’s corrections. It’s a rule of thumb for the way up only, so add stops, weather and the walk back down.

The route follows paths mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors and isn’t a guided line. Check the mountain forecast before you go and carry a map and compass.

Skiddaw Little Man questions

Is Skiddaw Little Man a Wainwright?

Yes. Skiddaw Little Man is one of the 214 fells Alfred Wainwright described in his Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, in Book 5, The Northern Fells.

How high is Skiddaw Little Man?

Skiddaw Little Man is 865 metres (2,838 feet) high. That makes it the 15th highest of the 214 Wainwrights and the 3rd highest in the Northern Fells.

Where do you park for Skiddaw Little Man?

The nearest car park on foot is Dodd Wood car park, 5.0 km (3.1 miles) from the summit along mapped paths.

How long does it take to climb Skiddaw Little Man?

From Dodd Wood car park it is 5.0 km with 804 m of ascent. Naismith's rule, with Langmuir's corrections, puts the climb at about 2 h 14 min, so allow 1 to 3 hours to reach the summit at your own pace, plus the walk back down.

How hard is Skiddaw Little Man?

Upfell rates Skiddaw Little Man as moderate. Check the mountain weather forecast before you set out and carry a map and compass.

Which Wainwrights are near Skiddaw Little Man?

The closest are Carl Side (746 m, 1.2 km W), Skiddaw (931 m, 1.4 km NW) and Long Side (734 m, 1.9 km W).

What is the grid reference for the summit of Skiddaw Little Man?

The summit is at OS grid reference NY 266 277, or 54.63989, -3.13761 in latitude and longitude.