Swirl How

Climbing Swirl How from the lay-by at Wrynose Pass

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Swirl How is 802 m high, joint 32nd of the 214 Wainwrights by height, and belongs to the Southern Fells in Book 4. This route starts high, at a free lay-by at Wrynose Pass at about 390 m, the start the Crinkle Crags route also uses. The nearest bus stop with a current service, at the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel, is about 3.4 km away in a straight line and served by the 516.

The line is 2.7 km long and gains about 440 m. The steepest part is at the start: in the first 600 m the path climbs from about 390 m to 560 m, with a grass surface on the map for the first 330 m or so. Only the first 20 m are graded, as mountain hiking. The rest of the route is not graded for difficulty on the map.

After that the gradient eases. The path reaches about 620 m at 1 km and 685 m at 1.5 km, then a stretch mapped as a track climbs to Great Carrs at about 2.1 km and 775 m. The line dips to about 755 m at Top of Broad Slack, a col about 2.4 km along, and rises over the last 300 m to the summit cairn at 802 m.

About 2 km of the line follows public footpaths, and almost all of it crosses open access land.

The GPX file stops at the summit. Return the same way, or plan a longer round with a map before you set out.

Download the GPXFree. The route is © OpenStreetMap contributors and the file is released under the Open Database Licence: you may copy, share and adapt it.