Wetherlam stands apart from the main north–south spine of the Coniston Fells, the connection being via the long east ridge of Swirl How.

Midway along this ridge is Black Sails, an intermediate top usually considered to be part of Wetherlam,[2][3] and listed as a Hewitt in its own right.

[4] The main ridge continues east from Black Sails across the depression of Red Dell Head to the summit of Wetherlam.

To the south east of Wetherlam is a further upland area, named Yewdale Fells on Ordnance Survey maps.

The slopes on all sides are pitted with disused copper mines and slate quarries, making it the most industrialised of the Lake District fells.

[3] The workings are on a small scale, however, and, according to Alfred Wainwright, unobtrusive: "this fine hill... is too vast and sturdy to be disfigured and weakened by man's feeble scratchings of its surface".

Much of the activity took place on the slopes of Brim Fell to the south, but Red Dell and the ridges on either side hold many shafts, and there are workings below the bed of Levers Water.

There are three natural starting points for an ascent of Wetherlam:[3] the village of Coniston to the south, and the valleys of Tilberthwaite to the east and Little Langdale to the north-east.

Walkers approaching from Little Langdale or Tilberthwaite can take any of a number of paths to Birk Fell Hawse, a small col to the north-east of the summit at the foot of the ridge of Wetherlam Edge.