In reply to DR:
I walked once, on a rainy day, from somewhere around Aisgill Farm and followed a vague path up through Mallerstang to break in the ridge, up on top, then came down over Swarth Fell to the Moorcock Inn.
Got completely soaked, but my feet were OK.
So, reasonably good underfoot, I'd say. It's a good hill, the cairns are great.
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/idld.srf?x=377364&y=497529&z=115&sv=377364,49752...Post edited at 23:38