The summit, (681m, 2234 ft) which is marked by a cairn, and is listed as both a Hewitt and a Nuttall, lies 2.1 km to the south of the summit of Wild Boar Fell, the two fells being separated by a col - where there are several cairns, and a small unnamed tarn. (This small tarn can just be seen in the photograph above right).
The name "Swarth" fell, like most of the names of geographical features in the area, is of Norse origin: svartr, dark in colour.
Approximately 1 km south-east of the summit is the fell's other high point, Swarth Fell Pike (651 m, 2136 ft). Baugh Fell, Yorkshire Dales, is 5.3 km to the south-west, separated from Swarth Fell by Grisedale.