Silver How – Lake District Walks
March 4, 2021
We went up Silver How at the beginning of February when there was snow, and again in warm sunshine at the end of the month. What you see from afar is very different to the experience on the fell. A vast top of very pleasing grassy bumps and undulations, surrounded by mountainous views.
Mr Wainwright says “Silver How is delightful. Not because the summit is remarkable, except for the view; the grassy top is indeed the least of its attractions”
I’m afraid I disagree. I found the top an absolute delight; moon-scapey grassiness and definitely unexpected. I’m like a kid on Christmas morning when there are new things to see and visual stimulation abounds. Happy days.
Know before you go
How (or Howe) in old Norse means small hill or knoll.
Standing at 1292 feet (394 metres) I wouldn’t exactly call it small, but being number 202 in height of the Lakeland fells, I guess it could be considered a baby.
Our favourite circular (see map below) gave us a total of 530 metres of ascent over 10km. Pure joy all the way around.
The routes up Silver How
From Elterwater – the route is on open fell-side and rough tracks until the final steep ascent. Conveniently there are stone steps, making it very easy to negotiate.
From Chapel Stile – the route up by Meg’s Gill has a steep and craggy start before reaching the undulating fell-top. I thought this route was particularly pretty with open fell side, great views over Chapel Stile and Elterwater and the ever present sound of Meg’s Gill as it trickles and babbles down the ravine in the mountain.
From Silver How summit to Grasmere – after steps off the top, the descent is steady with grass and rocky paths.
Join us on our circular of Silver How
Our second walk up Silver How was on a very warm and sunny day at the end of February…warm enough in fact for Clark to be in a t-shirt. Spring is here! Join us “virtually” on our walk:
The Summit
Our favourite game at the moment is “Name that Fell!” We are becoming more and more familiar with the fells in our local area and love nothing more than to show-off our knowledge (alas only to each other, no-one else around), but also to identify the unknown and therefore increase said knowledge. The view from Silver How gave us the opportunityto reaffirm the placement of the Langdales and Coniston range, as well as the usual Red Screes, Fairfield, Wansfell array. We had a particularly good vantage point for seeing Helvellyn and even a peak of a very snowy Blencathra in the distance…..I’m sure our friends will be very impressed.
Don't miss on a Silver How hike
- The views of Grasmere, Rydal, Windermere and Loughrigg Tarn – 4 waters in one view.
- A wander on the grassy and bumpy top.
- The Stone Man – when Mr Wainwright wrote his book, apparently there was a cairn above Meg’s Gill – could we find it? No. If anyone knows where it is, please let us know and we will re-investigate.
- A detour to Grasmere Water’s edge – it’s so tranquil and on a still day the reflections are amazing.
- The best gingerbread in the world, Grasmere gingerbread eaten at the edge of Grasmere Water….need I say more?
Keep up the good work with the movies I really enjoy seeing them xx