Silver How

Silver How is a fell in the Lake District, standing above the village of Grasmere. The name comes from Old Norse, where ‘how’ means a hill or mound. It forms part of the Blea Rigg ridge but is treated separately in Wainwright’s guide. The fell has steep eastern slopes above Grasmere, covered in trees halfway up. The final climb to the top is rocky, making it a favourite with walkers and photographers. The summit is marked by a large cairn and offers wide views across the area. Grasmere and its valley are the main focus, with the Fairfield horseshoe in the background. The Langdale Pikes and Coniston Fells can also be seen from the top. Several paths lead to the summit, though the many rounded tops can make navigation tricky. The true summit sits directly above Grasmere. Paths to Silver How start from Grasmere, Chapel Stile, Elterwater and High Close. The route from Chapel Stile is the shortest, while the Grasmere path offers fine scenery throughout. The fell can also be combined with Blea Rigg for a longer walk. Wray Gill and Meg’s Gill drain the fell’s flanks, adding to the varied landscape. The road through Red Bank links Grasmere and Langdale near the fell’s eastern edge.