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Silver How from Grasmere

Lake District Walk

Nat Park - Lake District - Lake District Central Fells

Wainwrights - Silver How

County/Area - Cumbria

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 3.2 miles / 5.2 km    Ascent - 900 feet / 273 metres

Time - 2 hours 30 minutes    Grade - easy

Maps Ordnance Survey Logo Anquet Maps Logo

Ordnance Survey Explorer OL7Sheet Map1:25kBUY
Anquet OS Explorer OL7Digital Map1:25kBUY
Ordnance Survey Landranger 90Sheet Map1:50kBUY
Anquet OS Landranger 90Digital Map1:50kBUY

Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Silver How from Grasmere
Click image to see photo description.

This half day walk from Grasmere provides some excellent views to Grasmere and Rydal Water as well as a wider panorama to the higher Lake District fells including Bowfell, the Langdale Pikes and Crinkle Crags. The route follows well-used paths although the area traversed can be confusing in poor visibility, so you are encouraged to take a 1:25k OS map.

The start is the pay and display Red Bank carpark (grid ref. NY336074). There are other parking options elsewhere but this one if the most convenient. After parking cross Red Bank Road and take Broadgate Road opposite (signed to Keswick). After 200 metres you reach a road junction. Just before the junction turn left up a narrow road with a 'no public parking beyond this point' sign. This leads to Hallam Bank, which is a National Trust property. Go through the gate and follow the drive. Where the drive forks, go right and continue following the track.

Turn left following the fingerpost to Silver How and Langdale. The track soon becomes a stony path to reach a gate. Continue along the path to another gate. Staying on the path you pass a large cairn and beyond this you reach a fork (grid ref. NY325073). Bear left here and descend to cross Wray Gill. The cairned path climbs steadily over the fell heading south. To reach the summit of Silver How with its prominent cairn.

After enjoying the extensive view descend southeast to reach a large cairn. From here the descent steepens. Follow the clear path to reach a path crossroads adjacent to a wall (grid ref. NY327064). Turn left (with wall on your right) following a grassy path. You pass through three gates. After the third gate the path is enclosed between walls and leads down to the road. Turn left along the road back to the start.

Other walks nearby

Walk 1154 Between Grasmere and Langdalemoderate9.5 miles
Walk 1472 Alcock Tarn & Rydal Watereasy/mod7.0 miles
Walk 1565 Rydal Water & Grasmere circulareasy/mod6.0 miles
Walk 1682 Rydal Water & Grasmere easy/mod5.5 miles
Walk 1111 High Raise & Helm Cragmod/hard9.5 miles
Walk 2254 Grisedale Tarnmoderate5.5 miles
Walk 2841 Seat Sandal via Grisedale Tarn from Grasmeremoderate5.0 miles
Walk 2932 Green Burn horseshoe from Grasmeremoderate7.0 miles
Walk 1823 Fairfield Horseshoe & Loughrigg from High Close mod/hard14.0 miles
Walk 2715 Skelwith Bridge & Loughriggeasy/mod5.5 miles

Recommended Books & eBooks

Walking the Lake District Fells - Wasdale

Walking the Lake District Fells - WasdalePart of the Walking the Lake District Fells series, this guidebook covers a wide range of routes to 25 Lakeland summits that can be climbed from the Wasdale, Eskdale and Ennerdale valleys, with highlights including Scafell Pike, Great Gable and Pillar. Suggestions for longer ridge routes are also included.
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Lake District: Low Level and Lake Walks

Lake District: Low Level and Lake WalksThis guidebook describes 30 of the best low-level walks in the Lake District. From delightful wooded glades and sparkling tarns, to waterfalls and glacier-carved valleys towered over by craggy mountains. The walks described aim to seek out the best walking that the lower areas of the Lake District have to offer.
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