Height: 394 metres / 1293 feet Grid reference: NY 32479 06641 Category: The Central Fells
Bowfell and the Langdale Pikes from the summit of Silver How
Grasmere and Rydal Water from the summit
Silver How
Silver How
Start Point: Grasmere Church (NY 336 073)
Grasmere – Allan Bank – Silver How – Kelbarrow – Grasmere
Distance: 2.75 miles Total Ascent: 325 metres Time Taken: 1 hour 15 minutes Start Time: 10:00
Weather: Overcast, windy, 12°C
Time for another short walk with Fletcher in tow today, he seems to enjoy the outdoor life and it is interesting to watch him grow when everything is new – crossing a stream, climbing a stile etc are all part of the fell walking experience and something you take for granted but having a new new boy along for the walk reminds you that there are always new hurdle to overcome. It was pretty windy up on the top today too, Fletcher overcame that new experience by barking at it!
Helm Crag
A wider view
Looking back to Grasmere from the path above Allan Bank
Helm Crag, Seat Sandal and Fairfield (in cloud)
The Helvellyn ridge is also under cloud beyond the Lion and the Lamb
Heading for Silver How and there is a solitary figure on the top. When we got there he recognised us ( actually when I say 'us' I mean 'them'!)
Silver How summit
Looking in the opposite direction over Great Langdale
Dougal checks out all the bodies of water he can see - Grasmere, Rydal Water, Windermere, Loughrigg Tarn and Elter Water with Loughrigg Fell central
It was a bit breezy up there young Fletcher!
Blimey Fletcher, I think you've gone and done it now!
The steep descent
Grasmere and Rydal Water
Heading back to Grasmere
Silver How, Grasmere
Start point: Grasmere Church (NY 336 073)
Grasmere – Allan Bank – Silver How – Kelbarrow – Grasmere
Distance: 2.75 miles Total Ascent: 325 metres Time Taken: 1 hour 15 minutes Start Time: 10:50
Weather: Murky and misty. 4oC
It was a murky morning, the sun was ever threatening and did indeed come out much later (i.e. when I went home!). This is a nice enough walk though and there seemed to be one or two out and about enjoying the fresh air.
A Grasmere panorama, from Allan Bank.
Helm Crag.
Murky and misty looking across to Heron Pike.
Climbing higher.
Grasmere and Loughrigg.
Caught in the act!
The path to Silver How.
No Langdales view from Silver How summit.
Dougal, the fell dog.
Grasmere and Rydal Water.
Dougal waits for me, surveying his kingdom.
The Monarch of the Glen.
Silver How
Start point: Grasmere Church (NY 336 073)
Grasmere – Allan Bank – Silver How – Spedding Crag – Dow Bank – Grasmere
Distance: 3.7 miles Total Ascent: 363 metres Time Taken: 2 hours Start Time: 09:40
Weather: Changeable. 8C
It was a strange morning that didn’t look as though it would ever dry up with heavy rain early on. Up on high, things did change for the better though, much better.
Silver How route map.
It was quite a gloomy start through Grasmere, here on the road towards Allan Bank (Wordsworth's residence 1808-1811).
Seat Sandal above the rooftops of Grasmere.
A panoramic view from Helm Crag to Stone Arthur with lots of interesting and quickly shifting clouds around.
Following the ancient path.
Raining now at the top of the path looking back towards Grasmere.
Panoramic from the gate.
The way ahead, following the green path between the bracken.
Helm Crag.
More shifting clouds, this time looking across to Stone Arthur and Great Rigg.
Silver How ahead.
It seemed to be brightening up a little here now.
The Vale of Grasmere.
Wow, what happened there? It was like a different day in the blink of an eye with blue sky and sunshine.
Silver How summit, the Coniston fells rising above the cloud.
Casper and Dougal - sun kissed and muddy.
Looking northwards, that big bank of cloud was over Grasmere and spreading my way. The Langdales to the west weren't visible all morning so I seemed to be in a small sunny pocket.
The path towards Elterwater - I wasn't sure where I was going to end up really, it depended on the weather so I had a bit of an aimless wander around.
Eventually I descended southwards here looking towards Dow Bank from the big cairn.
Grasmere and Rydal Water.
Autumn in the Vale of Grasmere.
Spedding Crag.
Lovely colours in the sunshine.
The path to Silver How (summit to the left) from the wall corner.
Following the wall to Grasmere.
Mirrored Grasmere.
Access to the Silver How lane, right.
Island reflection.
Silver How.
Silver How across Grasmere and a bit of sunlight on the trees. Later...
Low Wood jetty.
The Langdale Pikes making a brief appearance, taken from Low Wood.
Crinkle Crags and Bowfell.
Windermere - paradise?
Silver How
Start point: Grasmere Church (NY 336 073)
Grasmere – Allan Bank – Silver How – Lang How – Brigstone Moss – Allan Bank – Grasmere
Distance: 3.8 miles Total Ascent: 377 metres Time Taken: 1 hour 30 minutes Start Time: 09:30
Weather: Sunny, cold wind. 12ºC
The day certainly didn’t promise much as I set off this morning when everything was flat and dull. As I climbed towards Silver How, the skies began parting and the sun came out to light up the fells in autumnal glory. A great little walk this turned out to be and I wished I had more time to let me walk a while longer. The wind that accompanied the sunshine and blew away all the clouds was a cold one though, bringing a little touch of winter to the proceedings. Today I had some new Scarpa Trek GTX to try out too so we’ll see how they fare over the next couple of months.
Silver How
Dull Seat Sandal over Grasmere rooftops.
After the initial rather dull climb past Allan Bank from Grasmere, that looks more like it as a patch of sunshine lights up Tarn Crag.
Now the sun has caught us, looking across the Vale of Grasmere. Perhaps today will turn out okay after all.
Helm Crag.
Looking to Helm Crag from further up the climb, Seat Sandal beyond.
Come on Casper.
Once up onto Brigstone Moss the sun was shining brightly, here looking to Lang How.
Dappled Langdale Pikes.
A lovely view opening up to Crinkle Crags and Bowfell.
Helvellyn and Fairfield from Silver How.
Bowfell and the Langdale Pikes from the summit.
Windswept Casper and Dougal on Silver How.
Wassat?
Grasmere and Rydal Water.
Absolutely clear over on the Coniston fells now too. When I set off they were covered in cloud.
Doggone Dougal.
Lang How.
Helvellyn and Fairfield across a tarn below Lang How.
The Fairfield group.
Looking back to Silver How.
Bowfell and the Langdale Pikes.
Closer.
Great Langdale from the climb to Lang How.
Silver How and Windermere looking into the bright sun.
Dougal leads the way on the steep and pathless descent back to Brigstone Moss.
Fairfield, Great Rigg and Stone Arthur across sunny Grasmere.
A peep over the wall.
Helm Crag.
Autumn colours in Grasmere.
Stone Arthur.
Blea Rigg
Start point: Grasmere (NY 336 073)
Grasmere – Silver How – Blea Rigg – Easedale Tarn – Easedale – Grasmere
Distance: 6.3 miles Total Ascent: 562 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 15 minutes Start Time: 08:30
Weather: Rain at first then clearing. 3°C
This wasn’t where I intended to go today but in the northern half of the Lakes, over Dunmail Raise it was raining heavily and continued to do so all morning. Back at Grasmere it was also raining when I set off but it soon cleared with the clouds swirling on and off the high fells leaving behind a fresh carpet of snow on them. The backdrop to today’s walk was the sound of the hunt – the horn, the shouts and the dogs. I think Dougal and Casper quite fancied joining in!
Blea Rigg route map.
Early Silver How across Grasmere.
Misty Grasmere - taken from the opposite side to the first photo.
Looking back along the path from the climb to Kelbarrow.
Sunrise over Loughrigg Fell.
The mist is clinging over Rydal Water and to the side of Loughrigg.
Helm Crag from the Silver How ridge.
Casper and Dougal on Silver How.
Grasmere and Rydal Water.
Low lying mist in the valleys below.
The Langdale Pikes appear across Lang How Tarn from thick cloud with a fresh covering of snow
Dougally Doo.
Looking back to Silver How.
Looking down on Great Langdale.
Wetherlam and the Tilberthwaite Fells also have new snow, Lingmoor Fell between me and them.
Pike o' Blisco dwarfs Side Pike.
The weather is constantly changing, from sun to cloud.
A close up on the Langdales - that's the last I saw of them today.
Great Castle How.
Crinkle Crags at the head of Oxendale with rising cloud from Great Langdale.
Great Carrs in sunshine.
The icy climb.
Heading for Blea Rigg.
Wetherlam from the un named tarn below Blea Rigg.
All sorts going on here, looking down from Blea Rigg.
The frozen summit of Blea Rigg.
Looking the other way, the Langdales have disappeared in the cloud.
Which way Dougal? Heading down to Easedale Tarn.
Helvellyn revealed.
Easedale Tarn reflections.
Tarn Crag reflected.
Tarn Crag and Easedale Tarn panoramic.
Blue skies and sunshine - for now - descending into Easedale.
Silver How
Start point: Grasmere Church (NY 336 073)
Grasmere – Allan Bank – Silver How – Kelbarrow – Grasmere
Distance: 2.75 miles Total Ascent: 325 metres Time Taken: 1 hour 15 minutes
Weather: Overcast. 3°C
It was another grey day today though not nearly so cold as there was little wind. We had a quick jaunt up to Silver How from Grasmere and even this normally popular fell was quiet today – there was no one around up there.
Seat Sandal above Grasmere.
Stone Arthur.
Helm Crag and Seat Sandal.
Dougal licks his lips at the prospect of this walk on the climb from Allan Bank.
Looking back along the path.
Jennifer Juniper.
Wray Gill.
Heading for Silver How.
These two have found a solitary patch of snow to play on - Dougal watches as his piece of snow gets away from him!
The Langdale Pikes from Silver How.
Casper and Dougal at the summit.
Casper checks out Wetherlam and the Coniston fells (and the sheep in the foreground, no doubt).
A view through to Fairfield, lost in the murk.
Grasmere and Rydal Water.
Loughrigg Fell from the descent.
Loughrigg again, from the bottom of Silver How.
Mucky pups on the way back to Grasmere.
Silver How
Start point: Grasmere Church (NY 336 073)
Grasmere – Allan Bank – Silver How – Kelbarrow – Grasmere
Distance: 2.75 miles Total Ascent: 325 metres Time Taken: 1 hour 15 minutes
Weather: Warm but overcast. 11°C.
Everywhere was overcast and gray this morning but I felt sure the sun would burn through eventually, though not during my walk unfortunately. Despite the lack of views and apparent gloominess it was a lovely day – very still and peaceful – and this turned out to be a really easy walk and a good circular route.
Silver How route map.
Grasmere.
Helm Crag from Allan Bank.
The path to Silver How.
Snaking walls on Silver How.
The boy enjoys a roll around in the bracken.
Silver How directly ahead.
The summit of Silver How, no view today.
Grasmere and a glimpse of Rydal Water through the mist.
Grasmere and Loughrigg Fell from the descent.
Grasmere Island.
Casper leads the way on the final steep section. I knew the sun would burn through eventually! Later, when I was out and about there were signs of Spring around everywhere...
Wordsworth's Daffodils were out by Ullswater - here is an extract from his 1804 poem that made them famous: When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
The Duke of Portland Boathouse, Ullswater. Around Furness Abbey...
Crocus in the woods.
This lamb is keeping warm with his nice orange jacket on - a 'North Face' one I think it is!
Happy to pose for a photo.
The daffs are out around the abbey too.
Easedale Circuit
Start point: Grasmere (NY 337 074)
Grasmere – Easedale – Tarn Crag – Codale Head – High Raise – Sergeant Man – Blea Rigg – Silver How – Grasmere
Distance: 9.7 miles Total Ascent: 850 metres Time Taken: 5 hours
Weather: Generally bright. 13oC.
Today I met up with Andy Lang nice and early for a walk around Easedale and up onto High Raise, the centre of the Lake District. It was very clear this morning but the best of the sunshine was early on and once up onto High Raise the wind was icy. On the way up to Grasmere, all the stretches of water I passed were covered in a thick blanket of mist – here comes winter.
All was frozen in Easedale before the sun came up...
...but when it did, it certainly gave a lovely golden glow.
Sourmilk Gill.
Looking into Easedale from the top falls of Sourmilk Gill.
Beginning the climb of the Tarn Crag ridge - the second peak from the left is the summit.
Autumn in Far Easedale.
Easedale Tarn with reflected contrail.
Casper summits Tarn Crag - hot work in the sunshine!
Looking over to Helvellyn from Tarn Crag, Gibson Knott and Steel Fell in the foreground.
Looking into the sun, Grasmere and Windermere under a thick blanket of mist.
Easedale Tarn.
Codale Tarn from the Tarn Crag ridge with the Coniston fells beyond.
The Helvellyn massif from Codale Head.
On the skyline are Crinkle Crags, Bowfell and the Scafells with the pointed Sergeant Man in the middle distance.
Great Gable and Pillar beyond the Glaramara ridge from High Raise.
Scafell Pike and Great End above Langstrath.
Skiddaw and Blencathra from High Raise, Derwent Water covered in mist. High Raise is the central point of the Lake District and there are great views from here.
A close-up of Skiddaw and Derwent Water.
Great Gable.
Bowfell.
Casper finds a comfortable place to sit on High Raise.
Fleetwith Pike in the centre with the High Stile ridge behind.
Looking back to the grassy dome of High Raise from Sergeant Man.
Descending Sergeant Man.
Stickle Tarn and Harrison Stickle from the ridge to Blea Rigg.
Looking down on two tarns - Codale and Easedale.
Heading for Blea Rigg, Windermere beyond.
Harrison Stickle from Blea Rigg.
Looking across to Crinkle Crags.
Having a rest on the way to Silver How.
Seat Sandal and Fairfield over Helm Crag.
Great Langdale.
Crinkle Crags, Bowfell and the Langdale Pikes.
Grasmere and Rydal Water from Silver How.
The Vale of Grasmere, Helvellyn to the left and Fairfield to the right.
The view from the summit of Silver How.
Reflected island on Grasmere.
Helm Crag from the descent.
Helm Crag in Autumn.
Blea Rigg
Start point: Grasmere (NY 337 074)
Grasmere – Easedale – Easedale Tarn – Blea Rigg – Silver How – Grasmere
Distance: 9 miles Total Ascent: 650 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 40 minutes.
Weather: Windy and surprisingly warm. 11°C
The cobwebs were well and truly blown off today for my first long walk of the year. It was good to get out again, even though I knew the weather was not going to be the best. It was more than a bit blustery at times, but at least I never got wet on the deserted central fells today!
It's looking a bit grey over Tarn Crag from Easedale. The falls on Sour Milk are in the centre.
...and looking back to Easedale from the falls.
The falls are in spate today after all he rain of the last week or so.
I had intended crossing Sour Milk Gill here, above the falls, but there was no chance with it being this full. Tarn Crag is in the distance.
A bit of sunshine over the east ridge to Tarn Crag.
Tarn Crag over Easedale Tarn.
No chance of crossing Sourmilk Gill here on the edge of Easedale Tarn either, the stepping stones were completely covered. A change of plan was required!
Looking back to Easedale Tarn to Seat Sandal and Fairfield.
Walking towards Belles Knott.
Codale Tarn, left and Easedale Tarn, right, split by Belles Knott.
As soon as we got onto the Blea Rigg ridge, the wind really whipped up and made walking difficult at times. This is a great view of Harrison Stickle, Pavey Ark and Stickle Tarn but it is hard to convey just how windy it was..
...but Angus can do a pretty good job!
Another view of Codale Tarn and Easedale Tarn from higher up, the eastern fells mainly clear for now.
Easedale Tarn.
On the summit of Blea Rigg.
Lingmoor Fell and Side Pike across Langdale from Blea Rigg, Lingmoor Tarn visible below the summit.
Looking along the ridge to Silver How with Windermere beyond, Elter Water to the right.
Looking across to Seat Sandal and Fairfield.
Great Langdale.
Angus looking into Great Langdale - still doing a great job of showing conditions up here!
Looking to Great Langdale from the large tarn below Lang How.
Water, water, everywhere. Grasmere, Rydal Water, Loughrigg Fell and Windermere.
Fairfield, Great Rigg and Stone Arthur above Grasmere from Silver How.
Angus and Casper on Silver How looking to Windermere.
Looking back to the Langdale Pikes from Silver How with Sergeant Man the distant bump to the right.
Descending to Grasmere through the Juniper trees.
Silver How
Start point: Grasmere (NY 338 078)
Grasmere – Easedale Tarn – Blea Rigg (174) – Castle How (175) – Swinescar Pike (176) – Lang How (177) – Silver How (178) – Grasmere
Weather: Rain with low lying cloud.
Today’s walk was a damp traverse of the Langdale Edge and Silver How; the cloud was so low that there was no chance of a decent view today from the tops except for a brief clearing of the cloud towards the end of the walk.
Sourmilk Gill in full spate.
The power...
...and the glory...
Easedale Tarn.
The Matterhorn shape of Belles Knott above Easedale Tarn.
The cloud lifts briefly to give a glimpse of Lingmoor Fell across Great Langdale from Lang How.
A wet Silver How from Lang How.
One of the many grassy knolls reflected in a tarn beneath Lang How.
Looking across Brigstone Moss from the summit of Silver How.
Helm Crag from the descent back into Grasmere.
Grasmere below Silver How.
Grasmere Epic
Grasmere – Steel Fell (186) – Calf Crag – Greenup Edge – Ullscarf (187) – Long Crag – Sergeant’s Crag (188) – Eagle Crag (189) – Sergeant’s Crag – Low White Stones – High Raise – Thunacar Knott (190) – Sergeant Man – Blea Rigg (191) – Silver How (192) – Grasmere
A raw and bitterly cold day, icy wind on the tops with lots of snow.
Helm Crag from the ascent of Steel Fell. Loughrigg is to the distant left.
Steel Fell summit cairn.
Two un-named tarns on the walk to Calf Crag, Greenup Edge behind.
Calf Crag summit.
A frozen Ullscarf summit cairn.
Greenup Valley.
Ullscarf.
Sergeant's Crag summit.
Borrowdale from Eagle Crag.
Icicle formation on Low White Stones.
High Raise Trig. column.
High Raise from Thunacar Knott.
Sergeant Man summit looking towards Stickle Tarn and Pavey Ark.
Stickle Tarn, Harrison Stickle and Pavey Ark across Bright Beck.
Two Tarns - Codale Tarn.....
and Easedale Tarn.
Pike O'Stickle from Blea Rigg summit.
Grasmere and Rydal Water from Silver How.