North Pennines
Brown Haw
584M
1916FT
About Brown Haw
Rising quietly above the head of Garsdale, this rounded, grassy shoulder offers a peaceful alternative to its more famous neighbours. Reached via a steady climb from Garsdale Head, the broad plateau provides a genuine sense of isolation and clear, earned views across the valley toward the long, dark ridge of Rise Hill.
Key Statistics
Rank
112th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Yorkshire Dales
Prominence
?
61m
Nearest Town
North Yorkshire
Geology
Brown Haw is formed from layers of sandstone, siltstone, and mudstone. These durable rocks belong to the Millstone Grit Group.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SD995799
Latitude
54.2148°N
Longitude
2.0092°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is likely derived from the Old Norse 'haugr', meaning a hill or mound, while the 'Brown' prefix describes the seasonal colour of the surrounding moorland grasses.
- •From the summit, walkers gain a particularly clear perspective of the Settle-Carlisle Railway, including the sight of trains traversing the Dandry Mire Viaduct in the valley below.
- •It is frequently climbed as a secondary objective alongside its parent peak, Baugh Fell, serving as a quieter eastern gateway to that massive, peat-covered plateau.
- •Despite the name, the most prominent colour on a wet day is usually the deep black of the peat hags that define the high ground between here and Tarn Rigg.