Lake District
Great Round How
554M
1818FT
About Great Round How
This rugged outcrop sits on high, craggy ground above Wasdale Head, offering a quieter perspective on the Western Fells. A distinctive Synge, its splintered rocky terrain mirrors the wild character of nearby Haystacks. The summit provides an intimate view across the hidden recesses and tarns of this complex, ancient plateau.
Key Statistics
Rank
318th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Western Fells
Prominence
?
5m
Nearest Town
Buttermere
Geology
You are walking over ancient lava flows and layers of shattered volcanic rock. These tough foundations were built by a series of powerful, explosive eruptions.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY206128
Latitude
54.5047°N
Longitude
3.2264°W
Did You Know?
- •The name 'How' originates from the Old Norse word haugr, meaning a hill or mound, while 'Great Round' provides a literal description of its prominent, circular profile when viewed from the surrounding plateau.
- •Classified as a Synge, the hill features in Tim Synge’s The Lakeland Fells. It is often bypassed by hikers following the main path between Haystacks and Brandreth, offering a more solitary experience than the nearby popular summits.
- •The summit provides a spectacular and distinct perspective on the 'Gable-Pillar' ridge, with the massive, craggy north face of Great Gable appearing particularly formidable from this angle.
- •It sits just a short distance from Innominate Tarn, the small body of water where Alfred Wainwright’s ashes were scattered, yet it remains largely ignored by the many pilgrims who visit the tarn each year.
- •Attempting to navigate the complex, knobbly ground between here and the main summit of Haystacks in low cloud is a reliable way to discover exactly how many bogs can be hidden in a few hundred metres of map space.