Bracken How

About Bracken How

Rising above the village of Glenridding, this rocky outcrop offers a swift escape into the Eastern Fells. Though modest in height, its position provides a grandstand view of Ullswater’s southern reach. It serves as a rugged introduction to the ascent of Birks, characterized by bracken-covered slopes and a surprisingly wild, craggy summit feel.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is a straightforward topographical description, combining the Old Norse 'haugr' (a hill or mound) with the prolific bracken that still blankets its lower slopes.
• •Bill Birkett included the hill in his comprehensive list of Lakeland summits, valuing it as a distinct vantage point that looks directly down the length of Ullswater toward Patterdale.
• •The summit offers an excellent perspective of the surrounding giants, specifically the craggy profile of Sheffield Pike to the north and the steep eastern face of Helvellyn peeping over the higher ridges.
• •While often bypassed by those heading straight for St Sunday Crag, the outcrop provides a quieter, rocky alternative to the busier main paths snaking out of Glenridding.
• •In the height of summer, the name becomes less of a label and more of a warning; the ferns frequently grow tall enough to hide the cairn and any walker short enough to be standing near it.