Lake District
Brown Howe
396M
1299FT
About Brown Howe
Overlooking the village of Chapel Stile, this rocky outcrop forms the eastern terminus of the Lingmoor Fell ridge. It is a classic 'small hill with a big view,' providing an exceptional perspective of the Langdale Pikes and the floor of Great Langdale without the effort required for the higher fells.
Key Statistics
Rank
613th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Fells
Prominence
?
4m
Nearest Town
Elterwater
Geology
You are walking on ancient volcanic foundations. The ground consists of hardened lava flows and layers of compressed volcanic ash.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY266046
Latitude
54.4322°N
Longitude
3.1327°W
Did You Know?
- •The name 'Howe' is derived from the Old Norse word haugr, typically used in the Lake District to denote a smaller hill or a burial mound, while 'Brown' likely reflects the seasonal hue of its bracken-covered slopes.
- •While often overlooked in favour of its higher neighbour Lingmoor Fell, it is recognized as a summit in its own right by Tim Synge in his 1995 guide to the Lake District peaks.
- •The summit provides a clear, un-obscured view of the Langdale Pikes across the valley, as well as a direct look down onto the slate-roofed cottages of Chapel Stile and the working Burlington Slate quarries.
- •The ascent from Elterwater via Sawrey's Wood offers a gentler, more wooded approach compared to the direct, rocky scramble often taken by those descending from the main ridge towards the village.
- •For many walkers, the summit serves as the 'nearly there' marker on the descent towards the Wainwrights' Inn in Chapel Stile, though the final drop into the valley remains deceptively steep.