Great How - Eskdale Fell

Rising above the desolate plateau of Eskdale Fell, this rugged Birkett offers a wilderness experience away from the crowds of the Scafells. Surrounded by the boggy moorland near Burnmoor Tarn, its rocky summit provides an exceptional, close-up perspective of the dramatic Scafell massif and the scree slopes of Wasdale.

• •The name derives from the Old Norse word 'haugr', meaning a hill or mound. Given its position amongst the undulating moorland of Eskdale Fell, the 'Great' prefix distinguishes this prominent rocky outcrop from the numerous smaller mounds found in the vicinity.
• •Though it stands at a modest 522 metres, its central position provides a rare vantage point looking directly across the depths of Burnmoor Tarn towards the towering cliffs of Scafell and the jagged silhouette of Slight Side.
• •The hill lies near the ancient 'Corpse Road' connecting Wasdale Head to the church at Boot; this arduous track was once the only route for Wasdale residents to transport their dead to consecrated ground.
• •Bill Birkett highlights the fell as an excellent 'island' of rock amidst a sea of peat, noting that walkers who leave the main paths here are rewarded with a solitude rarely found on its higher neighbours.
• •Reaching the summit from Boot requires a stoic attitude toward saturated peat; by the time you reach solid ground, you will likely have developed a very personal understanding of why the surrounding area remains so sparsely populated.