Lake District
Great Howe (Longsleddale)
494M
1621FT
About Great Howe (Longsleddale)
Tucked away at the head of the quiet Longsleddale valley, this grassy Birkett serves as a scenic gateway to the high fells. Often overlooked in favour of its loftier neighbour, Grey Crag, the summit provides a dramatic, plunging perspective into the secluded depths of the upper Sprint valley near Sadgill.
Key Statistics
Rank
428th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Far Eastern Fells
Prominence
?
2m
Nearest Town
Sadgill
Geology
This fell is built from ancient volcanic remains. You are walking over layers of hardened ash, small stones, and solid volcanic rock.
Classifications
Find It
Latitude
54.4506°N
Longitude
2.7891°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the Old Norse 'haugr', a common Lakeland term for a hill or mound, while 'Great' distinguishes it from the smaller 'Little Howe' located nearby on the same ridge.
- •From the summit, walkers gain a clear, specific view across the valley to the craggy profile of Shipman Knotts and the steep, zig-zagging track of the Gatescarth Pass.
- •Longsleddale, the deep glacial valley it overlooks, gained fame as the primary landscape inspiration for the fictional village of Greendale in the Postman Pat series.
- •In his guide to the Birketts, Bill Birkett highlights this summit for its fine views of the crags at the head of the valley, which are otherwise hidden from the narrow road below.
- •With several other fells named 'Great Howe' scattered across the Lake District, it is the sort of hill that requires careful map-reading to ensure you are bagging the correct one.