Hartsop Above How [Gill Crag - Hartsop Above How]

About Hartsop Above How [Gill Crag - Hartsop Above How]

Often overshadowed by the higher peaks of the Fairfield Horseshoe, this long, narrowing ridge provides a gentle, grassy ascent from Patterdale. Its eastern flanks drop steeply via Gill Crag toward Brothers Water, offering a superb, bird's-eye view of the lake framed by the craggy profile of Place Fell.

Key Statistics

Find It

Did You Know?

• •The name is a literal geographic descriptor from Old Norse and Old English roots. 'Hartsop' combines heort (hart or stag) and hop (a small enclosed valley), while 'How' derives from the Old Norse haugr, meaning a hill or mound.
• •Alfred Wainwright considered this a 'delightful ridge for a walk,' particularly praising the lower section where the path meanders through ancient birch trees and bracken, providing a soft contrast to the rocky heights of the nearby Helvellyn range.
• •The fell acts as a natural dividing line between the valleys of Deepdale to the west and Dovedale to the east. It is frequently used by walkers as a scenic, gradual alternative to the more direct, taxing routes up toward Hart Crag.
• •The summit offers one of the finest perspectives of Brothers Water, looking directly down onto the lake with the steep, scree-covered slopes of Angletarn Pikes and Brock Crags rising sharply on the opposite shore.
• •The ridge is notorious for its series of grassy undulations; it is a place where you will find yourself 'above' many a how before finally reaching the actual summit cairn.