Little Castle How

Situated on the rugged ridge between Silver How and Blea Rigg, this rocky outcrop offers a quieter vantage point above Grasmere. The terrain is typical of the Central Fells—undulating, boggy in troughs, and punctuated by small crags. It serves as a tactical stepping stone for those traversing toward the Langdale Pikes.

• •The name is a hybrid of Old Norse and Middle English; 'How' stems from haugr, meaning a hill or mound, while 'Castle' refers to the rocky, fortress-like appearance of the summit crags.
• •It presents a geographical curiosity: despite the diminutive name, Little Castle How is significantly higher than its popular neighbour Silver How, which sits lower on the same ridge.
• •This fell is included in the Synge classification, a list of 644 Lake District hills compiled by Tim Synge that requires a summit to have at least 15 metres of re-ascent on all sides.
• •The summit provides a clear perspective of the Great Langdale valley, with a particularly fine view of the steep eastern face of Pavey Ark and the dark waters of Stickle Tarn.
• •Negotiating the ground between here and Blea Rigg is a fine test of patience; the terrain is so convoluted that it remains one of the few places where you can be geographically confused while still in sight of a Grasmere tea room.