Lake District
Little Castle How
482M
1580FT
About 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.
Key Statistics
Rank
458th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Central Fells
Prominence
?
18.9m
Nearest Town
Chapel Stile
Geology
You are walking on layers of volcanic sand and stony debris. These rocks formed from explosive ash and fragments reshaped by natural processes.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY309075
Latitude
54.4590°N
Longitude
3.0661°W
Did You Know?
- •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.