Shooter Howe

Situated on the quiet fringes of the Far Eastern fells, this modest, grassy height rises above the A6 north of Kendal. It overlooks the lonely valley of Bannisdale, offering a sense of isolation and expansive views towards the Kentmere fells and the rounded silhouettes of the Howgill Fells.

• •The name is derived from the Old Norse haugr, meaning a hill or burial mound, while 'Shooter' likely refers to the historic use of these ridges as vantage points for game hunting.
• •Classified as a Synge, it is one of the Lake District summits documented by Tim Synge in his effort to catalog the fells overlooked by Alfred Wainwright’s original seven pictorial guides.
• •The hill overlooks the Lowbridge Estate, which has become a significant conservation area for red squirrels and a site for the reintroduction of the rare pine marten.
• •From the summit, the view looks directly down into the sequestered valley of Bannisdale, which remains one of the most secluded and least-visited corners of the Lake District.
• •While the hill stands above Borrowdale, walkers should manage their expectations; this is the quiet Westmorland version of the valley, where dramatic crags are replaced by deep silence and very wet boots.