Lake District
Latterbarrow
244M
801FT
About Latterbarrow
Rising above the village of Hawkshead, this miniature peak offers a reward far greater than its modest height suggests. Topped by a prominent stone obelisk, the grassy summit provides an exceptional vantage point over Windermere and the Langdale Pikes. It is a gentle, rewarding climb through woodland and pasture.
Key Statistics
Rank
861st Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Fells
Prominence
?
44
Nearest Town
Near Sawrey
Geology
Latterbarrow is built from alternating layers of sandstone, clay-rich mudstones, and fine-grained siltstone. These sediments form the solid foundation of the ground beneath your feet.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SD367990
Latitude
54.3834°N
Longitude
2.9758°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is likely derived from the Old Norse 'látr', meaning a lair or resting place for animals, and 'berg', meaning hill, suggesting it was once known as the 'hill of the lairs'.
- •Alfred Wainwright featured the hill in his 'Outlying Fells of Lakeland', recommending an anticlockwise circuit from Colthouse and describing it as a walk needing little effort yet yielding much delight.
- •The summit is marked by a massive, tapering stone obelisk that is visible from as far away as Ambleside; remarkably, no historical record definitively explains why or when it was built.
- •The viewpoint is renowned for its perspective on the jagged skyline of the Langdale Pikes and the Coniston Fells, offering a 'big mountain' panorama from an elevation of just 244 metres.
- •The obelisk is so substantial and well-built that it often leaves visitors wondering if the builders were expecting a much more significant mountain to eventually grow underneath it.