Hazard: Moderate
A popular little fell above Grasmere, beloved for the steep, craggy face it presents over the lake. It's easy walking on top, but a confusing one: a tangle of rounded knolls and countless paths — many not shown on maps — makes navigation surprisingly tricky in poor visibility, and the craggy lower slopes mean a wrong descent can land you above steep ground. Langdale Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team covers this ground.
- Maze of paths & rounded tops (navigation): The fell is criss-crossed by many paths, not all on OS maps, among a clutter of similar rounded tops. In cloud it is easy to lose track of which path you're on and drift off course. Carry a 1:25k map, use a compass, and pick descents deliberately.
- Steep craggy eastern slopes above Grasmere: The Grasmere-facing side is steep and craggy, and the lower reaches are broken — only a few lines get safely off the summit plateau. Don't improvise a descent down the craggy east side; keep to the known paths.
- Rocky steps & boggy ground: Some approach paths (around Huntingstile Crag and Dow Bank) have short rocky scrambling steps, and there's boggy ground about. Mind your footing, especially when wet, and wear proper footwear.
Who should attempt this fell: Silver How is a short, scenic fell, but its warren of paths and craggy eastern face make navigation the real hazard — carry a detailed map and compass, and choose your descent line carefully so you don't end up above the Grasmere crags. Take the rocky steps steadily, and don't be lulled by its small size in poor visibility.
What to watch for: Navigation errors among the many unmapped paths and rounded tops in cloud · Wrong descents onto the steep, craggy eastern slopes above Grasmere · Slips on rocky steps and boggy ground · Casual walkers underestimating a confusing small fell
Local Mountain Rescue: Langdale Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team (opens in new tab)
Safety: Always check current conditions, carry proper navigation equipment, and seek qualified instruction before heading onto the fells. In an emergency, call 999, ask for Police, then Mountain Rescue.
Report incorrect information ↗ (opens in new tab)