Pinnacle Howe and Four Stones Hill

The walk, stage by stage

1. 1

   Start → Pinnacle Howe (2.9 km, 152 m)

   Climb of about 152 m over 2.9 km (around 5% average).

   Starting from the quiet hamlet of Burnbanks at the foot of the Haweswater dam, this route is a gentle introduction to the Far Eastern fells. Leaving the road, the path climbs steadily but easily through the grazing enclosures and walled lanes heading west toward Drybarrows. As you clear the intake walls, the terrain transitions into the rolling, expansive moorland of Bampton Common. The ascent is a very gradual 5%, crossing undulating grassy fell before reaching Pinnacle Howe—a small but surprisingly distinct rocky knoll that breaks up the grassy plateau

   Waypoints

   Burnbanks: The starting hamlet located at the north-eastern tip of Haweswater. Drybarrows Intake: The boundary area where the walled farm tracks yield to the open fell. Pinnacle Howe Summit (383m): A prominent rocky hump offering excellent rearward views over the Eden Valley and the Pennines

   Decision point

   Drystone Walls: The network of walls leading up past Drybarrows acts as a perfect funnel to guide you onto the open fell. Visual Handrails: Looking back, the Haweswater dam is an unmistakable structural landmark ensuring you maintain your bearing on the ascent

   Easy to get wrong

   Boggy Ground: While the gradient is easy, Bampton Common acts as a massive sponge. The hollows near the intake walls and the approach to Pinnacle Howe can be deeply saturated and claggy, even in summer. Summer Vegetation: The lower paths climbing out of Burnbanks suffer from aggressive bracken growth from June to September, which can obscure the trail and slow progress

   If you need to get off

   Turn your back to the climb and head east, straight down the gentle grassy slopes. The intake walls will naturally catch you and funnel you back into the walled lanes returning to Burnbanks

2. 2

   Pinnacle Howe → Four Stones Hill (1.0 km, 42 m)

   Undulating section of about 1.0 km.

   A short, rolling traverse heading roughly south-west across the grassy expanse of Bampton Common. There is very little elevation change here, but the terrain is rough, tussocky grass that requires high stepping. The path is often faint or braided by sheep tracks. Four Stones Hill sits slightly higher on the plateau, easily identifiable by its rocky outcrops and the scattered megalithic standing stones that give the hill its name

   Waypoints

   Bampton Common: The expansive, undulating saddle between the two summits. Four Stones Hill Summit: The high point featuring a modest cairn, surrounded by a scattering of ancient, low-lying stones, offering a sudden, dramatic plunge in view down to Haweswater

   Decision point

   Haweswater: The colossal trench of the reservoir sits directly to your south. Even if you cannot see the water from the plateau, the drop-off is obvious. Keep the sheer drop to your left. Compass Bearings: In low visibility, take a direct westerly bearing from Pinnacle Howe to ensure you hit the rocky summit of Four Stones Hill rather than drifting north into the pathless bogs of Bampton Fell

   Easy to get wrong

   Tussocky Terrain: The lack of a heavily trodden, singular path means you are often breaking your own trail through thick, uneven grass, which can be surprisingly tiring on the ankles. Exposure: This plateau is highly exposed to south-westerly winds funnelling directly down the trench of Haweswater. Clag Disorientation: Without walls to guide you between Pinnacle Howe and Four Stones Hill, it is very easy to drift off-bearing if the mist rolls in across the common

   If you need to get off

   If navigation fails, drop directly south towards the reservoir edge. However, be warned: the fellside drops steeply here. A safer bet is to retrace your steps east back to Pinnacle Howe

3. Four Stones Hill → Finish (3.4 km, 68 m)

   Climb of about 68 m over 3.4 km (around 2% average).

   From the summit of Four Stones Hill, the route begins its return leg by dropping down the steep, grassy southern flanks toward the Haweswater shoreline. The 68m of ascent in this stage comes from the undulating, occasionally frustrating nature of the contouring path that skirts the fellside just above the reservoir. It is a long, rolling traverse that threads through patches of intake woodland, over tree roots, and across minor becks, eventually leading back to the Haweswater dam and Burnbanks

   Waypoints

   Haweswater Shoreline Path: The undulating balcony path running parallel to the reservoir. Measand Beck / Naddle Forest Edges: Minor water crossings and woodland boundaries that break up the return leg. Haweswater Dam: The massive concrete structure marking the end of the rough terrain

   Decision point

   The Reservoir: Haweswater is the ultimate linear handrail. Keep the water on your right-hand side for the entirety of the return leg. As long as the water is on your right, you are walking directly toward the car. The Dam: As you round the final contours, the dam acts as an unmissable visual beacon drawing you back to Burnbanks

   Easy to get wrong

   Undulating Fatigue: The contouring path is rarely flat. It constantly bobs up and down over rocky bluffs and tree roots, which can feel punishing on tired legs at the end of a hike. Bracken & Ticks: The shoreline path is a notorious hotspot for both high bracken and sheep ticks in the warmer months. Check your dogs and your own legs thoroughly after this section. Slippery Tree Roots: Where the path enters the woodland near the dam, the exposed tree roots and polished rocks are incredibly slick after rain

   If you need to get off

   This entire stage is an exit route. You are effectively "bailed" as soon as you drop off Four Stones Hill and hit the shoreline path. Stay on this main track—do not attempt to climb back up into the trackless Naddle Forest to your left