Elterwater up Silver How: route map, distance and time

You climb north from Elterwater over the fell side and follow paths through the knolls to the top.

Elterwater at a glance

Elterwater map

The start (green) and the summit (blue). Peakify has no GPX track for this route yet, so follow the description and your map.

Height profile and getting to the start

How long Elterwater takes

Times leave out stops. Coming down the same way, the table counts the ascent once; steep descents on rough ground can be as slow as the climb.

• Today: sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:05. Start by 15:30 to be down before dark, allowing 1h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.
• Tomorrow: sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:03. Start by 15:28 to be down before dark, allowing 1h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.

Silver How summit weather for this route

• Good Today Monday 19 October

  Overcast, up to 12°C at the summit, feeling as cold as 2°C, summit wind 12 mph gusting 23 mph, 47% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:05.

• Marginal Tomorrow Tuesday 20 October

  Slight rain, up to 10°C at the summit, feeling as cold as 2°C, summit wind 15 mph gusting 19 mph, 69% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:03.

Best day of the next seven for Elterwater: Monday 19 October, with summit gusts around 23 mph and a 47% chance of rain.

Hour-by-hour Silver How forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Silver How?

Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.

What to take today

• A warm layer, hat and gloves: it feels like 2°C on top.
• Waterproof jacket and overtrousers: 47% chance of rain.
• Map and compass, and the skills to use them. A phone is a backup, not a plan.
• A head torch, food, water, a charged phone and a small first aid kit.

About Silver How

Silver How is a small fell west of Grasmere village, a short climb with views down Grasmere lake and over to the Langdale Pikes. More about Silver How, with the live forecast.

On the lists: Wainwright, Birkett.

Extend the walk: tops near the summit

• Blea Rigg (542 m), 2.6 km north-west
• Helm Crag (405 m), 2.7 km north
• Loughrigg Fell (335 m), 2.7 km south-east
• Lingmoor Fell (470 m), 3 km south-west

Challenges that include Silver How

• Wainwrights · 214

More walks from Elterwater village car park

Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.

• Elterwater up Lingmoor Fell

Other routes up Silver How

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 327 048, the summit at NY324066), what happened and how many are in your group. If you have no signal for a call, a text to 999 works once you have registered your phone with emergencySMS: text "register" to 999 before you go.

Elterwater: questions and answers

How far is Elterwater?

Elterwater is 2.5 km one way to the summit of Silver How, with 327 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 5.0 km.

How long does Elterwater take?

About 1h 5m to the summit of Silver How and 1h 35m there and back by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops. A relaxed group takes nearer 1h 55m for the round trip.

Where do you park for Elterwater?

Elterwater starts from Elterwater village car park. The grid reference is NY 327 048.

Is Elterwater suitable for beginners?

Yes, for fit walkers on a clear day. Peakify grades it Moderate: a long climb on a made path, but the top is high, exposed and colder than the start. Turn back if the cloud comes down and you can't navigate.

What time should I start Elterwater today?

By 15:30 at the latest. Sunset on Silver How today is 18:05, Elterwater takes about 1h 35m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.

Is there a GPX for Elterwater?

Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).