Hartsop above How
Hartsop above How
Forming the long, graceful northeastern arm extending from the high parent plateau of Hart Crag, Hartsop above How is a ridge fell of distinct character and shifting identity. While mapmakers and modern guidebooks list it under its descriptive title, old valley custom paints a different picture. Alfred Wainwright noted that the local farming communities of Deepdale traditionally eschewed the official label entirely, instead naming the mountain after Gill Crag—the sharp vertical fracture that cuts across its upper crest line.
The topography along the ridge line is a delightful, undulating promenade dotted with a succession of rocky knolls and minor summits. Upland walkers traversing the spine will cross the distinct high points of Gill Crag (the true geographical summit) and Gale Crag—which holds separate status as an official Birkett top. Other rugged sentinels, including The Perch and the dark face of Black Crag, drop away sharply into the deep trough of Deepdale to the north.
The modest summit of Hartsop above How
At the lower margins of the fell, bordering the Dovedale flank, lies a rare ecological sanctuary: Low Wood. This ancient fragments of native Lakeland woodland provides a precious window into Cumbria's botanical past, surviving as a rare remaining pocket of mixed broadleaf canopy that managed to escape the aggressive upland deforestation caused by the introduction of extensive sheep farming centuries ago.
The actual summit is an uncomplicated, modest rise of soft grass marked by a small stone cairn sitting on a rocky outcrop. Because the high ground steps out like a grand viewing platform into the valley, the vantage point splits the skyline wide open. Shifting your gaze southwest serves up a magnificent, front-row view of the giant fells framing the headdale, showcasing the sheer, craggy bulks of Dove Crag and Hart Crag tracking grandly across the horizon.
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