Sour Howes
483m (1585ft)
The Far Eastern Fells, The Lake District, Cumbria, England
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 5.5ml (8.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 1,582ft (482m) |
| Time: | 3.75hrs |
| Grade: |  (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Troutbeck Bridge - Garburn Road - Backstone Barrow - Sour Howes - Sallows - Garburn Pass - Troutbeck - Troutbeck Bridge
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 7.5mls (12km) |
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| Ascent: | 1,216ft (462m) |
| Time: | 4.25hrs |
| Grade: |  (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Ullthwaite Bridge - Croft Head - Meadowplatts Plantation - Capple Howe - Sour Howes - Sallows - Garburn Pass - Crabtree Brow - Kentmere - kentmere Hall - Hall Wood - Kentmere Plantation - Sawmill Cottage - Kentmere - Ullthwaite Bridge
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 11ml (17.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,410ft (1,039m) |
| Time: | 7½ hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Troutbeck Bridge - Garburn Road - Backstone Barrow - Sour Howes - Sallows - Garburn Pass - Yoke - Ill Bell - Froswick - Wanfer Crag - Hagg Gill - Trout Beck - Troutbeck Tongue - Lowther Brow - Long Green Head - Limefitt Campsite - Troutbeck - Troutbeck Bridge
See Sour Howes and the surrounding tops on our free-to-access 'Google Style' Peak Bagging Maps:
See Sour Howes and the surrounding tops on our downloadable Peak Bagging Maps in PDF format:
NB: Whether you print off a copy or download it to your phone, these PDF Peak Baggers' Maps might prove incredibly useful when your are up there on the tops and you cannot get a phone signal.
*This version is marked with the walk routes you need to follow to Walk all 214 Wainwrights in just 59 walks.
You can find Sour Howes & all the walks that climb it on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps:
1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (orange/yellow covers):
1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Map (pink/magenta covers):
Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Sour Howes
Andrew Gayne walked up on April 29th, 2025 [from/via/route] From Troutbeck [with] Becky [weather] Really sunny & hot - In the lakes for 2 days. Drove to Troutbeck & did a circular route up Sour Howes & then Swallows before doubling back. Lovely day & lovely walk with great views
James Hughes climbed it on September 11th, 2024 [from/via/route] c332 The Hagg Gill Round from Troutbeck [weather] Mixed. Odd shower, warm in valleys, cold on tops. Clear visibility. - Stunning & reasonably straight forward easy to navigate walk. Beautiful vistas. Multiple jet fly-bys. Tongue boggy & tusoucky in places. Mortal Man for post walk pint.
Martyn Howarth bagged it on May 30th, 2022 [from/via/route] From Troutbeck (Church Bridge) up Garburn Road onto Sour Howes, then over to Sallows, down to Garburn Pass & back down Garburn Road. [with] Angela Howarth, Tilly Howarth, Archie Howarth and Barnaby the dog. [weather] Rather cloudy, but not too cold & no rain to speak of. Visibility OK from time to time.
Caroline Winter hiked it on April 14th, 2024 [from/via/route] Jesus church, Sour Howes, Sallows [with] Solo [weather] Weather deteriorated to rain & wind, but views across to Stony Cove good
Paul Roddam summited on March 17th, 2024 [with] Barber [weather] Cloudy coming into sun
Sarah Moore conquered it on February 24th, 2024 [from/via/route] c332 / The Hagg Gill Round from Troutbeck. Loads of parking options & the route was well defined. Only thing to watch for is the path down when on the ridge. Most continuing on from Froswick but I needed to go left - it's clear if you look for it! Nice to go along the path once down at the Gill / stream - the road / track would be easier if there was a hurry. [with] On my own [weather] February frost, but dry although low visibility for most of the walk - particularly once past Sallows until coming down from Froswick. Glad of layers today! - 10 months since I've been in The Lakes - & it was so so good to be back. Not as cold as I expected & the sun made an appearance but visibility was rubbish. Coming down from Froswick was lethal & I went full length twice - but very glad for the poles & nothing that the washing machine can't fix! (Disappointing given how clear it was later in the day & the next day!)
Richard Fulcher scaled on January 28th, 2024 [from/via/route] We parked in Troutbeck near the church & set off up a track through 'The Howe'. This track turned sharp left & then gradually climbed to meet 'Garburn Road'. We followed this up towards the Garburn Pass, turning right over a stile at Garburn Nook. We then followed a clear path up to Sallows ( 516m) & then back down & around the ridge (Moor Head) until rising again to the summit of Sour Howes (483m). The route down was steep in places following a SW direction past Backstone Barrow until meeting up with the Garburn Road again. Out of interest & for an easier lower section we veered off to pass through the Limefitt Holiday Park before reaching our car again. [with] Jen [weather] Cold winter's day, sheltered on the ascent but windy in places on the tops. - A good walk to start 2024 in the Lakes, but not a lot of interest compared to the central lakes area.
David Higginbottom walked up on February 9th, 2023 [from/via/route] Route c332 [with] Carolyn [weather] Good
Tim Winn climbed it on September 3rd, 2023 [from/via/route] Troutbeck Church [with] Barry and Louise [weather] Foggy
Andrew Thornton bagged it on August 7th, 2023 [from/via/route] Troutbeck [with] Jenny [weather] Overcast - Excellent path.
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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Sour Howes
Sign near Ullthwaite Bridge at the start of the route up Sour Howes and Sallows
Send us your photographs and pictures on, of, or from Sour Howes
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