Knott Rigg

Tucked at the head of the Newlands Valley, this modest fell is defined by its knobbly ridge terrain. It serves as the opening act on a fine high-level traverse towards Ard Crags. The ascent is short but steep, providing an intimate perspective on the massive slopes of Sail and Grasmoor.

• •The name is a direct description of its topography, derived from the Old English 'cnott' (a small, rounded hill) and the Old Norse 'hryggr' (a ridge). Together they describe the undulating, 'knobbly' character of the crest.
• •Alfred Wainwright was particularly fond of this fell’s ridge-walk to Ard Crags, describing the traverse as 'delightful' and noting that its position provides a grandstand view of the deep valley of Sail Beck.
• •The most popular approach begins from the summit of the Newlands Hause pass. While this offers a significant height advantage, the initial path is a relentless grassy staircase that gains most of the fell's elevation in a single, breathless push.
• •The summit offers a unique perspective on the 'staircase' ridge of Sail and the sheer, scree-scarred eastern face of Grasmoor, views that are often lost when standing on the higher peaks themselves.
• •For those who measure the quality of a walk by the effort-to-view ratio, Knott Rigg is a remarkably efficient choice; you can reach the summit from your car in twenty minutes, provided you don’t mind your calves burning for nineteen of them.