Lake District
Gibson Knott
420M
1378FT
About Gibson Knott
Gibson Knott is a rugged, undulating ridge-top fell that connects the famous Helm Crag to Calf Crag. Hiking here involves navigating a series of rocky 'hummocks' that offer superb, close-up views of the Far Easedale valley and the surrounding high Central Fells.
Key Statistics
Rank
562nd Highest in Region
Parent Range
Central Fells
Prominence
?
8.8m
Nearest Town
Grasmere
Geology
You’re walking on layers of hardened volcanic ash that later became sandstone and broken volcanic blocks.
Classifications
Find It
Latitude
54.4811°N
Longitude
3.0558°W
Did You Know?
- •Alfred Wainwright famously identified a specific viewpoint on the approach from Helm Crag known as 'The Moment,' where the ridge ahead and the summit of Gibson Knott are suddenly revealed in an impressively rugged profile.
- •The fell is composed of the Birker Fell Andesite Formation, showcasing the 'hummocky' terrain typical of glacial scouring on hard volcanic rock.
- •The name uses the Cumbrian term 'Knott,' derived from the Old Norse 'knútr,' which specifically refers to a small, rocky hill or a craggy mound.
- •The ridge serves as a vital drainage divide between the Greenburn and Far Easedale valleys, with several small, seasonal rock pools providing habitats for local dragonflies.
- •While the rocky spine looks solid, the path frequently dissolves into the 'Great Bog of Far Easedale,' a place where many a hiker has learned that 'waterproof' is merely a suggestion rather than a guarantee.