Great Knott

About Great Knott

Often overlooked by walkers rushing toward the craggy skyline of the Crinkle Crags, this rocky shoulder offers a quieter perspective on the Southern Fells. Rising steeply above Red Tarn, its summit provides an intimate look at the dramatic rock architecture of Browney Gill and the head of Great Langdale.

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Did You Know?

• •The name 'Knott' is derived from the Old Norse word 'knutr', meaning a hard, rocky hill or outcrop. It perfectly describes this rugged protrusion on the long ridge rising from Wrynose Pass toward the higher summits to the north.
• •While Alfred Wainwright omitted it from his Pictorial Guides—viewing it merely as a shoulder of the Crinkle Crags—it is recognised as a distinct peak by Bill Birkett. Birkett specifically noted its formidable appearance when viewed from the valley floor in Oxendale.
• •The summit serves as a superior viewpoint for the 'Bad Step' on the first of the Crinkle Crags. From here, walkers can watch others navigate the slabby climb, providing a useful visual preview of the terrain ahead.
• •The eastern slopes drop precipitously into Browney Gill, a steep and dramatic ravine that serves as a natural drainage for Red Tarn into the Great Langdale valley.
• •The hill is frequently bagged 'by accident' by hikers who stray from the main path skirting its western flank, often discovering the summit cairn only while trying to regain their bearings in the mist.