Grey Knotts

About Grey Knotts

Rising steeply above the Honister Pass, this rugged fell is a maze of rocky knolls and peaty hollows. While often treated as a stepping stone to Great Gable, its summit provides a superb vantage point over Buttermere and the High Stile ridge, feeling surprisingly wild despite the proximity of the road.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is derived from the Old Norse word 'knutr', meaning a rocky hill or crag. The 'Grey' prefix describes the stark, lichen-covered volcanic rocks that define the summit area.
• •Alfred Wainwright described the summit as a place where 'nature has been in a playful mood', referring to the cluster of rocky tors that make identifying the true highest point a minor challenge for walkers.
• •The fell overlooks the historic Honister Slate Mine, where miners once lived in high-altitude bothies and hauled slate down the precipitous slopes. Evidence of old tramway inclines and sled roads can still be seen on its lower flanks.
• •From the summit rocks, the view north-west is perfectly framed, looking straight down the valley to the twin waters of Buttermere and Crummock Water, flanked by the massive slopes of Grasmoor and Robinson.
• •In thick mist, the fell is a master of deception; the plateau features several rocky outcrops of almost identical height, often leading to a repetitive cycle of celebratory 'summit' moments only to see another higher tor emerge from the cloud.