High Knott

About High Knott

Rising above the village of Staveley, this modest Wainwright Outlying Fell is defined by the stone obelisk crowning its summit. The climb through quiet pastures rewards walkers with an intimate perspective of the Kentmere Horseshoe and the distant, rugged silhouettes of the Ill Bell ridge.

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Did You Know?

• •The summit is marked by a tall stone obelisk known as Williamson’s Monument. It was commissioned in the 19th century by Reverend Thomas Williamson, a local landowner who reportedly funded the construction to provide employment for local men during a period of economic hardship.
• •In his guide 'The Outlying Fells of Lakeland', Alfred Wainwright describes the view from this summit as 'full of interest,' specifically highlighting the exceptional vista of the Kentmere valley and the dramatic skyline formed by Froswick, Ill Bell, and Yoke.
• •The name 'Knott' is a common Cumbrian topographic term derived from the Old Norse 'knutr', meaning a hard, rocky hill or mound, which accurately describes the distinct profile this fell presents when viewed from the nearby village of Ings.
• •From the summit obelisk, the view south extends across the lower reaches of the Lake District to the northern tip of Windermere and, on exceptionally clear days, the distant sands of Morecambe Bay.
• •The monument serves as a reliable navigational landmark for those traversing the local bridleways, though its primary modern function appears to be providing a sturdy scratching post for the local sheep population.