Shivery Knott

About Shivery Knott

Tucked away on the high ground above the hidden hamlet of Watendlath, this craggy Birkett offers a quiet escape from the busier Borrowdale paths. Its heathery summit overlooks the dark waters of Watendlath Tarn, providing a superb perspective on the Skiddaw massif and the long ridge leading towards Ullscarf.

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Did You Know?

• •The name likely originates from the local dialect word 'shiver,' referring to the fragments of shattered rock and shale that litter the craggy outcrops around the summit.
• •While it was omitted from Alfred Wainwright’s seven volumes, Bill Birkett identified this as a peak in its own right, placing it on the watershed between the Borrowdale and Thirlmere valleys.
• •The most evocative approach begins at Rosthwaite, climbing past the ancient packhorse bridge at Watendlath and offering views into the 'Jaws of Borrowdale' framed by the steep flanks of Castle Crag.
• •The summit provides an excellent vantage point to observe the geological contrast between the lush, green Watendlath valley and the austere, grey stone of the high Scafell massif to the south.
• •The ridge south toward Ullscarf is famously waterlogged; it is one of the few places in the Lakes where your boots are guaranteed to be significantly heavier at the end of the walk than at the start.