Lake District
Swainson Knott
345M
1132FT
About Swainson Knott
Tucked away above the Bleng Valley near Gosforth, this quiet Western Fell is a sanctuary of rough grass and heather. It lacks the drama of the high peaks, but the reward is a crisp, unobstructed view of the Cumbrian coast and the distant, jagged skyline of Pillar and Great Gable.
Key Statistics
Rank
683rd Highest in Region
Parent Range
Western Fells
Prominence
?
134m
Nearest Town
Ponsonby
Geology
You are walking on ancient lava flows belonging to the Birker Fell Andesite Formation. These volcanic rocks form the foundation of the fell.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY079083
Latitude
54.4622°N
Longitude
3.4215°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is a blend of the Old Norse 'knutr', meaning a craggy hill or hillock, and the patronymic 'Swainson'. It reflects the deep Viking heritage found throughout the western valleys of the Lake District.
- •Included in Bill Birkett’s 'Complete Lakeland Fells', the summit is often reached as part of a quiet, low-level circular walk from the village of Wellington that takes in the neighbouring Ponsonby Fell.
- •The summit offers a unique perspective on the 'back' of the Lake District; while the Irish Sea and the Sellafield complex dominate the western horizon, the eastern view looks directly into the wild, high heart of the Ennerdale fells, specifically Haycock and Scoat Fell.
- •Despite being classified as both a 'Hump' and a 'Tump', the terrain remains unapologetically Lakeland, consisting of pathless sections and persistent bog that require more effort than its modest 345-metre height suggests.