Lake District
Threlkeld Knotts
514M
1686FT
About Threlkeld Knotts
Tucked beneath the northern slopes of Clough Head, this rocky spur offers a grandstand view of Blencathra’s southern ridges. While often bypassed for the higher fells, its proximity to Threlkeld and the Old Coach Road makes it an accessible, characterful Birkett defined by ancient quarrying and steep, craggy breaks.
Key Statistics
Rank
392nd Highest in Region
Parent Range
Eastern Fells
Prominence
?
18m
Nearest Town
Legburthwaite
Geology
You are walking over ancient volcanic lava, hardened mud, and granite-like rock that cooled underground to form the rugged foundation of this fell.
Find It
Latitude
54.5979°N
Longitude
3.0383°W
Did You Know?
- •The name derives from the Old Norse 'thraell' (serf) and 'kelda' (spring), suggesting the spring belonging to a thrall once sat at the foot of these fells.
- •The summit provides an exceptional perspective of Blencathra’s dramatic southern ribs, offering a clear sightline directly up the sharp spine of Hall’s Fell Ridge.
- •The fell's northern aspect is heavily marked by the history of Threlkeld Quarry, where microgranite was once extracted for use as railway ballast and road stone across the north of England.
- •Though it missed out on a chapter in Alfred Wainwright’s Pictorial Guides, it is a primary objective for those completing the Birketts or Synge’s lists of Lakeland tops.
- •It serves as an excellent litmus test for the day's conditions; if the short, sharp pull from the Old Coach Road feels like a struggle, you may wish to reconsider any grander plans for the Helvellyn range.