Lake District
Scalebarrow Knott
338M
1109FT
About Scalebarrow Knott
Guarding the entrance to the quiet valley of Swindale, this modest grassy mound serves as the introductory climb for the Naddle Horseshoe. Despite its low elevation, it offers a grandstand view of the rugged Gouther Crag and the lonely, undulating moorland characteristic of the Far Eastern fells near Shap.
Key Statistics
Rank
699th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Far Eastern Fells
Prominence
?
9m
Nearest Town
Bampton Grange
Geology
Scalebarrow Knott is formed from ancient lava flows and layers of hardened mud. You are walking on a sturdy mix of volcanic rock and silty stone.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY519153
Latitude
54.5308°N
Longitude
2.7435°W
Did You Know?
- •The name derives from the Old Norse 'skali', meaning a temporary hut or shieling, and 'berg', meaning a hill; 'Knott' is a common Cumbrian term for a rocky or craggy outcrop.
- •In his book 'The Outlying Fells of Lakeland', Alfred Wainwright uses this summit as the starting point for a clockwise circuit of the Naddle Beck valley, a walk he championed for those seeking solitude away from the busier central fells.
- •The summit provides a particularly clear view of the massive cliffs of Gouther Crag across the valley, a site renowned among rock climbers for its high-quality mountain routes.
- •Walkers should be careful not to confuse the nearby Naddle Beck with the better-known stream of the same name that flows north toward the River Greta near Keswick.
- •The hill is one of the few places in the Lake District where you can enjoy a sense of true isolation while still being able to hear the distant hum of the M6 motorway on a still day.