Symonds Knott

About Symonds Knott

Perched dramatically above the Great Flake and Mickledore, this rugged Nuttall marks the northern shoulder of Scafell. It offers a dizzying perspective of the climbers' routes on the East Buttress and provides the most intimate view of Scafell Pike’s daunting western walls, making it an essential detour from the main summit.

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Did You Know?

• •The name 'Knott' derives from the Old Norse 'knutr', describing a rocky hillock or crag. While the identity of the original 'Symond' is lost to history, the name distinguishes this sharp, craggy prow from the flatter, boulder-strewn plateau of Scafell’s main summit.
• •Standing here provides a front-row seat to the most alpine scenery in England. You look directly across the Mickledore col to the massive, shattered western face of Scafell Pike, a view that captures the raw, volcanic geology of the Scafells better than any other point in the range.
• •It sits at the head of the East Buttress, overlooking the notorious 'Broad Stand.' This is the awkward, slabby scramble that serves as the direct link between Scafell and its higher neighbour; many walkers reach Symonds Knott only to decide that the long detour via Foxes Tarn is the wiser choice.
• •While it was not given its own chapter in Alfred Wainwright’s Pictorial Guides, it was recognised by Timothy Synge in his 1990s guide to the Lakeland Fells. It qualifies as a Nuttall due to its 15-metre drop from the col connecting it to Scafell's higher peak.
• •It is the ideal place to stand if you enjoy the sight of other people's problems; from the edge, you can look down on walkers at Mickledore debating whether Broad Stand looks 'doable,' a conversation that almost always ends in a long, contemplative walk in the opposite direction.