North Pennines
Great Knipe
515M
1689FT
About Great Knipe
Rising above the Eden Valley near Kirkby Stephen, this understated limestone fell offers a quieter alternative to the popular Pennine peaks. Its broad, grassy slopes lead to a plateau characterized by rocky outcrops, providing clear, sweeping views across the valley toward the distant Lakeland fells and the massive bulk of Wild Boar Fell.
Key Statistics
Rank
174th Highest in Region
Parent Range
North Pennines
Prominence
?
67.4m
Nearest Town
Westmorland and Furness
Geology
Beneath your boots, Great Knipe is built from layers of sandstone, mudstone, and limestone. These rocks belong to the Stainmore and Little Limestone formations.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY867144
Latitude
54.5247°N
Longitude
2.2070°W
Did You Know?
- •The name 'Knipe' derives from the Old Norse word knípr, which signifies a crag or a sharp, rocky hill, an apt description for the limestone scars found on its eastern flanks.
- •The hill overlooks the Smardale Gill Nature Reserve, where the famous Smardale Gill Viaduct once carried the Eden Valley Railway across the deep, wooded limestone valley below.
- •From the summit, walkers are rewarded with a direct line of sight to the distinctive flat-topped profile of Wild Boar Fell to the south and the rounded, velvet-like slopes of the Howgill Fells to the west.
- •While designated as 'Great,' the hill is only a modest 33 metres higher than its neighbor, Little Knipe, though the presence of the summit cairn on the larger hill is usually enough to settle any sibling rivalry.