North Pennines
Knock Pike
398M
1306FT
About Knock Pike
Rising as a sharp, conical "sugar-loaf" above the Eden Valley, this distinctive outlier of the North Pennines offers a steep but rewarding climb. Its isolated position provides a grandstand view towards the Lake District’s eastern fells, contrasting sharply with the massive, radar-capped plateau of Great Dun Fell immediately to the east.
Key Statistics
Rank
235th Highest in Region
Parent Range
North Pennines
Prominence
?
102m
Nearest Town
Westmorland and Furness
Geology
You are hiking across a foundation of ancient volcanic ash and lime-rich siltstone. These rocks form the rugged slopes of the fell beneath your boots.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY685282
Latitude
54.6479°N
Longitude
2.4897°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is a linguistic tautology; 'Knock' derives from the Gaelic 'cnoc' meaning a round hill, while 'Pike' is a Northern English term for a peaked summit, effectively naming it 'Hill Hill'.
- •Geologically, the hill is part of the Cross Fell Inlier. While the neighbouring Pennine moors are capped with limestone and gritstone, Knock Pike is formed of much older rhyolite and volcanic rocks, which accounts for its unusually steep and pointed profile.
- •It is one of a celebrated trio of 'pikes' that line the foot of the Pennine escarpment near Dufton, sitting between its siblings, Dufton Pike and Murton Pike.
- •The summit offers a specific, earned perspective of the Lakeland skyline; on a clear day, the distinctive profile of Blencathra and the long ridge of the Helvellyn range are visible across the Vale of Eden.
- •Despite its modest height, the gradient is unforgiving enough to make you feel every one of its 398 metres, especially if you eschew the sheep tracks and attempt a direct line to the top.