Grey Knotts

Grey Knotts is a fell in the Lake District of Cumbria. It stands one kilometre south of the Honister Pass road and rises above Seatoller in Borrowdale. The fell reaches 697 metres and forms part of a four-kilometre ridge that runs south-west to Great Gable. Its name refers to the summit rocks but is used for the whole fell, including the area known locally as Seatoller Fell. The fell is listed as a Wainwright and a Nuttall, though its prominence is slight. The fell’s eastern side holds the main features. Raven Crag, also called Gillercombe Buttress, is a popular spot for bouldering among detached rocks. Climbers also use several routes up the main crag. Nearby Gillercomb is a hanging valley where Sour Milk Gill tumbles down Borrowdale in cascades. At the upper end of Newhouse Gill lies the site of the old Borrowdale graphite mine, started by German miners in the 16th century. The summit is marked by grey tors and two equal tops, one with an Ordnance Survey trig point. Small tarns dot the top alongside fence posts that help with navigation. From here the view takes in the Buttermere valley to the north-west and the Scafell range to the south. Walkers often start from Seathwaite, Seatoller or the top of Honister Pass, with routes passing old mine workings or climbing Raven Crag. Grey Knotts also serves as a stepping stone for those heading to Great Gable via Brandreth and Green Gable.