Steel Knotts (Pikeawassa)

Steel Knotts and Fusedale

Steel Knotts

Height432m (1,417ft)

Prominence51m (167ft)

RegionFar Eastern Fells

Climbed2 Times

Extending as a crooked, bony ridge from Gowk Hill, the Steel Knotts ridge—often referred to as Martindale Edge—creates a dramatic boundary for the valley of Fusedale. Rock is ever-present along this ridge, breaking through the surface in numerous places, most strikingly at the summit itself.

"Gowk Hill sends out a crooked bony arm to form a loft ridge enclosing Fusedale. On the crest of this ridge, rock is never far from the surface and it breaks out in several places, most notably at the highest point. This freakish gnarled ridge st Steel Knotts; the summit tor named Pikeawassa." — A. Wainwright

The ridge spans approximately two miles, with the steep-sided Fusedale valley to the east; the beck that runs through this valley forms the fell's boundary before flowing north into Ullswater at Howtown. The northern end of the ridge features particularly notable crags. The summit is defined by the fine pinnacle known as Pikeawassa, offering a superb vantage point over the Martindale area and expansive views of the Helvellyn range.

Pikeawassa, the summit outcrop

Trip Reports

A Fusedale Round07/05/2016

Hallin Fell & Steel Knotts21/08/2014

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