Coomb Height, Knott and Great Calva

The walk, stage by stage

1. 1

   Start → Coomb Height (5.2 km, 409 m)

   Climb of about 409 m over 5.2 km (around 8% average).

   Follow the long, established valley track steadily uphill before breaking off the main path to tackle the trackless, grassy pull up the broad, sprawling shoulder of Coomb Height.

   Waypoints

   Valley floor track, Coomb Height ridge (approx 600m).

   Decision point

   The main valley track provides a rock-solid handrail for the long 5.2 km approach. Once ascending Coomb Height, use the broad topography of the spur itself to guide you upwards, aiming for the high skyline while keeping the deep cut of the flanking becks to your sides.

   Easy to get wrong

   The 'Back o' Skiddaw' fells are notoriously quiet and grassy, meaning footpaths are often faint or non-existent once you leave the main valley tracks. The climb up Coomb Height is a sustained, tussocky slog that holds water like a sponge; expect wet feet even in summer, as the thick fell grass hides a multitude of small, squelchy bogs.

   If you need to get off

   Simply turn back down the grassy slope to reconnect with the main valley track, which provides a fast, clear retreat all the way back to your starting point.

2. 2

   Coomb Height → Knott (1.6 km, 85 m)

   Climb of about 85 m over 1.6 km (around 5% average).

   Continue west along the high, rolling ridgeline, enjoying the much gentler gradient as the terrain opens up onto the massive, sprawling grassy plateau that culminates at the subtle summit cairn of Knott.

   Waypoints

   Coomb Height ridge, Knott summit (710m).

   Decision point

   You must rely strictly on a compass bearing and pacing if the clouds drop. There are occasionally faint quad-bike tracks or sheep trods, but they are unreliable and often lead into dead ends or deep bogs rather than the true summit.

   Easy to get wrong

   Knott is arguably the most featureless summit in the Lake District—a vast, gently curving dome of grass. In thick clag, it is dangerously easy to become totally disoriented here, as every direction looks exactly the same and there are no crags or sharp drops to act as visual cues to your location.

   If you need to get off

   If you lose your bearings, stop before you commit to ground you do not know. Work out where you are with the map and compass, then go back by a line you know: the way you came, to Coomb Height and down your ascent route. If you cannot move safely, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Police, then Mountain Rescue. We have not checked a line west off Knott towards Dash Beck, so none is offered here.

3. 3

   Knott → Great Calva (2.7 km, 150 m)

   Descent of about 161 m, then a climb of about 150 m, over 2.7 km.

   Descend south from Knott's summit, picking your way down the trackless, tussock-heavy slopes into the deep, often saturated depression near the headwaters of the River Caldew, before grinding out the steep, heathery climb up the northern flank of Great Calva.

   Waypoints

   Knott southern slopes, River Caldew (upper reaches/depression), Great Calva summit (690m).

   Decision point

   A dilapidated old fence line runs across the saddle and strikes straight up Great Calva. While broken in places, its remnants serve as an absolutely crucial navigational handrail, guiding you through the featureless bogs and directly to the summit.

   Easy to get wrong

   The depression between these two fells is a notorious peat bog; crossing it requires large detours to avoid waist-deep, black peat groughs, especially after heavy rain. The subsequent pull up Great Calva is a punishing combination of steep gradients, thick heather, and hidden holes that love to trap tired ankles.

   If you need to get off

   From the boggy depression, you can escape by following the drainage of the River Caldew downstream to intersect the Cumbria Way track, though this commits you to a very long, remote valley walk to reach civilization.

4. Great Calva → Finish (8.2 km, 15 m)

   Descent of about 470 m over 8.2 km.

   Drop steeply off Great Calva's slopes to intersect the prominent, stony track of the Cumbria Way, turning your back on the high fells to begin the long, sweeping, low-level march along the valley floor back to the starting point.

   Waypoints

   Great Calva descent, Cumbria Way track, Skiddaw House (vicinity), valley floor finish.

   Decision point

   Once you hit the valley floor, the Cumbria Way provides a massive, clear linear handrail. There is no complex navigation required here; simply lock into the track and follow its winding course out of the mountains.

   Easy to get wrong

   The descent off Great Calva is steep and heathery, demanding care not to slip on unseen rocks beneath the vegetation. The massive 8.2 km walk-out is mentally taxing at the end of the day, as the hard, stony tracks of the valley floor are unforgiving on tired feet and sore joints.

   If you need to get off

   You are on the optimal bailout route the moment you reach the Cumbria Way track. Stick to this main artery and avoid the temptation to cut corners across the valley floor, which is riddled with impassable marshes and deep becks.