Threlkeld Knotts & Clough Head

The walk, stage by stage

1. 1

   Wanthwaite Bridge Car Park → Threlkeld Knotts (2.4 km, 385 m)

   Climb of about 385 m over 2.4 km (around 16% average).

   Starting from the small parking area near Wanthwaite Bridge in St John's in the Vale, the route begins by following the minor road briefly before cutting up onto the open fellside. The climb begins immediately, following a mix of old quarry tracks and grassy paths on a steep 16% average gradient. You are aiming for Threlkeld Knotts, a prominent, heathery and rocky subsidiary hill that sits like a footstool beneath the towering northern face of Clough Head. The terrain is rugged, transitioning from valley pastures into thick bracken and heather as you gain altitude

   Waypoints

   Wanthwaite Bridge (approx. 150m): The valley-bottom starting point near the River Greta. Intake Walls / Old Workings: The boundary zone transitioning onto the open fell. Threlkeld Knotts Summit (approx. 535m): A rocky, heathery prominence offering exceptional, uninterrupted views north toward the massive bulk of Blencathra

   Decision point

   Blencathra: The colossal, multi-ridged mountain of Blencathra sits directly behind you (north) as you climb. It acts as an incredible visual anchor. The Old Coach Road: You will likely cross or run parallel to sections of this wide, unpaved historic track before making the final push up the knotts

   Easy to get wrong

   Aggressive Start: The 16% gradient is a physical shock right out of the car. Pacing is crucial here before you even reach the main mountain. Summer Bracken: The lower slopes of this ascent are heavily choked with bracken in the summer months, which can obscure the path and any hidden rocks or rabbit holes beneath. Uneven Ground: The area around the old quarry workings features broken slate and loose rock that requires careful footwork

   If you need to get off

   Turn around and retrace the grassy paths directly back down to the intake walls and the Wanthwaite parking area. It is a completely safe, straightforward retreat

2. 2

   Threlkeld Knotts → Clough Head (2.9 km, 381 m)

   Climb of about 381 m over 2.9 km (around 13% average).

   From Threlkeld Knotts, the route heads east and then turns south to tackle the massive, imposing northern flank of Clough Head. You must first cross a minor, often boggy depression before beginning the relentless, steep pull up the grassy fellside. The gradient here averages 13%, but it feels steeper due to the trackless, grassy nature of the terrain. As you finally crest the slope, the gradient flattens dramatically into a wide, expansive summit plateau

   Waypoints

   The Depression: The grassy, soggy saddle separating Threlkeld Knotts from the main massif. Clough Head Summit (726m): The northernmost peak of the Helvellyn range, marked by a trig pillar set on a remarkably flat and grassy plateau

   Decision point

   Line of Ascent: Keep pushing directly up the grassy dome. Avoid drifting left (east) towards the crags. The Trig Pillar: On a clear day, the white OS pillar will eventually appear on the horizon to guide your final approach

   Easy to get wrong

   The Grassy Slog: The ascent of Clough Head's northern face is a legendary calf-burner. The grass can be slick, and the path often splinters into dozens of minor sheep trods, leaving you to forge your own way up. Wind Exposure: As the northernmost peak, Clough Head takes the absolute unmitigated force of northerly winds blowing down the Solway Firth. Expect a massive temperature drop at the summit. Crag Edges: The eastern edge of Clough Head (Wanthwaite Crags) features sheer, lethal drops. Stay well away from the left-hand edge as you ascend

   If you need to get off

   Trap Warning: Do not bail east off Clough Head. This leads over vertical crags and into the desolate bogs of Matterdale Common. Safe Route: If the ascent becomes too much, carefully descend the grassy northern flank back to Threlkeld Knotts

3. 3

   Clough Head → Calfhow Pike (1.5 km, 19 m)

   Descent of about 90 m over 1.5 km.

   Leaving the summit of Clough Head, the route turns south, offering a magnificent, high-level ridge walk. This section is a wide, rolling expanse of alpine grass that gently descends into a wide saddle. The terrain is relatively smooth and grassy until you reach Calfhow Pike, which juts out of the ridge as a highly distinct, shattered rock tor

   Waypoints

   The Ridge Saddle: The wide, grassy depression between Clough Head and Great Dodd. Calfhow Pike (650m): A prominent, rocky outcrop acting as a subsidiary summit and a vital navigational marker on the ridge

   Decision point

   Calfhow Pike: This rocky tor is a rarity on the grassy northern fells. On a clear day, it serves as an unmistakable visual bullseye as you walk south. Compass Bearings: If the mist is down, taking a strict southerly bearing from Clough Head is mandatory to ensure you hit Calfhow Pike and don't drift aimlessly onto the trackless flanks

   Easy to get wrong

   Clag Navigation: The grassy plateau between Clough Head and Calfhow Pike is entirely featureless. In low visibility, it is incredibly easy to lose your sense of direction here. Boggy Patches: Despite being on a ridge, the shallow depressions hold water and can be surprisingly squelchy

   If you need to get off

   There is no safe or quick bail to the east (Matterdale Common). You must push forward to Calfhow Pike to intercept the western descent route back to your starting valley

4. Calfhow Pike → Finish (4.5 km, 8 m)

   Descent of about 497 m over 4.5 km.

   From Calfhow Pike, the route abandons the main Helvellyn ridge and turns sharply north-west, plunging down the broad, grassy spur that drops directly back into St John's in the Vale. The descent is long and sustained, rapidly shedding altitude. The path weaves down the steep fellside, transitioning from open alpine grass back into thick bracken and grazing enclosures. Once you hit the valley floor, the final stretch is a rolling walk northwards along the valley lanes and farm tracks, returning you to Wanthwaite Bridge

   Waypoints

   The North-Western Spur: The long, steep descent path dropping off the ridge line. Valley Intake Walls: The boundary marking the end of the open fell and the return to the valley floor. St John's in the Vale Road: The valley-bottom lane heading north back to the start. Wanthwaite Bridge: The finish point

   Decision point

   St John's in the Vale: The massive trench of the valley is directly below you. Keep heading downhill towards the valley road. Blencathra: As you descend, the massive bulk of Blencathra will reappear directly ahead (north), perfectly framing your direction of travel

   Easy to get wrong

   Slip Hazard: Dropping nearly 500 meters on short, steep grass is treacherous when wet. This descent is a notorious slip-and-slide after rain; trekking poles are highly recommended to save your knees and prevent a fall. Summer Bracken: The lower half of this descent becomes a dense jungle of bracken in the summer, which can hide uneven ground, rabbit holes, and loose rocks right on the path. The Valley Slog: After a big mountain day, the final flat walk along the valley road back to the car park can feel mentally draining

   If you need to get off

   This entire stage is your exit route. Once you commit to the descent from Calfhow Pike, you are locked onto the safest path back to the valley. Keep heading downhill and avoid wandering laterally into any steep side ravines. Once on the valley road, you are perfectly safe