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. 514m): 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 straightforward retreat.

2. 2

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

   Descent of about 166 m, then a climb of about 381 m, over 2.9 km.

   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: Follow the route's line up the grassy slope to the summit plateau. On a clear day the OS pillar guides the last part. 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: Clough Head's western face above St John's in the Vale is steep and rocky, with Wanthwaite Crags among its crags. We have not checked this line against them on a map, so no advice on which side to keep is offered here.

   If you need to get off

   If the ascent becomes too much, turn round and go back down the way you came to Threlkeld Knotts. We have not checked any other line off Clough Head, so none is offered here.

3. 3

   Clough Head → Calfhow Pike (1.5 km, 29 m)

   Descent of about 79 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 (660m): 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 a distinctive 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

   Decide on Clough Head: on to Calfhow Pike and the route's own descent back to the starting valley, or back the way you came over Threlkeld Knotts. If you cannot move safely, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Police, then Mountain Rescue.

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

   Descent of about 508 m over 4.5 km.

   From Calfhow Pike, the route leaves the ridge heading west. After about 500 m it turns south-west and drops down the side of the fell into St John's in the Vale, reaching the valley floor at about 8 km. This is the steepest ground of the day: the line drops at around 60% for about 200 m near 7.3 km. We have not checked whether a path follows this line. On the valley floor, the route goes north along the lanes and farm tracks to Wanthwaite Bridge.

   Waypoints

   The descent from Calfhow Pike: The long, steep line off the ridge into St John's in the Vale. 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. Decide at Calfhow Pike, before you start down. Blencathra: Once you are on the valley floor and walking north, the bulk of Blencathra is ahead of you.

   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

   Decide at Calfhow Pike: down this line, or back north over Clough Head and Threlkeld Knotts, the way you came. In cloud, or on wet grass, the way you came is the line this page describes end to end. Once on the valley road, keep alert for traffic.