Gibson Knott facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gibson Knott |
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 Gibson Knott
Location in Lake District
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 422 m (1,385 ft) |
| Prominence | c. 10 m |
| Parent peak | Calf Crag |
| Listing | Wainwright |
| Geography | |
| Location | Cumbria, England |
| Parent range | Lake District, Central Fells |
| OS grid | NY319099 |
| Topo map | OS Explorer OL5, OL7 |
Gibson Knott is a small mountain, also known as a fell, located in the beautiful Lake District in England. It is found in the Central Fells, which are a group of mountains in the middle of the Lake District. This fell sits on a ridge, which is like a long, narrow hilltop, between two valleys called Greenburn and Far Easedale.
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Exploring Gibson Knott's Shape
The main line of the Central Fells runs from north to south. The highest point in this area is a fell called High Raise. From High Raise, a wide ridge stretches out, featuring several rocky tops. This ridge then splits into two arms near the top of Greenburn valley. Gibson Knott is on the southern arm, which continues towards Helm Crag.
Between Calf Crag and Helm Crag, the ridge becomes quite narrow, sometimes only about 90 meters (100 yards) wide. It gently curves towards the southeast for about 2.4 kilometers (one and a half miles). Gibson Knott is located about halfway along this section of the ridge.
The southern side of Gibson Knott, facing Far Easedale, is rocky. A notable feature here is Horn Crag. The northern side slopes more gently down towards the upper parts of Greenburn Bottom. As you move west from the top of Gibson Knott, there isn't much change in height before the ground starts to rise again towards Calf Crag. Between Gibson Knott and Helm Crag, there's a dip in the ridge called Bracken Hause, which is about 335 meters (1,100 feet) high.
The Rocks of Gibson Knott
The rocks at the very top of Gibson Knott are made of special types of stone. These are called claystone and siltstone from the Esk Pike Formation. They were formed from volcanic ash and mud that settled in layers a long, long time ago.
The rest of the ridge is made of a rock called dacitic lapilli-tuff. This type of rock is also formed from volcanic material, specifically small pieces of volcanic rock (lapilli) that were thrown out during eruptions and then cemented together. There have been no mines found in the area around Gibson Knott.
Reaching the Summit
Gibson Knott has a couple of rocky bumps at its top that are very similar in height. This means it could be tricky to decide which one is the absolute highest point! However, people usually agree that the western rocky outcrop is the summit. There, you will find a small pile of stones called a cairn.
From the summit, you can enjoy views all around. While the views are good, they might not feel as wide as you'd expect from a fell located so centrally in the Lake District. If you walk a little further east along the ridge, the views can become even better.
How to Climb Gibson Knott
Most people who climb Gibson Knott do so as part of a longer walk. A popular way is to follow a good path that goes around the Greenburn valley. You can also start your climb from the village of Grasmere. From Grasmere, you can choose to walk up either side of the Bracken Hause dip to reach the ridge and then Gibson Knott.
