Thunacar Knott facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Thunacar Knott
Thunacar Knott seen from Pavey Ark; the fell summit is the insignificant point on the moorland in the picture centre
Highest point
Elevation	723 m (2,372 ft)
Prominence	c. 27 m
Parent peak	Harrison Stickle
Listing	Wainwright, Nuttall
Geography
Thunacar Knott Location in Lake District
Location	Cumbria, England
Parent range	Lake District, Central Fells
OS grid	NY279079
Topo map	OS Explorer OL6

Thunacar Knott is a "fell" (which is another word for a hill or mountain) located in the middle of the Lake District in England. It's found in the county of Cumbria.

What is Thunacar Knott Like?

Thunacar Knott is part of the Central Fells mountain range. It sits on a high, flat area of moorland. This area is found behind the famous Langdale Pikes. The Langdale Pikes are a group of rocky cliffs that look down over the beautiful Great Langdale valley.

How Tall is Thunacar Knott?

Recent measurements show that Thunacar Knott is 723 metres (about 2,372 feet) tall. This makes it a good-sized fell! A famous fell-walker named Alfred Wainwright wrote about it in his books. He measured it a bit shorter, but new surveys are more accurate.

Why is Thunacar Knott Special?

Thunacar Knott is in a very popular area for walking. It's surrounded by well-known fells like Harrison Stickle, Pike of Stickle, Loft Crag, and Pavey Ark. Even though it's in such a busy spot, many walkers don't pay much attention to Thunacar Knott itself. This is because it looks like a small bump on the moorland. It doesn't have the dramatic rocky cliffs of its neighbours.

Some people even think it's just the highest part of the Pavey Ark cliffs, not a separate fell. Alfred Wainwright himself wasn't very impressed by it. He said it wasn't very interesting or good for photos. But it's still an important part of the Lake District landscape!

What is Thunacar Knott Made Of?

Most of Thunacar Knott is covered by layers of earth and rock left behind by glaciers. But near the very top, you can see the original rock underneath. This rock is called the Seathwaite Fell Formation. It's made of volcanic sandstone. This means it was formed from tiny pieces of rock and ash that came from volcanoes a very long time ago.

How Can You Climb Thunacar Knott?

Many hikers want to climb Thunacar Knott to complete their list of 'Wainwright' fells. These are all the fells described by Alfred Wainwright. People usually climb Thunacar Knott while they are also climbing the more famous fells nearby.

Popular Routes to the Summit

A common way to start your climb is from the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel in Great Langdale. From there, you would follow a path up Stickle Ghyll, past Stickle Tarn, and then towards Pavey Ark. Thunacar Knott is just a short walk from there. You can also reach it from a village called Stonethwaite in Borrowdale. This route goes through Langstrath and over the Stake Pass.

What is at the Top of Thunacar Knott?

The very top of Thunacar Knott has a small mountain lake, called a tarn. It also has two high points, or "tops." The southern top is actually the highest point. However, the northern top has a bigger pile of stones, called a cairn. Because of this, many people think the northern top is the true summit.

Even though Thunacar Knott might seem small, it's higher than the land around it. This means you get amazing views in every direction from the top! The views looking to the west are especially beautiful.

Images for kids

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  The view looking west from Thunacar Knott. You can see the Scafells, Great End, Great Gable, and Glaramara.