Hard Knott
549m (1802ft)
The Southern Fells, The Lake District, Cumbria, England
You can find Hard Knott & all the walks that climb it on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps: (click/TAP to select)
1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (the ones with orange/yellow covers):
1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Maps (the ones with pink/magenta covers):
See Hard Knott and the surrounding tops on our free-to-access 'Google Style' Peak Bagging Maps:
See Hard Knott and the surrounding tops on our downloadable PDF Peak Bagging Maps:
*Walk & bag all 30 Wainwrights in The Southern Fells area of The Lake District in just 11 easy-to-follow circular walks.
*This version is marked with the walk routes you need to follow to Walk all 214 Wainwrights in just 59 walks. Click here for more information.
NB: Whether you print off a copy on to paper or download it to your phone, these PDF Peak Baggers Maps will prove incredibly useful when your are up there on the tops and you cannot get a phone signal!
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 6.25ml (10km) |
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| Ascent: | 1,756ft (535m) |
| Time: | 4 hrs |
| Grade: |  (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Eskdale - Jubilee Bridge - Hardknott Pass - Hardknott Castle. (Roman Fort) - Hardknott Pass - Hard Knott - Yew Bank - Lingcove Beck - Lingcove Bridge - Great Moss - River Esk - Jubilee Bridge - Eskdale
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 12.25ml (19.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,568ft (1,087m) |
| Time: | 8 hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Eskdale - The Woolpack Inn - Doctor Bridge - Low Birker - Birker Force - Low Birker Tarn - Green Crag (Ulpha Fell) - Crook Crag - Harter Fell (Eskdale) - Dunnerdale Forest - Hardknott Pass - Hardknott Gill - Hard Knott - Yew Bank - Lingcove Beck - Lingcove Bridge - Great Moss - Brotherilkeld - Taw House Farm - Wha House Farm - The River Esk - The Woolpack Inn - Eskdale
Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Hard Knott
Tim Winn walked up Hard Knott on May 17th, 2025 [from/via/route] Hard Knott Pass [with] Jane [weather] Dry. Sunny.
James Hughes climbed Hard Knott on April 29th, 2025 [from/via/route] c402 Harter Fell & Hard Knott from Eskdale [weather] Glorious sunny day. Warm & clear. - Up to Green Crag from Woolpack Inn. Issue locating path initially as permissive path at Low Birker overshoots it. Boggy between Green Crag & Harter Fell. Awesome views at top. Relatively easy ascent to Hard Knott. Long descent back to WoolpackInn alongside beautiful Lingcove Beck.
Caroline Winter bagged Hard Knott on October 11th, 2024 [from/via/route] Hardknott pass by cairn, raven crag edge, Border End, Hardknott fell [with] Solo [weather] Predicted good views, sun & cloud, but drizzle & cloud descending over Scafell. - Reasonable views over Scafell ranges. At the grassy knoll below Border End could view the needle. Decided to go up to Border End cairn & could see great aerial views of the Roman ruins
Richard Fulcher hiked Hard Knott on June 22nd, 2024 [from/via/route] Drove around the back of the Lakes to Eskdale & parked near Hardknott Castle. After having a look at the Roman remains we walked up a path that joined with the road near the top of Hardknott pass. From there we turned left & followed a stony & later boggy path up to Hard Knott. Returned by the same route. [with] Jen [weather] Sunny with some cloud, no rain but blustery on the tops. - Fantastic view towards Scafell & Scafell Pike.
Christine Shepherd summited Hard Knott on August 19th, 2009 [from/via/route] Walked from the bottom of Hard Knott Pass Climbed again on 20.11.2021. Walked from Jubilee Bridge for my third ascent on 10.5.24.in glorious weather. Had the best views I have ever had from the summit. [with] On my own [weather] Wet & warm
Ian Ashton conquered Hard Knott on July 8th, 2023 [from/via/route] Jph [with] JPH
Richard Marchant scaled Hard Knott on September 17th, 2022 [from/via/route] Parked at at a forest car park about 4 miles from Cockley Beck further down in Dunnerdale. From here I walked North up to Hard Knott Pass & across the road up to Hard Knott. I returned to the pass & headed south up on to Harter Fell then on again to Green Cragg. Then from here I headed Eastward across the moor to Dunnerdale Forest & descended back to the car. [with] On my Own [weather] Clear Sunny day with little or no breeze.
Michael Nolan walked up Hard Knott on October 13th, 2021 [from/via/route] hard Knott pass [with] Morag [weather] Drizzled
John King climbed Hard Knott on September 4th, 2021 [from/via/route] Hard Knott Pass [weather] Overcast & cool & little wind
John Fenwick bagged Hard Knott on September 27th, 2020 [from/via/route] Walked from the wool pack in. Weather was perfect for walking. Followed walk c402 took a couple of wrong turns along the way. [with] Romany [weather] Sunny with some clouds & some wind. - There is no cattle grid top of Hard Knott Pass as stated on the directions. Headed back via roman hill fort from Hard Knott back down road as we ran out of time to finish.
Richard Marshall hiked Hard Knott on August 30th, 2020 [from/via/route] From Woolpack Inn Eskdale [with] Andy Pratt [weather] WarmSunny/Cloudy
Wayne Baxter summited Hard Knott on August 24th, 2020 [from/via/route] Drove from the Three Shire Stone to Hardnut Pass. Parked Raven Crag. Wlaked to Border end & then onto Hard Knott. Return on same path [with] Sue [weather] Sunny
Dave Eyes conquered Hard Knott on August 22nd, 2020 [from/via/route] Drove up Hard Knott pass & parked at the cairn. Waked in to Hard Knott summit from there [with] Christine Eyes [weather] Cloudy with a bit of Sun. Quite Windy
Paul Macey scaled Hard Knott on July 12th, 2020 [from/via/route] Harter Fell And Green Crag
Andrew Johnson walked up Hard Knott on November 13th, 2019 [from/via/route] Eskdale [weather] Cloudy
Elaine Evans climbed Hard Knott on October 21st, 2019 [from/via/route] From Hardknott Pass to summit of Hardknott & return. [with] Sue and Christine [weather] Beautiful, dry & sunny. - Finally! After six years Sue & I have completed the 214 Wainwrights in The Lake District, something I could never have imagined possible a few years ago. Christine - thank you for your support & the bubbly at the summit, I'll return the favour in a few months! Sue - thank you for your company, your patience & your perseverance - we did it!
Phillip Bulley bagged Hard Knott on July 11th, 2019 [from/via/route] From the top of hard knott pass. [with] Ruby. [weather] Raining & cloudy absolutely no views.
Chris Sheard hiked Hard Knott on April 7th, 2019 [from/via/route] Up from Eskdale [with] George [weather] Started murky with light winds finished clear & fabulous - Well this was a funny one. Started in our mind as a get out of way only to find it was fantastic. Did the fort first then lunch looking at Sca fells, Bow fell - i am sure this is one i will do again
David Watson summited Hard Knott on August 31st, 2018 [from/via/route] Jubilee Bridge [weather] Sunny
Les Wrightson conquered Hard Knott on June 16th, 2018 [from/via/route] C402 [with] Self [weather] Sunny - Met Tony & sue for a meal
Darren Wilson scaled Hard Knott on June 15th, 2015 [from/via/route] Cockley Beck, Ulpha Fell, Little Stand, Cold Pike, Crinkle Crags, Hard Knott [with] lone walk [weather] Beautiful summers day
Simon Myerscough walked up Hard Knott on April 5th, 2009 [from/via/route] C402 [with] Martin [weather] Warm & sunny at times - Lost Guinness hat. Great waterfalls & river Esk
John Walter climbed Hard Knott on July 18th, 2017 [with] Tricia [weather] Warm
Simon Boddy bagged Hard Knott on June 28th, 2017 [from/via/route] Hard Knott pass [with] HF Holidays [weather] Breezy with occasional showers
Anthony Scott hiked Hard Knott on May 3rd, 2017 [from/via/route] YHA Eskdale [with] me [weather] Glorious! Blue sky, 15 degrees. Just a bit windy
Tracey Cowell summited Hard Knott on January 21st, 2017 [with] John Pheonix Hutchinson, Ian & Ann Price, Shane Woods, Anita Gardiner, Teresa Harris, David Powell, Stephen Green and Samson [weather] Sun
Mark Davidson conquered Hard Knott on November 1st, 2005 [with] Alone [weather] Cool but nice & sunny, just lovely for November
Doug Martin scaled Hard Knott on October 14th, 2016 [from/via/route] Hard Knott Pass kerbside. [with] Mark and Steve [weather] Dry & windy but not a day to hang about. - Did this on way home from High Moss where we had a great days walking on the thursday. Out back of house up Walna Scar road to Dow Crag - Coniston Old Man etc & back via Seathwaite Tarn. Mixed bag of weather including strong winds, low cloud & rain but we ended up finishing as we started in sunshine & dry.
Christine Knowles walked up Hard Knott on May 20th, 2016 [from/via/route] Woolpack Inn, via Green Crag & Harter Fell [with] Graham [weather] Warm, bit breezy - Little bit of a struggle to find top!
Tony Rogerson climbed Hard Knott on July 5th, 2015 [from/via/route] Jubilee Bridge Lingcove Beck Hard Knott Border End & Hard Knott Pass [with] Darren Floss Robbie & Ruby [weather] High cloud & sunny spells
Jan Dixon bagged Hard Knott on September 27th, 2015 [from/via/route] Jubliee Bridge, down to Esk River [with] Tia and Anya [weather] Sunny
Kevin Parnham hiked Hard Knott on August 22nd, 2015 [from/via/route] From Woolpack Inn,Eskdale via Green Crag & Harter Fell [with] Jo and Charlotte [weather] Weather was very good on reaching the summit - Fantastic view of the Scafells from here
David Noble summited Hard Knott on June 20th, 2015 [from/via/route] The woolpack [with] Solo [weather] Overcast & rain
Iain Taylor conquered Hard Knott on June 6th, 2015 [from/via/route] From Hardknott Pass NY 23103 01460
Harry Meijer scaled Hard Knott on June 26th, 2015 [from/via/route] custom walk [with] The Lake District Walker
Christina Lander walked up Hard Knott on April 26th, 2015 [from/via/route] Hard Knott Pass - Hard Knott - & back the same way [with] Dick [weather] Beautiful - Just a little walk on a lovely day before going home
Charlie Housley climbed Hard Knott on April 14th, 2015 [from/via/route] From the top of Hardknott Pass on the path just to the east of Raven Crag. [with] Candy....the dog. [weather] Low cloud, well, I say low, obviously it's relative...probably lovely in Ambleside. But anyway, couldn't see much at all.
Victoria Bates bagged Hard Knott on February 21st, 2015 [from/via/route] Woolpack Inn [with] Mark [weather] Cold, windy, some snow showers
Keith Eastman hiked Hard Knott on June 28th, 2014 [from/via/route] c402
Craig Steeland summited Hard Knott on July 17th, 2014 [from/via/route] Summit of Hard Knott pass [with] On my own [weather] Very sunny & warm with no wind. Perfect! - Attained summit quicker than expected. Route along obvious path from Hard Knott pass summit car park not as described by Wainwright. 20 minutes to the top, 20 minutes on the top, & 20 minutes back down to the car.
Clive Ward conquered Hard Knott on April 18th, 2008 [from/via/route] From car park at Hard Knott Castle. Via Border Edge [with] Hazel, Helen [weather] Very windy, wet when we started - Date is a guess. Check photos
Derek Parkin scaled Hard Knott on July 14th, 2013 [with] lynn parkin
Chris Bramley walked up Hard Knott on May 26th, 2013 [from/via/route] Wrynose pass [with] Jaqui, Blake,jan [weather] Warm sunny - Summer breeze
Darren Mortimer climbed Hard Knott on October 14th, 2012 [from/via/route] Wa Hause [with] Dermot Palmer [weather] Fine with some sun - Used walk c402 very wet & boggy but much fun
Bill Rowlands bagged Hard Knott on September 26th, 2012 [from/via/route] Hard Knott pass [with] Jake, the chocolate labrador [weather] Partly cloudy, dry.
Simon Smith hiked Hard Knott on July 22nd, 2012 [weather] Overcast & very windy! - Did it the second time around - much easier without mist & with a GPS!
John Senior has summited Hard Knott [from/via/route] From the Roman fort [with] Julie senior [weather] Wet & Misty, very difficult to see the way.
Stephen Byrne, Patrick Rogozinski, David Hallam, Clare Houlihan, Jane Wilkinson, Jenny Godfrey, Louis Smith, Louise Sandwith, David Butterfield, David Shaw, Peter Clark, Patricia Dilley, Linda Mckeogh, Simon Duerden, Colin Egan, Jonathan Tobin, Paul Booth, Trevor Williams, Paul Henderson, Jacqui Smith, John Cuthbert, Ian Walkden, Carol Juden, Patrick Buckland, Stephen Millington, Jeanette Coward, Sarah Lowe, Ray O'hara, Linda Walker and John Southward have all walked, climbed & bagged Hard Knott.To add (or remove) your name and experiences on this page - Log On and edit your Personal Mountain Bagging Record
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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Hard Knott
From left to right: Slight Side and Sca Fell, Mickledore, Scafell Pike, Ill Crag and Great End, Esk Hause, Esk Pike, Bow Fell (Bowfell), Crinkle Crags (Long Top), Cold Pike, Little Stand and finally the shoulder of Grey Friar from the summit of Hard Knott
*Northernly Panorama from the summit of Hard Knott featuring Sca Fell, Scafell Pike, Esk Pike, Bow Fell (Bowfell), Gunson Knott, Crinkle Crags (Long Top) and Crinkle Crags (South Top)
Harter Fell (Eskdale) (back), Hard Knott and The Lingcove Valley from Bow Fell (Bowfell) summit cairn
Looking south west towards Hard Knott, Harter Fell (Eskdale), Lingcove Bridge and Eskdale from the summit of Bow Fell (Bowfell)
Hard Knott summit cairn - with Esk Pike, Bow Fell (Bowfell) and Crinkle Crags gracing the skyline
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