Parking
Start at the small parking area opposite St Peter's Church in Martindale, near grid reference NY436192. Cross the road to begin. Spaces are limited, so do not block the narrow road or church access.
Overview
About Steel Knotts and Pikeawassa
This is a 2.5-mile (4.0 km) circular walk, measured as the complete loop from the small parking area opposite St Peter's Church in Martindale. Allow about two hours at an ordinary pace, including pauses. The route gains roughly 350 m and feels more strenuous than its length suggests.
Why go
- Rocky Pikeawassa summit with Ullswater views
- Big fell scenery in a compact loop
Heads up
- Steep grassy ascent and awkward descent
- Small parking area and sheep-country stiles
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Lake District map
Full mapElevation217–412 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
Safety
8 active Lake District alerts
- ClosureChapel Stile footpath closed for retaining-wall riskPart of Footpath 543030 between Chapel Stile and Baysbrown campsite is closed because a retaining wall beside the path could collapse and material it supports could fall across the footpath.Official details
- ClosureStanley Ghyll Lower Falls footpath closed for rockfallThe section of Footpath 408037 leading towards Stanley Ghyll Lower Falls is closed because severe rockfall damage has made the path unstable and further rockfall remains a danger.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Lake District Tour Guide
Your drive to Steel Knotts and Pikeawassa, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Lake District National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this trailhead
Hallin Fell from Martindale Hause0:00 / 0:59
“You're approaching Martindale Hause, the starting point for Hallin Fell and a short climb with a surprisingly wide view of Ullswater.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Lake District Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Martindale: Beda Fell Ridge Walk
- Daffodils: Dorothy Was There Too
- Aira Force and Gowbarrow
- Little Mell Fell: A Forty-Minute Summit
- 298 audio storiesacross Lake District’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Red Deer, Eurasian Otter, Osprey, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 265 trails, 89 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Steel Knotts and Pikeawassa
The routeCross the road and take the path between the church and the wall, following the wall past Lanty…
Cross the road and take the path between the church and the wall, following the wall past Lanty Tarn to Martindale Old Church. From there, a rising traverse reaches the ridge, then the path climbs steep turf to Steel Knotts and its rocky summit, Pikeawassa. Continue a short way along the ridge before taking the path toward Birkie Knott and descending back toward the church access. The stored line is this complete loop, including the old-church approach and the Birkie Knott descent.
Trail feel and payoffThe lower section is an unpaved fell path that can be muddy, while the upper climb is steep…
The lower section is an unpaved fell path that can be muddy, while the upper climb is steep grass with rough rock near the summit. The payoff is a compact, quiet-feeling ridge walk with broad views over Ullswater, Martindale, and the surrounding fells, plus the distinctive rocky outcrop at Pikeawassa. It is a good choice when you want a real fell summit without committing to a full-day circuit, but it is not a flat family stroll.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Lake District
81 sightingsRed DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
13 sightingsEurasian OtterMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
76 sightingsOspreyMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
51 sightingsEuropean BadgerMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
233 sightingsMute SwanMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
176 sightingsGrey HeronMost seen around 7 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Lake District. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
