Harter Fell and Hard Knott | 6 Miles
This 6-mile hike in Eskdale takes in two stunning summits of the Southern Fells – Harter Fell and Hard Knott – and even a stop at the Roman fort perched on the slopes below. It’s a proper Wainwright walk with some challenging sections, but the sweeping valley views, rugged crags and a touch of history make it worthwhile.
Eskdale is one of the quieter valleys in the Lake District, with a wild, unspoilt charm that makes it perfect for walking. Nestled between towering Southern Fells, the valley feels tucked away from the crowds.
The walk starts from a small layby at the bottom of the notorious Hardknott Pass. We crossed Hardknott Gill via Jubilee Bridge, a pretty stone bridge, then headed up the hillside. The path is pretty straight forward to follow as it crosses various streams.
Through the wooden gate (perfect place to catch your breath and admire the views of Scafell Pike!) and the climb continues up towards the rocky summit of Harter Fell. The path follows a bridleway but soon branches off to follow indistinct paths up to the top.
Harter Fell
Harter Fell is a rugged fell with big, sweeping views over Eskdale. Wainwright described Harter Fell as “one of the country’s most beautiful mountains”. The ascent is steep in places, but once you reach the top (653m) you’re rewarded with wide vistas of the surrounding fells and valleys. On a clear day, you can see right across the Lake District! There is a trig point on the summit.
The trig point is near the summit but the actual spot height was at the top of these rocks. If you don’t fancy a climb up, the trig point can be your summit!
From Harter Fell summit we set off north-east, descending by some of the wettest paths I’ve been on for a while! The route eventually meets Hardknott Pass (which only comes into view at the last minute), and we crossed this, turned right and started the climb up to Hard Knott.
Hard Knott
Hard Knott is a bit rockier and more dramatic underfoot, with craggy outcrops that give it real character. At 549m it’s slightly lower than Harter Fell but feels just as wild!
Summit visited, we retraced our steps back down the way we came to re-join Hardknott Pass.
We followed the road for 0.66 miles (1km) then went up the short climb to Hardknott Roman Fort.
HardKnott Roman Fort
Nestled on the slopes below Hard Knott, the Roman fort is an incredible reminder of history amid the fells. Built nearly 2,000 years ago to guard the route through the mountains, the remains of Mediobogdum are surprisingly well-preserved – a few walls and earthworks still stand, and the views from the fort are almost as impressive as the peaks themselves. The site is free to enter.
We walked through the fort, carrying on down the hill on a path running alongside the road, then rejoined the road at the car park.
This was a challenging walk – the climb up Harter Fell seemed never-ending! We were so lucky with the weather though, which really made a difference.
Walk Details:
Walk Map (Opens in OS Maps): Harter Fell and Hard Knott Walk
Parking: We parked in a small layby at the bottom of Hardknott Pass. There isn’t really a postcode, but the What 3 Words is W3W:///silks.cascade.surpassed.
Facilities: None. Remember to leave no trace and take all your rubbish away with you, even orange peel and banana skins.
Walk Time: 4-5 hours
Difficulty: ▲▲▲
Distance: 6.18 miles (9.94km)
Trig Points Bagged: Harter Fell (Eskdale)
Wainwrights Bagged: Harter Fell (Eskdale), Hard Knott
