Moses’ Trod

This well used, centuries old path, which runs from the foundations of Drum House, contouring the sides of Grey Knotts, Brandreth, Green Gable and Great Gable to Beck Head before descending to Wasdale is known locally as Moses’ Trod. Moses Rigg allegedly worked at Honister Quarry, and after his day’s work, illegally made whisky, using bog water from Fleetwith Pike.

He would then smuggle this potent product to Wasdale with the pony-loads of slate and plumbago (black lead), mined on the southern flanks of Grey Knotts, just above Seathwaite. The plumbago mines were the foundation of the pencil industry in Keswick.

The Trod has had no commercial use since about 1850 but the legends live on, and make for interesting speculation.