Route: Rannerdale Knotts
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 5th March 2017
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 3.0 miles
Weather: cloudy with some bright spells
Rannerdale Knotts is relatively short in stature at 1,160 feet, but what it lacks in height it more than makes up for in its rugged mountainous character and the beauty of its surroundings
This is a walk I’ve done numerous times and I could never tire of it. The climb up the fell and return via the valley takes less than a couple of hours, and it a good choice when time is limited
I parked in the National Trust car park at Hause Point from where the climb starts almost immediately. Within a few minutes there were lovely views over Crummock Water and Buttermere. After a steep section up a rocky staircase I was soon on the north top and from here I made our way across the knobbly summit ridge known as Low Bank
I then descended into Rannerdale valley which is famous for its bluebells growing in huge swathes on open fellside – an unusual and spectacular sight in May
With or without bluebells this is a superb short fell walk
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
After walking along the Buttermere road for a few yards, I branch off to climb the rocky staircase on the left
Hause Point jutting out into Crummock Water - this is a popular spot for scuba divers
The Buttermere road
Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks at the head of Buttermere
This section has been made much easier in recent years thanks to the addition of rock steps
Looking back down to Hause Point
The Buttermere road again
Grasmoor
Loweswater comes into view and beyond it the Solway Firth
Whiteless Pike from the ridge leading to the summit
Buttermere and Crummock Water
Zooming in on the head of Crummock Water
High Stile from the cairn on the north summit of Rannerdale Knotts
Scale Beck and Great Borne
Mellbreak
I follow the path along the summit ridge
Buttermere
Head of Crummock Water and Red Pike
A couple of herdies
Near the end of the ridge I descend left into Rannerdale to start the return leg
Rannerdale
Darling Fell and Low Fell
Footbridge over Squat Beck - I walk past the bridge but don’t cross it
Start of the bluebell area - a wonderful spectacle in May
Whiteless Pike
Mellbreak as I walk round the toe of Rannerdale Knotts
Rannerdale Farm
Leaving the bluebell area
Back to the start
