Rannerdale Knotts

Route: Rannerdale Knotts

Area: Western Lake District

Date of walk: 3rd March 2019

Walkers: Andrew, Rob and Sarah

Distance: 3.0 miles

Ascent: 1,100 feet

Weather: Cloudy, hazy and very windy on the top

Rannerdale Knotts is one of the smallest lakeland fells, standing at the modest height of 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 fell we’ve climbed numerous times and we could never tire of it

We parked in the National Trust car park at Hause Point and from here the ascent starts almost immediately. Within a few minutes there were lovely views over Crummock Water and Buttermere. After a steep section up a rocky staircase we were soon on the north top enjoying more good views

We carried on along the knobbly summit ridge known as Low Bank. At the end of the ridge there’s a choice of return routes: either back along Rannerdale, or along the Crummock Water side. We opted for the latter today, as the valley route has restricted views. Such a choice would be unthinkable in May, when the famous Rannerdale bluebells are in flower. The sight – and scent – of huge swathes of these flowers growing on open fellside is unmissable

We descended towards Buttermere down the easy grassy slopes and then joined a narrow path which runs at mid-level above Great Wood, giving good views over Crummock Water along the way. The retrospective views back to Haystacks and Fleetwith Pike are particularly good. Near Hause Point we met up with our original ascent path and from here retraced our steps back to the start of a wonderful short 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)