Walk                           :  Rannerdale Knotts from Buttermere

Date                           :  24th February 2017

Weather                    :  Dry and cold @ 9°C with light winds

 

Distance                   :  3 mile round trip

Time Taken              :  1 hour to summit, 3 hours in total

 

Which part of Lakeland is this walk situated

 

Terrain Overview

 

Overview

Our first walk of 2017, and approximately 5 weeks after Sue`s major operation. The week had brought us Storm Doris and

this day was forecast to be the only decent day sandwiched between the bad weather. Given it was Sue`s first walk since

the operation we decided on a gentle, modest height to start back with so that she could test how well her recovery process

was progressing. This is a great family walk for all ages, nothing too strenuous and some cracking views of Buttermere and

Crummock Water at the top. A belting way to start 2017

 

 

The walk starts at the national Trust car park behind the Bridge Hotel at Buttermere. At the time of writing it was £6.50 for

all day parking (NT Members for free). Here Sue, Ste and Jones ready for the off

 

 

Turning right out of the car park and peeping over a row of cottages Haystacks and High Crag

 

 

Within ten yards over the road a path branches off down the side of the cottages that leads off through a gate to the open fellside

 

 

Looking back towards High Crag, High Stile and Comb Beck

 

 

Happy new Walking Bag Ste !!!

 

 

Out on the open fell now and there are a number of paths to chose, the central and right hand ones head towards the base of

Whiteless Breast and even further on to Sail Pass crossing into Newlands Valley. We take the left hand path to head towards

Low bank

 

 

The grass path is easy to follow and swings left towards Low Bank

 

 

Looking back to a close up of Haystacks at the southern end of Buttermere, flanked by the lofty heights of Pillar and Great Gable

 

 

As the path swings further left the track to Low Bank can be easily seen

 

 

Crossing along Low Bank, Jones seems to want to go the other way for some reason

 

 

Over the first rise and the path all the way to the summit in the distance can be seen. A very pleasant stroll after the initial climb

 

 

Looking right towards the valley of Rannerdale Beck with the Lad Howes ridge on the left with  Whiteless Pike and

Thirdgill Head Man on the left

 

    

 

Approaching the first rock tower which calls for a little mild scrambling to get over. Immediately  on top, a path skirts the southern

flank of the ridge to avoid  any further rock handling

 

 

Looking back towards Buttermere from the path

 

 

Haystacks close up

 

 

The summit of Rannerdale Knotts – well done Sue !!!!

 

A 360 degree panoramic view from the summit (apologies for Ste`s impersonation of Max & Paddy at the start) … https://youtu.be/960A8tWi0LA

 

 

The northern end of Crummock Water and Loweswater in the background

 

 

Come on Jones .. crack a smile you angry little git !!!!

 

 

Team shot on the summit – looking forward to many more in 2017. After staying on top for about half an hour it was off to

the Keswickian for tea !!

 

 

Followed of course by the mandatory few scoops of the Loweswater Gold in The Lily in Ambleside. In my opinion, the best bar in Lakeland

 

 

Whilst imbibing – we had the good fortune of the company of Simon Ross and his wife Emma who were on a weekend break in the area.

Simon is a regular DJ on Liverpool`s Radio City 2  http://rossieonline.co.uk/ and is currently in training for his next White Collar Boxing event.

He admitted to apologising every time he lamps one of his opponents – but to date has an unbeaten record so he must be doing something

right. Good luck in your next bout mate – and it was a real pleasure to share your company, even if Emma thought that Jones had a cob

on with her initially !!!!

                                                                            

 

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