Remember: Press F11 for a full screen view of this page.
  

 

" Rannerdale Knotts in the Sunshine"

Date & start time: 2nd April 2011, 4.15 pm start.

Location of Start : Hause Point car park, Rannerdale, Cumbria, Uk ( NY 163 184 )

Places visited : Hause Point, Rannerdale Knotts, Low Bank, and back via Rannerdale Valley.

Walk details : 2.8 mls, 1000 ft of ascent, 2 hrs 5 mins.

Highest point : Rannerdale Knotts 1,160ft - 355m.

Walked with : Ann and the dogs, Harry and Bethan.

Weather : Sunshine and blue skies . . . perfect walking weather.

 

"Rannerdale Knotts in the Sunshine" at EveryTrail
 

[ Alter the settings to zoom or change the Map, use Everytrail to download the Gps route ]

 

After a few days and nights of mild, wet and windy weather

when it was too warm to sleep at night with the windows closed and too noisy to sleep with them open,

the sun suddenly bursts forth and the air was as clear as could be . . . just in time to take the dogs out for a local afternoon walk.

The clouds roll away to leave sunshine and blue skies

as we enjoy the short drive alongside Crummock Water to Rannerdale Knotts (centre left).

Blue skies giving blue reflections on the water.

The winter winds have cracked a branch of the old tree by the lakeside.

Parking at Hause Point, we take the pitched path up the start of Rannerdale's northern end.

(Picture not mine by the way)

(but courtesy of the Scottish Wildlife Trust)

 

It's a very wildlife day today . . .

On the way over we had to stop to let a red squirrel cross the road . . . as you do.

Then as we were parking the car we saw this large, light coloured bird which seemed to glide effortlessly at low level over the trees at the side of the lake. If you can imagine the bird to the left but only further away then it is understandable (I hope) that we at first confused it with a first season Herring Gull.

However by the time we got the dogs out of the car and realised its true size it was too late to grab the camera as the bird was gone, away down the lake and behind the trees making any chance of a close-up photo impossible.

What we saw though was undoubtedly an Osprey, either migrating north to Scotland for the summer or over on a exploratory fishing expedition from Bassenthwaite.

By the way . . . the local stars of Cumbria have returned recently . . .

Check out Cumbria Osprey Watch here.

 

Looking down the lake at the fast disappearing form of what we believe was the Osprey.

It's that white blob on the lower left corner !!

First excitement over, we continue to climb the fell.

(above)

Reaching the highest point of the old track to Buttermere,

which zig-zags up the fellside (in the previous picture with the stone path)

you get that first complete view of the High Stile Ridge,

a pleasure denied up to this point by the bulk of Rannerdale Knotts.

 

- - - o o o - - -

 

The heavy rains of the last few days, including the downpour this morning

has left a lot of running water on the paths

which sparkles in the bright sunshine of the afternoon.

 

There's still a strong breeze about,

evidence of which could be seen in the fast moving ripples and swirls on the water below.

A full view of the head of the valley

with Wood House below and Fleetwith Pike, Brandreth, Haystacks and the Gables behind.

Climbing up into the blue skies.

The path gets steeper now as we walk up through the crags.
   
The path was pitched here a few years ago . . .
. . . which makes the climb easier than it looks.

I don't think the National Park pitched a path in that direction Bethan !

An aerial view of Rannerdale Farm

Very near the top and we can get views down the lake, over Low Fell and Loweswater, towards Scotland.

The visibility is the best it has been for weeks. The wind and rain has obviously blown all the haze away.

This one must be one of Ann's photos !

Mellbreak, the haze due to taking the picture into the sun, not because of the air quality.

Another long distance shot, this time of a Kestrel who flew over us as we reached the summit.

From the top we looked down on Crummock as the bird was hovering in the breeze

searching the gorse and scrub area above the Buttermere road.

Light, and fast-moving shade on the Central Fells

from the summit cairn on Rannerdale.

Ann relaxes on the summit rocks.

Joined here by her two furry companions.

Happy Mother's Day for tomorrow !

One last view back for now as we leave the summit and set off along the ridge.

[ Click here or on the picture for a larger, annotated version ]

Lad Hows and the valley of Rannerdale Beck as it climbs up behind Whiteless Pike.

Nearing the second 'knott' of Rannerdale Knotts . . . Robinson and Fleetwith Pike behind.

Low Bank continues along in a series of undulations each of which can be climbed in turn.

Bethan drops down the fell side slightly

for a better view of High House Crag and the village of Buttermere below.

The sheep fold on Rannerdale, a feature often missed in the summer when the bracken is high.

Rather than take the steep and muddy short-cut directly towards the Squat Beck (Rannerdale) valley to the left

we continue on to the end of Low Bank closer to Mill Beck Valley, seen here with the Newlands Road up from Buttermere ahead.

From there it was an easy and green path which turns back on itself and heads towards home.

It doesn't stay dry for long though, as water from the last few days rain seeps out from the grass

and flowed down the indentations of the path for a hundred yards or more.
   
The footbridge over Squat Beck with Whiteless Pike behind.
The Squat is joined by the Rannerdale Beck.

Signs of the 2009 floods are being erased as the grass starts to grow back over the stones.

It will be a long time though, if ever, before the soil is once again fully restored to this area of the valley.

Looking down on the re-positioned bridge.

This area will hopefully be covered in bluebells in a few months time.

The Rannerdale Beck as it tumbles towards the lake.
   
A small cascade next to the tree.
The large boulder, now overhanging the flood-eroded bank.

As we walk out our eyes were drawn to the impressive high crags above us.

The blue skies have lasted for the whole of the afternoon.

Time to return to the car and make our way home.

- - - o o o - - -

 

Technical note: Pictures taken with either Ann's Canon 75 or my Canon G10 digital camera.

Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder.

This site best viewed with . . . sunshine after the rain.

Go to Top . . . © RmH.2011 . . . Email me here

Previous walk - 29th March 2011 Lowe Alpine / Fishers Latrigg Walk

A previous time up here - 20th June 2010 Rannerdale with Gareth& Kathryn

Next walk - 6th April 2011 Calvert Trust and Walla Crag