A visit to the famous Rannerdale Bluebells is on the cards every year. 

It is not that they are the most spectacular in the county, or the country for that matter,

it's just that they are in such an unique environment surrounded by the magnificence of the Lakeland fells.

Viewed from the Buttermere Road, the bluebells coat the fell side at the entrance to the Rannerdale Valley.

On a good year like this one they can be seen from the other side of Crummock and even from our upstairs bedroom window.

If that is the case, then it is certainly a good year !

We've parked at Cinderdale car park and walked the track behind Rannerdale Farm.

The patches of colour on the fells were getting clearer and brighter as we approached.

Rounding the corner and we see that diagonal flash of colour.

For some reason the fell wall acts as a real boundary to the display, especially when arriving from this side.

A wide angle shot across the wall to the northern end of Rannerdale Knotts.

The flowers high up on the opposite side are often later but this year everything is in bloom at the same time.

Through the gate and the dogs are on their leads.	The request to photographers is backed by the RPS this year !

Not only is the colour lovely . . . but the contrast with the bushes, trees and old bracken really adds to the display.

Grasmoor above the fell wall . . . the lighter summit in elusive sunshine.

- - - o o o - - -     The blooms this year are really good.   It must be the combination of early warmth and sufficient moisture at the right time, plus a recent cold spell that has deterred the bracken.   Whether you look at the big picture or concentrate on the detail the effect is certainly one of delight.   Every now and again there are variations with a few pink and here some white blooms within the mass of purple. - - - o o o - - -

Ann and our friend Jackie . . . a quiet shout catches their attention.

The pike of Whiteless Pike.	The white of a Crab Apple tree.

The path we arrived on stays high up on the left hand bank and is a great viewing point.

It is also a good place to meet other folk.

This is a very distant neighbour of ours from Lorton . . . with her retriever Bracken.

Looking back to appreciate what we have just walked past.

Looking down on the Rannerdale Beck as it makes its way toward the lake.

Interestingly the rope handrails are working well.   There's no-one crossing them or walking on the blooms

and there's no photographers lying down in the middle of the picture . . . so everyone wins.

A deep swathe of colour as we head up towards the bridge.	The view across to the base of the Knotts.

The weather is overcast and the sun very evasive . . . but I think it actually improves the colour a little.

The path crosses the beck and continues on up this of the valley,

so I take the opportunity to walk the grassy field on this side to gain a higher vantage point.

In the top field there are more flowers which folk often overlook . . . these are seen with great effect from the top of Rannerdale Knotts.

- - - o o o - - -

Time to turn around and for Jackie and I to re-join the others.

The view back down . . .	. . . close up of the same tree	. . . and of that white Crab Apple again.

They look as if it is a little colder by the bridge than they thought . . . or have we been a long time ?

The view from the bridge . . . we'll not cross but we'll take the path down the other side of the beck.

No bluebells under the shadow of the rock face . . . perhaps it is too cold or the wrong type of soil ?

- - - o o o - - -

Technical note: Pictures taken with either Ann's Panasonic Lumix TZ60, or my Panasonic Lumix Gx8 Camera.

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

This site best viewed with . . . more favourable spring weather.

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Previous walk - 30th April - Troutdale with Trevor & Gill

A previous time up here - 14th May 2016 - Rannerdale Bluebells - 2016

Next walk - 4th May - Scale Hill Bluebells and Visitors