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The family, or a significant number of them, are here in Loweswater over the Easter Break.

Abi has stayed on Cathy, three of her boys plus Mark are here and Jenna and Matt make up nine.

There's a general desire to return to Rannerdale and remember the significant one who's missing, Ann.

( Photo magic ... courtesy of the camera's self timer)

	- - - o o o - - - I say nine, but inside an easter card from Jenna to Dad this year was a scan-photo of herself . . . My youngest daughter (and Matt) announced that they are expecting a new arrival in October. I think the top picture should therefore read nine and a half people ! - - - o o o - - -

Alexander was nursing a rugby injury and also had exam work to read through so couldn't join us on the walk,

so it was a group of eight that set off down the lane past "Postman Pat".

- - - o o o - - - Setting the context, Easter was mid-April this year so many of the lambs have been born a while back. They are starting to put on weight and lose their initial skinny look. They are also starting to run around together in playful gangs but return to their mums quick enough as we pass by. - - - o o o - - -

The object of desire today is a visit to Rannerdale Knotts, seen here across the fields.

It doesn't look far till I swap the telephoto lens for a wider angled one

and then the four miles to the summit looks a lot further !

"The happy couple"



Abi, fresh from our climb of Scafell Pike, with her Auntie Cathy.	She seems to find her way into this photo of Matt as well.

Crummock Water on the bend near the Pump House.

[ We'll have to start calling it "the Old Pump House" soon as it is to be de-commissioned this summer.]

Through Lanthwaite Woods then we continue on along the Crummock Water lakeside path.

A closer view of of Rannerdale Knotts

with Red Pike and the High Stile Ridge on the opposite side of the lake.

Looking back at some winter debris, indicative of higher lake levels,

with Low Fell and the white houses at the far end of the lake, which is where we started from earlier.

The lakeside path ends at Cinderdale so we make sure everyone is together before we move on.

The weather is warming up so Abi offers folk a swig out of the water bottle to anyone who wants.

We pick up the "Cinderdale to the Bluebells" track.

This well made farm track must have some hidden history because it is so well made.

It gradually climbs above the fields of Rannerdale Farm and shortcuts the route into the Rannerdale.

Our plan is to walk up the valley and then walk back along the ridge to the summit of Rannerdale, seen here overlooking the farm.



In the "Bluebell Valley", but April is too early to see the flowers.	There is a tantalising display of what's to come next month.

In the mean time the green leaves are poking through the winter bracken

and the seasonal rope fence is up, to stop visitors trampling over the new growth.

Winter storms over the years have undercut the bank of the Rannerdale Beck quite badly.

That boulder in the stream, when we first knew it, used to be sitting on the bank some eight or ten feet higher.

Across the bridge at the top of the lower part of the valley.

Mark stops to give the dogs chance to cool their feet and play in the stream.

Above the bridge the beck splits, Rannerdale Beck turning off to the left

and Squat Beck continuing on in what appears to be the main valley. Matt takes the lead as we start up the track.

- - - o o o - -

Every picture tells a story !

Those who are paying microscopic attention to detail

will notice Mark is not wearing his rucksack !

It was soon after this photo was taken that he realised that he'd left it

back at the bridge where the dogs had play in the water.

Matt volunteered to jog back the distance and fetch it

and soon everything was back to normal.

Bag, sandwiches and water were thankfully retrieved.

- - - o o o - - -

We didn't go the full distance to the top of the valley but took the short cut up from the sheepfold, on the path directly up onto Low Bank.

We've turned now and so leave the path to Whiteless Pike and the fells of High Snockrigg and Robinson behind us.

From the top of the bank we look down for the first time today, on the village and lake of Buttermere.

The weather has turned hazy as the day has progressed and the temperatures climb.

It is well past midday now

and being the Easter weekend there are a lot more people out and about for a walk than usual.

Nearing the last but one rocky "Knott" before the final top.

Now we're here . . . and I wait a few moments to get a clear view of the cairn and the valley below.



Mark and rucksack stand happily on the summit rocks.	One last scramble but Matt has already found his Eccles Cake !

We settle on the quieter end rock to admire the view and enjoy our lunch.

We pay our respects to both Ann and our old dog Harry, whose ashes are both scattered up here near this viewpoint.

- - - o o o - - -



Time to be heading down . . .	. . . using the pitched path at the northern end.

This takes us down to the viewpoint where we normally get our first view of Wood House

only this way down it's the last view we'll see of it today.

Blow-up Paddle Boarding is the new "thing" on Crummock Water, only these folk seem to have taken it to canine extremes.

On towards home now, passing Cinderdale and then Fletcher Fields.

The bluebells of Rannerdale may not be in flower yet but the gorse around here certainly is.

Back alongside the lake . . . looking for sticks to throw . . . in High Wood.

High Wood leads to the Boathouse, where water sports are also the activity of choice for these folk.

From the boathouse our path leads us on to Lanthwaite Woods.

We'll take the main forest track and leave the lake to the Easter visitors.

After the full car park it is just a short road walk back to home and the end of today's eight mile walk.

- - - o o o - - -

Afterwards and many time over the weekend, post walk relaxation involved filling the hot tub with people.

It has been a great asset to the garden . . . even though we can't all get in at the same time !

Still, there's a G&T on offer for the rest of us before supper !

- - - o o o - - -