Route: Rannerdale Knotts
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 22nd May 2015
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 3.4 miles
Weather: Cloudy with some bright spells
For most of the day it drizzled with rain and cloud was covering the fells from head to toe. We’d more or less abandoned the idea of a walk but then late in the afternoon there was a break in the clouds and it was game on
We knew that the famous Rannerdale bluebells would be in flower so without ado we set off and parked in the small car park at the foot of Rannerdale Knotts. The climb up the fell starts immediately and it’s an interesting route up rocky staircases to the top, with wonderful retrospective views over Crummock Water, and today we could see over the Solway Firth to Scotland
As we walked along the summit ridge we had glimpses of the delight in store – swathes of blue on the fellside below confirmed that we’d got our timing right, the bluebells were in flower
We made our way down Rannerdale to the lower part of the valley where the bluebells were flowering in profusion, an amazing sight and smell – and an unusual one since they grow on open fellside rather than their usual habitat of woodland. After savouring this amazing spectacle we made the short walk back to the car park
IMPORTANT NOTE: I’ve been asked by the National Trust (North Lakes) to add this message to my post, and I do so willingly in order to try and help safeguard this wonderful display:
“Rannerdale’s bluebells are renowned as a natural wonder, beloved of visitors and photographers; however, they are being ‘loved to death’. Once the plants are damaged by trampling they can’t photosynthesise enough energy and it can take them years to recover. Over the last 5 years, nearly 25% of the bluebells have been lost. To save the bluebells, and access to them, the National Trust are asking visitors to fight the urge to get in amongst the flowers and just simply stick to the path. Only by protecting them today can we ensure everyone has a chance to enjoy this special spring display in the future.”
Could I please urge anyone following this walk to comply with the message
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)
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As we waited for the clouds to lift from the fells, we were entertained by red squirrels in the garden
…and a pheasant - what magnificent plumage
By late afternoon, and just as forecast, there was a break in the weather - this is looking back to the car park from the start of the walk
Clouds were still clinging to the Buttermere fells
Low Ling Crag on the far side of Crummock Water
Rocky steps have made this part of the climb easier than it used to be
Three bodies of water - Crummock Water, Loweswater and the Solway Firth, with Scotland beyond
Low Fell at the far end of Crummock Water
Fields opposite Rannerdale Farm
Southern end of Mellbreak
Improving weather as we gain height
On the summit ridge
Mellbreak
Summit cairn on Rannerdale Knotts, looking towards Fleetwith Pike, Haystacks and Buttermere
Rannerdale Beck, running between Grasmoor and Whiteless Pike - the blue tinge in the fields below is the bluebells
Looking along Scale Beck to Great Borne
We follow the path along the summit ridge
Woodhouse Islands on Crummock Water
Further along the ridge, with High Snockrigg and Robinson beyond
Rannerdale Beck again, and another hint of those bluebells below
Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks
Scale Beck again
Looking back along the ridge
Buttermere and High Stile
We turn off the ridge here to descend to the left along Low Bank
Bluebells ahead
Squat Beck
Crossing Squat Beck
Some bluebell photos…
The end of the bluebell area
A last look back up the fellside
Back to the start
