Route: Whiteless Pike, Wandope and Grasmoor
Area: North Western Lake District
Date of walk: 21st May 2013
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 6.6 miles
Ascent: 2,500 feet
The object of this walk was to see the famous Rannerdale bluebells, which, contrary to their normal woodland habitat, grow in vast swathes on open fellside. I was keeping my fingers crossed that I’d got my timing right, as I was aware that they’d be late to flower this year
The pictures below show that I‘d come at the right time, and the display will continue for another couple of weeks
It was tempting to linger in the valley, but my planned route was to go up higher. I went up High Rannerdale and at the valley head turned left to climb up to Whiteless Pike (2,165 feet)
I then made the easy ascent to Wandope (2,533 feet) and finally Grasmoor (2,791 feet). The views from Grasmoor were poor as there was some low cloud, but it cleared up again along the descent via the Lad Hows ridge
Usually the highlight of a walk is its highest point, but on this occasion it was the bluebells at valley level that stole the show – what a fantastic sight!
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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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I parked at Cinderdale Common, tekking care to avoid t’lambs
Rannerdale Knotts ahead, my route is along the valley to the left of the fell
But will they be in flower........?
Yes!!!
Whiteless Pike ahead
Hyacinthoides non-scripta - or bluebells as I prefer to call them
The photo can only show the sight, but it’s worth coming here just for the scent - click here for a large version of this photo
Squat Beck is on the right
One last bluebell photo, now for some collar work
Climbing up High Ranerdale and looking back to Crummock Water
Buttermere and the High Stile Range
Haystacks in the middle of the picture, on the way up to Whiteless Pike
Ard Crags
Later on, I’ll be descending from Grasmoor down this long ridge - Lad Hows
I’m heading for Wandope straight ahead, seen here from the top of Whiteless Pike
Grasmoor from Wandope
The impressive features of Addacomb Hole and Scar Crag
Sadly there were no views from the summit of Grasmoor today - its top was almost at cloud level
On the way down from Grasmoor, Crummock Water and Mellbreak
Crummock Water and Loweswater, with Scotland just visible in the background
Rannerdale Knotts, with the High Stile Range in the background
I followed the beck down to the lake to return to the start point, and took home some happy memories of a great walk
