Rannerdale Knotts and Whiteless Pike

Parking at Buttermere we (me, the boy and old man Sparky) walked along the road to Crummock Water before taking the lightly sloping path along the south face of Rannerdale Knotts with stunning views over the water with the group of fells between Red Pike and Haystacks behind us and Melbreak ahead of us.

We'd been warned that the climb up to Rannerdale Knotts was a bit scrambly but there was a path with cut steps, we somehow managed to miss this and did the first part of the steep ascent on loose stones before meeting a couple who were on the right path who we were then able to follow. Even on the proper path it is a steep and slightly awkward ascent up the gulley and not for the novice or unfit.

Once on the top of Rannerdale Knotts it is an entertaining walk along the top with lots of little rocky knolls to navigate. The views over the water continued to the right as well as views ahead and to the left of the surrounding fells including Grassmoor, the imposing lump of Robinson and our next fell, Whiteless Pike.

Continuing along the top of Rannerdale Knotts we eventually turned left and descended into the Rannerdale valley with Grassmoor to our left. Loweswater and Low Fell could also be seen down the valley.

As we started the ascent of Whiteless Pike the views improved yet again with Melbreak, Loweswater and Low Fell in view.

The climb up Whiteless Pike is long and undulating, the flatter parts allow you to catch your breath before the final steep pull up to the top. On a perfectly clear day the views were immense with so many fells it would be impossible to name them all. It was tempting to continue to Wandope but the girls were waiting in Buttermere along with some big ice creams!

Grasmoor to the left, the clear path to Wandope with Coledale and Keswick in the (very) far distance.

From the top of Whiteless Pike we retraced our steps, continuing straight on down the hill with Rannerdale to our right before returning to Buttermere