Rannerdale Knotts

Opposite the front of the Bridge Hotel in the heart of Buttermere village is a bridge. Next to the bridge on the left hand (Lorten) side is a small gate in the wall. It is often hidden by cars making use of this tiny patch of space. Go through the gate into the National Trust's Ghyll Wood.

Follow the narrow path, with a fence above you on your left, and Mill Beck below on your right. At times the path is on a narrow terrace well above the cascades of the beck. Where the path splits keep left, although you may wish to do some off-piste exploring return to the path afterwards. The path rises to a set of steps, easily negotiated by a dog, and a gate.

Go through the gate and cross the path that runs alongside the fence to continue on a path opposite which ascends steeply on grass through bracken.

Reaching a wider path bear right. There are very good views behind you across the village to the lake and the fells opposite all the way to Wainwright's favourite Haystacks.

When the slope eases a junction of ways appears, bear left to continue climbing to the long ridge of Rannerdale Knotts. Follow the ridge path over a number of little knolls along the way to the summit at the far end where there are fantastic views of Crummock Water.

Drop down off the summit area to the right to reach the top of a gully with a grass path coming up from Rannerdale Hause - a useful indicator is Scale Force on the opposite side of Crummock Water. Turn left onto this grass path and descend through the crags. Eventually it becomes stone pitched although quite rough and steep.

Reaching a cairn bear left to continue descending to the wide grass bridleway which was the old road to Buttermere.

When you reach the bridleway bear left to traverse along the fell side descending gradually to the tarmac road.

Cross the road, and go through the gate into the pasture at the head of the lake and follow the permissive path around the lake shore. At the far end continue into the woodland and continue around the shore.

Reaching the footbridge bear right and cross to continue a little further round the shore. Cross another footbridge over a beck and go through the gate in the fence. Bear left to leave the shore and follow the path alongside the beck. Keep left along the field edge.

Go through the gate at the far left corner and follow the path above the beck to the LDNPA car park behind the Fish Inn. Bear left through the car park and back to the bridge in front of the Bridge Hotel.