Wknd Trip Lake District - Grasmoor & Rannerdale Knotts - 12mi/19km

Start Time: 9:30am (please do get here on time - there is no signal at Buttermere. If you send a message to say you are running late, nobody will know).
Miles/Kilometres: 12mi/19km (Approx)
Total ascent: 1150m (if do not do Rannerdale Knotts at the end) - 1350m (if do the last one)(Approx)
Difficulty: Strenuous
Estimated length of time: Hike will take approx 7-8 hours (including a lunch break)
Dogs Allowed: Yes & are welcome in the pub at Buttermere.
Public Transport: N/A
Parking - https://maps.app.goo.gl/i8MWc8CySs4AXdp19 - park here. When facing the Buttermere Court Hotel GO RIGHT. Do not go left. Parking on the left side costs more. Right side you can pay with contactless & has toilets.
Payment: £1 - Use this link to pay: https://settleup.starlingbank.com/jamiepope1 - please put "Buttermere" as reference.

Itinerary

Meet at the front of the Buttermere Court Hotel. We start by walking to the main road, crossing over and entering Ghyll Wood. The ascent starts immediately. The ascent through the woods is quite gradual for 90-100m of elevation. Once we exit the woods it gets somewhat steep as we ascend up the backend of Rannerdale Knotts. Once up, it flattens out for a short period before becoming quite steep for 70-100m of elevation and then gradually levels out.

Once up, catch your breath, take a look back at Buttermere and then continue along the flat bit up here before taking on the final 220m of ascent up to Whiteless Pike (Wainright #1) - 660m. We then descend 40m to Saddle Gate ridge, walk along the ridge and then it is a 150m ascent up to Wandope (Wainright #2) - 772m. Hopefully we will have views across all the way Derwent Water.

We then descend 50m to then ascend 130m to Grasmoor. This ascent is steepish at first but the last 50m is a long gradual ascent. Once at Grasmoor (Wainright #3) - 852m, we will aim to have lunch up here. This is the highest point of the hike.

It is then a 250m quite long descent down to Coledale Hause, where we can hopefully enjoy views in multiple directions. Before we take a steepish 150m ascent up Sand Hill and then its an easy final 20m of ascent up to Hopegill Head (Wainright #4) - 770m. We then walk along Whiteside ridge (it is a wide ridge and the path goes nowhere near the edge). It starts of descending for 70m and then it is a flat walk all the way to Whiteside (Wainright #5) - 707m.

We then take a steep descent down Whiteside. Descending 200m, it then becomes less steep for the next 100m of descent before becoming steep again for another 200m of descent. Hopefully we will get great views as we descend of Crummock Water and Loweswater and the hills behind them.

The next 2.5mi/4km is pretty much a flat walk that gradually descends a further 50m as we walk around the bottom of Grasmoor. We walk through the fields here into the Rannerdale valley, where bluebells should be full bloom all over the area. Creating a stunningly beautiful landscape. We cross over Rannerdale Beck and then walk around the bottom of Rannerdale Knotts to the main road.

We walk along the road briefly alongside Crummock Water before veering off and start the ascent up to the top of Rannerdale Knotts. If anyone is struggling, after 35-40m of ascent a path goes along the base back to Buttermere, you can follow this. The rest of us will ascend a further 200m to the top of Rannerdale Knotts (Wainright #6) - 355m.

We then walk along the top of this hill slowly descending until we come back to where we started earlier. We then walk back through Ghyll Woods back to Buttermere and the pub!

Bring swimming costumes if want to go for a swim in Buttermere Lake or Crummock Water! Bear in mind though, mountain lakes are freezing at this time of the year due to water, snow & ice from winter still flowing into it and not yet warmed up. Therefore, if you do wish to go swimming be sure to bring the correct gear to get warm afterwards and understand the dangers of being in freezing water for to long and not getting warmed up quick enough afterwards.

Disclaimers

The walk organisers do not have training or insurance. Therefore, anyone who joins the walk is accountable for their own safety and anyone they bring with them. By signing up you accept this.

Check the weather (on multiple websites) before leaving your residence. Bring clothing & footwear suitable for the forecast. We advise you to bring walking boots for any medium or harder walk. Trainers are only recommended for easy walks. Bring a coat just in case (this is Britain after all...) and extra layers if it is going to be cold.

All proceeds go towards equipment for leading walks, group events & trips. A percentage will go to charities.

Bring a packed lunch and snacks. Bring enough food & water to last the estimated time.

We recommend bringing some cash just in case. Especially if parking. Not everywhere is contactless yet.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the walks organiser.