Rannerdale Knotts

Rannerdale Knotts

Rannerdale Knotts is a 355 m Wainwright in the Lake District's North Western Fells, above Buttermere and Crummock Water. Low Bank leads along a grassy, rocky ridge to the summit. The cairn is a useful marker, but the Database of British and Irish Hills identifies a rock 2 m south of it as the highest point, at NY167182.

Buttermere summit circuit

The National Trust's complete circuit starts and finishes at its Buttermere car park, NY172172. Climb the grassy slope opposite the car park, follow Low Bank to the summit, then descend the steep pitched path on the Crummock Water side. Cross the road and return by the lakeshore and Nether How woodland. The published distance is 4.8 km and the guide allows about 2 hours. The west-side descent is very steep and slippery when wet.

WalkLakes describes a separate 5.2 km circuit beginning at NY174170 by the Bridge Hotel. It reaches the ridge through Ghyll Wood and returns beside Crummock Water, with 283 m of cumulative ascent and a published minimum of one and a half hours. Those figures belong to that complete village circuit, rather than the National Trust car-park route.

Cinderdale and the bluebell valley

Keswick Tourism Association describes a full loop from the Cinderdale Common car parks via the Rannerdale valley, Buttermere Hause, the steep summit ascent, Low Bank and the valley return. Allow its published two and a half to three hours for 4.5 miles, approximately 7.2 km. This route crosses a ford; choose another walk if the water makes it unsafe. Starting instead at Buttermere Hause shortens the route, so the full Cinderdale figures do not apply.

Bluebells usually flower in April and May in the valley. Keep to established paths through the flowers and keep dogs on leads on the National Trust trail. Leave the summit cairn unchanged.

A longer lake circuit

Countryfile's full summit-and-Buttermere-lake circuit begins and ends in Buttermere village. It approaches by Nether How and Crummock Water, climbs the steep west side and follows Low Bank back towards the village. After descending to the road, the route visits St James church, returns downhill past Syke Farm Tea Room and continues around Buttermere via the eastern shore, tunnel and Gatesgarth. It crosses the bridge there, follows the western shore and returns over the stone bridge and field path to the village car park. The normal published circuit, including the church detour, is 12 km with 374 m ascent and takes about four and a half hours. The National Trust closes a short north-lakeshore permissive path from the beginning of April through the end of June for nesting sandpipers. Follow the signed alternative, which can change those distance and time figures.

Ground, views and access

Expect steep grass, rocky knolls, rough stone steps and multiple path junctions. The summit approaches pass close to crags, and wet pitching demands care on descent. Ghyll Wood has a narrow terrace above Mill Beck. The ridge overlooks Buttermere and Crummock Water; Loweswater and more distant hills can be visible from suitable viewpoints in clear weather.

The National Trust car park at NY172172 is pay-and-display, with free parking for members who scan their cards. Bring coins because signal and electronic payment can be unreliable. Small roadside starting areas at Buttermere Hause and Cinderdale Common are separate from the village car parks. Keep roads, gates and access for farm and emergency vehicles clear.

Stagecoach's 77/77A Honister Rambler links Keswick and Buttermere seasonally. Check the current timetable and return journey. The dedicated Cockermouth summer shuttle ended its 2026 season in August. Buttermere village has cafés, pubs and public toilets; these are village facilities rather than facilities on the fell.

Rocks and history

The fell sits in the Skiddaw Group landscape of ancient marine sedimentary rocks. Primary geological field notes describe folded, bleached and tourmaline-altered rocks near the foot of Rannerdale Knotts; later glaciation shaped the surrounding valleys.

The story that bluebells mark a Norman army's defeat is local legend. Archaeological evidence provides a firmer account of settlement in the valley: Oxford Archaeology North describes a deserted medieval settlement at Rannerdale which had been divided into seven shares by 1547 and appears not to have continued as a clustered farmstead thereafter.

Sources

• National Trust, Buttermere to Rannerdale walk: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/lake-district/buttermere-valley/buttermere-to-rannerdale-walk
• WalkLakes, Rannerdale Knotts: https://www.walklakes.co.uk/walk_92.html
• Keswick Tourism Association, Rannerdale Knotts and the Valley of the Bluebells: https://www.keswick.org/what-to-do/walking-routes/rannerdale-knotts-and-the-valley-of-the-bluebells
• Countryfile, Buttermere and Rannerdale Knotts walk, published 26 May 2023: https://www.countryfile.com/go-outdoors/walks/walk-buttermere-rannerdale-knotts-cumbria
• National Trust, Buttermere Valley parking, published 17 February 2025: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/lake-district/buttermere-valley/car-parks-in-the-buttermere-valley
• National Trust, seasonal access and bluebells: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/lake-district/buttermere-valley/things-to-do-in-buttermere-valley
• Lake District National Park, Buttermere shuttle: https://lakedistrict.gov.uk/explore/places-to-go/explore-northern-lakes/buttermere-shuttlebus/
• British Geological Survey, Geology of the Keswick district, 2000: https://webapps.bgs.ac.uk/memoirs/docs/B06074.html
• Cumberland Geological Society, Proceedings, published June 1988, excursion of 9 June 1985: https://www.cumberland-geol-soc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Proceedings%201986-87%20Part%201.pdf
• Oxford Archaeology North, Buttermere historic landscape survey, February 2009: https://eprints.oxfordarchaeology.com/4524/1/buttermere%20volume%201%20full%20report%20pdf.pdf
• Database of British and Irish Hills: https://www.hills-database.co.uk/

Sources checked 17 October 2026. The imported DoBIH revision of 25 January 2024 is separate from this editorial review and is not a dated summit survey.