Rannerdale Knotts

For the nearest parking, use the B5289 beside Crummock Water. Cinderdale Common has free roadside spaces a short walk from the foot of the fell, and there is a small free National Trust area at Hause Point that holds about eight cars. Otherwise start from Buttermere village, which has pay car parks, including one behind the Bridge Hotel, and a seasonal bus from Keswick.

From Buttermere the walk goes through Ghyll Wood and up beside Mill Beck on the path towards Whiteless Pike. At the col, roughly 290m up, turn west along Low Bank and follow the crest to the summit. From Cinderdale the path heads up the side valley beside Squat Beck to the same col. Coming down the western end, a pitched stone path winds through the crags to the old bridleway that was once the road between Lorton and Buttermere. Expect steep grass, rough paths and a few moments with hands on rock around the top, though nothing serious.

The summit is the highest of several rocky knolls and carries a cairn. Higher fells crowd round it to the east, but the view the other way is excellent. Buttermere lies along the valley with Great Gable at its head, and a few steps west bring Crummock Water into sight directly below.

Bluebells

The side valley east of the fell is covered in bluebells from late April, usually at their best around mid May. Local legend says they grew from the blood of Norman soldiers beaten here by the native Cumbrians, a story made popular by Nicholas Size's 1930 novel The Secret Valley. The battle is almost certainly legend, but the flowers are real and fragile. Keep to the marked paths, because a trampled plant takes years to recover.