A 12km run having both failed to catch the 77 bus (first bus of the day from Lorton to Honister full to its COVID-limited capacity) and then thinking better of trying to park in Buttermere on finding ourselves in a long convoy of traffic heading up the valley not long after 11am.Route: leaving the car on verge parking near the full Lanthwaite Green Farm car park and crossing marshy ground to the east to gain the higher lateral path below Grasmoor. Continuing to Rannerdale to reach the footbridge, cross the main stream and continue gradually uphill but then, on an impulse, crossing a small stream on the right to take a faint path diagonally back to the summit ridge of Rannerdale Knotts and on to the summit. Then back along the ridge and descending into Buttermere for a pint in a warm, sunny, friendly beer garden at the Bridge Hotel. Afterwards, heading uphill, slower post beer, by Mill Beck, turning left to a junction of paths and heading past Grassgarth Coppice on a scratchy-dead-bracken-riddled path, slowly descending to meet the path climbing to the low shoulder under Rannerdale Knotts. Descending the steps, joining the road for a kilometre and then taking the path just inside the wall on the west side of the road all the way back to the start.
Conditions: a lovely bright autumn day, hot in the full sun but cool out of it.
Pub: the Bridge Hotel, Buttermere, for Tractor Shed Mowdy pale ale.
