A 7km stroll thoroughly exploring this small fell.Route: Leaving the car at the National Trust car park and taking the path immediately opposite over a stile and, instead of following the onward path, heading then 10m to the right to join a slight ridge heading uphill.
Taking the right-hand of two clear paths continuing up steep smooth grass to the pass.
Here, turning left to follow the top of the ridge to the final summit of Rannerdale Knotts and then down and along to the most northerly high promontory.
Doubling back to turn left, east, steeply down a clear narrow path trending left to reach a wall over the lower nose of the fell (Dale How). On the map this is marked in green as a descent either way but in fact the route to the west proved more theoretical than actual: a steep pathless descent over dead bracken, then heading south west. Briefly joining the road and then taking the steps up to a low saddle and then slowly descending the path to cross the road and follow the shoreline of Crummock as far as possible (beyond Nether How) then bending left to take obvious paths back to Buttermere with a slight detour via St James’ Church.
Conditions: a cold wind but warmer in patches of sun.
Pub: the Bridge Inn, Buttermere, for Tractor Shed Mowdy Pale Ale and lunch.
