Height: 660 metres / 2165 feet Grid reference: NY 18021 18977 Category: The North Western Fells
Grasmoor
Start point: Lanthwaite Green (NY 159 208)
Lanthwaite Green – Grasmoor – Crag Hill – Wandope – Thirdgill Head Man – Whiteless Pike – Whiteless Breast – Low Bank – Rannerdale Knotts – Lanthwaite Green
Distance: 7.1 miles Total Ascent: 1038 metres Time Taken: 4 hours Start Time: 09:00
Weather: Cold, very clear. 2°C
As I passed through Ambleside In could see the blood red sky to the south east catching me. As I went through Keswick, I could see a lovely inversion forming over Derwent Water but I managed to press on regardless despite these fantastic condition to head for Buttermere. I was rewarded with the shot I wanted across early morning Buttermere and then a walk in absolute clarity on the north western fells, taking in Grasmoor by the direct route from Lanthwaite Green – a steep one and not for the faint hearted. As Wainwright described it ‘On the whole, however, the climb is probably less difficult than the North Wall of the Eiger’!
Rannerdale Round
Start point: Rannerdale Bridge (NY 163 192)
Rannerdale Bridge – Lad Hows (534) – Grasmoor – Crag Hill – Wandope – Thirdgill Head Man – Whiteless Pike – Whiteless Breast – Low Bank – Rannerdale Knotts – Rannerdale Bridge
Distance: 7.5 miles Total Ascent: 1080 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 30 minutes
Weather: Dull with showers. 19ºC.
There were two reasons to come to Buttermere today – to walk the Lad Hows ridge to Grasmoor and to see the Rannerdale Bluebells out in force. A third reason was that it has been warm and sunny all week, surely there would be more of the same today, or would there? I thought so as I headed off in shorts and tee shirt with plenty of sun block on…
Grasmoor
Start point: Rannerdale Bridge (NY 163 192)
Rannerdale Bridge – Whin Ben – Whiteside – Gasgale Crags – East Top of Whiteside – Hopegill Head – Sand Hill – Grasmoor – Wandope –Thirdgill Head Man – Whiteless Pike – Whiteless Breast – Low Bank – Rannerdale Knotts – Rannerdale Bridge
Distance: 9.7 miles Total Ascent: 1190 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 15 minutes
Weather: Fine and sunny with a cool breeze on the top again. 21oC.
Today’s conditions were almost perfect. Not a cloud in the sky, which was a beautiful azure, and the sun was shining and warm – warm enough for shorts and t-shirt for the full round. It was just me and Casper today, Angus stayed home and had a lie in whilst Casper gave his new haircut a run out.
Grasmoor
Start point: Lanthwaite Green (NY 159 208)
Lanthwaite Green – Whin Ben – Whiteside (349) – Gasgale Crags (350) – East Top of Whiteside (351) – Hopegill Head – Sand Hill – Grasmoor (352) – Wandope (353) – Thirdgill Head Man (354) – Whiteless Pike (355) – Whiteless Breast – Low Bank – Rannerdale Knotts (356) – Rannerdale – Lanthwaite Green
Distance: 10.1 miles Total Ascent: 1943 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 55 minutes
Weather: Dull and overcast, rain later. 10oC.
The cloud was lying heavily on the higher tops today, so I knew there wouldn’t be any views from my round of Grasmoor. The wind was howling and quite cold, there was a great moment descending to Whiteless Pike when the mist cleared all of a sudden and I was rewarded with great views; five minutes later the mist and drizzle closed back in. I descended Rannerdale Knotts into Rannerdale to see the famous Bluebells, now in bloom and well worth a visit.
Grasmoor
Lanthwaite Green – Whin Ben – Whiteside (116) – Hopegill Head – Sand Hill – Grasmoor (117) – Wandope (118) – Thirdgill Head Man – Whiteless Pike (119) – Whiteless Breast – Low Bank – Rannerdale Knotts (120) – Rannerdale – Lanthwaite Green