Circuit of Crummock Water including Mellbreak and Rannerdale Knotts

Tuesday 30th March 2021

As lockdown eases, a chance to travel a bit further for some more enjoyable exercise. After pounding the tarmac streets of Teesside throughout the winter I was desperate for a good day out amongst the fells. I had intended to walk yesterday, but the weather looked so bad I pushed it back a day – well worth it too !

Shame I had missed all that lovely snow on the mountains over the past few months, but we all had to do our bit and make sacrifices.

I hadn’t visited Mellbreak for a while, so I decided to do a circuit of Crummock Water and include it en-route. I also sneaked in Rannerdale Knotts on the way back too. The weather was absolutely glorious after the first couple of hours of cloud – it was like a hot summers day. A real treat for my first visit to the Lakes in 2021 (and its nearly April !!)

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Distance: 12.5 miles

Duration: 6:00 hours

Ascent: 3267 ft

Difficulty: Moderate/Hard

Accompanied By: On my Own

Weather: Cloudy am Hot & Sunny pm

Wainwrights Visited

Mellbreak Rannerdale Knotts

3D outline of route

Parking

Parked up in Lanthwaite - first visit to the lakes for 5 months - it took me ages to decide where to go.

A hundred yards northwards and there's the left turn towards the lakeside and Lanthwaite Woods

As you might guess, this is a photo I've taken before ! Not as atmospheric as the last time but it's still a stunning view looking down Crummock Water

How much water ! just deep enough to overflow into your boots and that's not what you want at the start of the walk. Oh well, a mini detour is no problem, so I headed back into the woods in the direction of Loweswater.

River Cocker over-spilling its banks

A left turn here and follow the lane to pick up my originally planned route.

Bit murky and still and not a soul around, still hopeful that it will get out nice later on.

Looking back towards Loweswater as I start my ascent of Mellbreak. Cloud line getting closer.

Into the mist - I've always enjoyed climbing Mellbreak, but the scree on the northern end is a bit of a pain these days as a 10 minute slog is needed to get above the mess.

Much nicer terrain now as the path meanders and climbs around the northern end of the fell.

Mellbreak summit

The true summit (as its a few metres higher than the one at the North end) but the Southern one barely gets a look in.

Ah, the clouds are lifting and the sun is breaking through - what a sight as I finally gain a view towards Buttermere

Looking back at the Southern end of Mellbreak - certainly a more pleasant climb compared to that scree at the other end.

Coffee and chocolate break with a view - Still seems as if I'm the only one in the lakes today.

Scale Beck coming down from Red Pike - the Scale Force waterfall was pretty impressive today due to all the recent rainfall.

There's Rannerdale Knotts on the other side of Crummock Water - My next climb on todays walk, with Grasmoor and Whiteless Pike behind.

The noise coming from Sour Milk Ghyll crashing down from Bleaberry Tarn was incessant. It was like the drone from motorway traffic a mile or two away. I was tempted to go and have a closer look but I decided I'd had enough of a walk already after a long lay off.

A few folk were wandering around Buttermere - no cafe's or pubs were open, but that will all change soon. I decided to head for Rannerdale Knotts via a path through Ghyll Wood.

It was really warming up now and the walk through the woods was very pleasant

Looking over Crummock Water to where I had been earlier in the day.

An undulating walk along the spine of Rannerdale Knotts.

At the summit looking Northwards with Loweswater in the distance and Mellbreak on the left

To the right is Grasmoor and Whiteless Pike

This time, again from Rannerdale Knotts summit - looking South towards Buttermere and the High Stile ridge on the right and Robinson on the left.

I didn't fancy the sharp descent down the nose of Rannerdale Knotts, so I did an 'out and back' (rare for me) and enjoyed a stroll back down through Rannerdale (Place to be in the near future when all those lovely bluebells appear)

The path splits and I head for Langthwaite

There's this mornings climb - Mellbreak

A glance back towards Rannerdale Knotts

Fond memories for me here - As a child I spent hours trying to dam this babbling brook (Cinderdale Beck) and divert the water flow. Good fun as I remember.