The Norsemen and a Con Man

Emphasising the wonderful contrasts in terrain to be found in a Lake District walk: This walk is steeped in the history of Cumbria, which may be read in two books "The Secret Valley" - the Norsemen in Cumbria - Rannerdale is the site of the last battle between locals and Normans in the 12th Century; and "Mary of Buttermere" by Melvin Bragg a story of romance and intrigue of 1802.

1. Start - from the Fish Hotel, pass Bridge Hotel and bear left to go through gate opposite on left bank of Mill Beck, to follow path up through the woods, bearing left at junctions.

2. Over stile take path opposite straight up hill, continuing to the cairn at 1000'. Turn left between the paths to Rannerdale Knotts and Whiteless Pike. Descend to High Rannerdale.

3. Keep to left of dry stone wall, until gate at the bottom of path. Through that keep to left of Rannerdale Beck, following path down to metalled road. Turn left.

4. Take first footpath on left. Old packhorse route over Rannerdale Hause. At "summit" of this track go straight ahead, bearing right, above a small outcrop, with track beside Crummock Water and down to meet road again.

5. Cross road to signed footpath beside Scotch Pine, around side of Crummock Water, through two small woods. Bear left on entry to second wood. Path at far side of very flat field comes out at LDNP Car Park at the Fish Hotel.

6. Stop for lunch!

7. Take lane down to left of The Fish Hotel (side nearer Buttermere) Keep left where path bifurcates.

8. Turn right at gate at the end of the lane and follow path across bridge over beck linking Buttermere and Crummock Water, and keep left through another gate, where turn left on the well-made path to far end of Buttermere.

9. The path turns left through a gate and over another bridge to cross the flat land to Gatesgarth Farm. After going between farmyard and beck, turn left at the road, along which continue until right beside the water.

10. Here there is a short distance to be walked along the road back to the side of the lake, where a permissive footpath winds through the rocks to bring you to another very flat field. Keep the path beside the water over another bridge and to come to the terrace path under Hashness House, with a short tunnel.

11. Continue through fields and park-like woodlands to a rock step, through gate to a narrow enclosed path and so to a working farm yard at the end of which bear left at road and so back to The Fish Hotel.

Getting there

Parking: LDNP Car Park alongside The Fish Hotel.