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Rannerdale Knotts
Sunday 28th July 2013 saw the finale to a 3.5 year mission to complete all 214 Wainwrights with Damson & I completing our ascent of Rannerdale Knotts above Crummock Water with 8 of our friends & family.
We were joined by Ellie, my Mum, Dad, Mags, Rachel, Mark, Zoe & Loaise (and Frank the Jack Russell).
When Ellie & I first picked up Damson from Walney Rescue Centre back in 2010, I set us a challenge to complete all Wainwrights fells within Damson's life time. I had done many of the Lakeland challenges as a lad, following my parents on many weekends for a large number of years, but had never catalogued them and worked out which I had done and not.
On finding this superb website (only a few weeks before finding Damson) the challenge was born as bagging is made so easy, yet a long time scale was included as I didn't know at the time how all consuming a love of the fells can be.
Over the last few years we have been out on most weekends in ALL weathers, including gales, blizzards, white outs, torrential rain & glorious sunshine although unlike Wainwright we were appropraitely attired. Damson has taken it all in her stride until our second ascent of Scafell Pike in the snow after which she got her technicolour dreamcoat, best shown in our Blencathra blog :
http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=27258Her coat was also packed for today as the weather forecast carried the possibility of heavy showers, although they were due in early morning and late afternoon with much better weather in between.
Our mate Rachel (minus hubby Andy and son James who were both out on Scout camp) stayed with us overnight and we all set out for Buttermere travelling through the centre of the district to get to the car park above the church for about 10 O'clock. The rain was intermittent throughout the journey and on reaching Buttermere but fairly light and in short bursts.
Unfortunately it had put a few people off but within 30 minutes we had our motley crew suited and booted and ready for the off.
The only rain we suffered was for the first 10 minutes where we sheltered under a few large trees at the head of the village.
The route took us down to the village before immediately turning up the opposite side of Mill Beck running through Ghyll Wood on a nice little woodland track between wall and beck, slowly climbing to a small gate and out onto the open fell side below Whiteless Breast.
Troop heading up flanks of Rannerdale Knotts over Ghyll Wood
Ellie and Dad exiting Ghyll Wood
Mum, Mags, Rach, Loaise, Mark & Zoe taking a breather
Ellie & view back to Buttermere with Robinson, Fleetwith Pike, Haystacks and High Stile Ridge
The sun was now out and we all exited the wood needing to strip off our waterproof layers to cool down.
Damson and Frank headed into the large ferns as we made our way up the clear grass paths pushing our way up onto the ridge running out to Rannerdale Knotts summit. Laoise took a few turns on Mark & my shoulders on the steeper sections but walked for the main part and did brilliantly.
We passed a number of low chicken wire runs on the way up protecting some freshly seeded areas of the path which baffled us slightly as there were breaks in the protection and didn't cover some of the more worn areas ??
Rach, Loaise & Mark getting a head start
I'll take the high road and ...
Mags leading Ellie & Zoe over the ridge to the summit
Heading up to summit
All smiles in the sunshine
We're not being left out
Rach & Ellie on Rannerdale Knotts ridge
On reaching the ridge, we made our way across to the summit before taking numerous photos and the gang congratulated our achievement. Great views over the trio of Buttermere, Crummock & Loweswater and surrounding fells made a perfect backdrop to our final summit.
Damson reaches the summit first (As usual)
One proud pooch
Dad looking out over Crummock Water to Lorton
Dad's tribute to A Wainwright (minus the pipe)
Damson, Mum & Me on Rannerdale Knotts
Crummock Water & Loweswater from Rannerdale Knotts
Frank !! Doesn't pose as much as Damson
A wet Damson on Rannerdale Knotts
What ?? We've finished them all ??
A breeze had lifted here so we decided to head down a little before breaking open the picnics and champagne. We found a great little bank about 1/3rd of the way down with some stunning views and tucked in to our grub and a few bottles of bubbly. Why hadn't we done this for all 213 other fells ??
What a setting for a champagne picnic
Lunch time views
Mellbreak from flanks of Rannerdale Knotts (lunch time)
Mellbreak over Crummock Water
Grabbing a bite to eat and a bottle or two to drink
Rachel gets the corner seat
Rachel, Mum & Loaise (Rach only looks about 12 here
)
After packing away our lunch boxes and retrieving the popped corks we dropped down the steps and headed left towards Wood House and the road.
Heading down
Back towards the lake side
Lord of the Rings
Looking back up the valley to Buttermere
We crossed the road and headed down the shore line letting Damson & Frank have a swim as we made our way over towards Crummock Jetty before turning left and passing Wood House as we made our way back up towards the road back into Buttermere village.
We finished our walk with a pint in the Fish Hotel Beer Garden and a few laughs before taking a look at the Wainwright tribute window in the church.
An inscription in the near right window asks for all to raise their eyes and gaze upon AWs favourite place in the Lakes and his final resting place on Haystacks.
After following him over 1000kms in the past 3.5 years, it seemed a fitting finale.
The Out-lying Fells are next on the agenda as well as guide to the growing number of office personnel who have requested invites to join my weekend rambles.
Ellie may have to wait till nearer winter before she sees any real progression on getting the house sorted.
