Carlisle & District Rambling & Fellwalking Club
Walk & Event Reports
B Walk Sunday 11th May 2014
Rannerdale Knotts, Brackenthwaite Hows
8 Miles, Grade 2
Leader: Heather Perrin
Reports by John McKay & Peter Flynn
Photos by John McKay, Peter Flynn & Lauren Sarasini
John's Report
Heather’s walks are so well recce’d and her walk descriptions so good, you know exactly what to expect, you get exactly what it says on the tin. I set off for the Sands this morning fully expecting a wonderful walk, complete with great views, lovely paths and hopefully lots of lovely bluebells. With all those things, two lunch stops and playtime by the lake on the agenda, what more could you want. I was not to be disappointed. There were nine of us in total at the sands, Paul had a bit of a surprise, he was expecting us to go to Callander but realising his mistake, decided to settle for the Lake District. Because of the poor forecast it was decided to cancel the A walk and we would all set off on the B. Who needs good weather, who cares, when you have great company and a lovely area to walk in, it’s exhilarating walking in the rain and who needs sunshine anyway, it’s not good for the complexion. I do write some rubbish at times, perhaps I’ve been reading too many of Peter Flynn’s reports. We arrived at Cinderdale car park and set off for Rannerdale Knotts. The weather was good and stayed that way, a couple of short showers but nice and warm and we had some lovely sunny spells. For the first time in my walking career I was using two walking poles, I’ve always just used one but having suffered considerable pain for several weeks now I was willing to try anything which might make things a bit easier. I must say they did seem to help quite a lot and at only £4.99 in Aldi’s they were an absolute bargain. I’ve been told the first member to use two poles was Pat Goulding and she is often referred to as “ Two Sticks Pat”. I once worked with a guy known as “Two Dogs Pete” but that’s another story. “Two Sticks” gave me the benefit of her experience and offered me some good advice on using two sticks. After walking for only five minutes we came across the most wonderful display of bluebells, they were quite magnificent. Peter told us that a big battle had taken place in the valley several hundred years ago and legend has it that a bluebell grows for every drop of blood spilled, a rather gory but nice legend. We started on the steep climb up Rannerdale Knotts, the views were fantastic on the way up but even better on the top. Looking down on the acres of bluebells below us was a wonderful site. Heather stated it was like looking down at an atlas of the world, what an imagination she has but it was catching, We all started to point out Africa, Asia, America etc, despite it not looking remotely like any of them. We had lunch stop one then made our way down a wonderful grassy path and on to the shore of Crummock Water. We reached the boathouse and deviated slightly from the original plan when Peter suggested a slightly different ascent of Brackenthwaite Hows to Heather’s intended route. In our leaders own words “Brackenthwaite Hows is just sweet”. An unusual but delightful description for a hill and a very appropriate one, it was sweet. A lovely woodland path took us to the top where once again we had some great views as we sat down for lunch stop two. We had some great crack while having lunch and throughout the day, a whole range of interesting topics too numerous to mention. We even had a spell where several of the group conversed in French. They were probably talking about the rest of us so it’s just as well we didn’t know what they were saying. I did wonder at the time what the French was for “ flash gits”. On the way home we called in at the Barn Coffee Shop and sat outside in glorious sunshine (honest) having our tea, coffee and cakes. I really can’t think of the words to use to describe this walk. brilliant, fantastic, wonderful, stupendous, none of them would do it justice. I can honestly say it is one of the best walks I’ve ever been on. A great bunch of people and well recc’d, perfectly described and expertly led by Heather. Thank you to all them, especially Heather, for a memorable day.
John
Ps: Only joking Peter.
Peter's Report
An easy walk to describe. Nice walk, lovely views, gorgeous bluebells, usual chat, afternoon tea o.k. as long as you liked chocolate. Back home. Convention dictates that we expand slightly on the above which is good because no two walks are ever the same, they each provide new and interesting situations and are never quite as expected. As Bernard and I were the only prospective A walkers, and as the forecast was pretty grim, and as Lauren’s car was needed for the B walk so we had no transport, under duress we joined the seven B walkers who were intent on seeing the bluebells. We started off by seeing them and they are as stunning a sight this year as I have ever seen. Not to be missed by anyone who loves the Lake District and wants to see aspects of it at its best. We then had a pleasant scramble up onto Rannerdale Knott and along the summit and back down to the bluebells. Somehow they were even more beautiful approaching them from the North Easterly direction to the legendary site of an ancient battle whereby the Earl of Cumbria ambushed and annihilated the invading Norman army in 1086. It does not need a military mind to see what a perfect place for such an action the “Secret Valley” as it is sometimes called, actually was. After that it was a meander along the shores of Crummock Water and up to Brackenthwaite Hows which must be one of the finest viewing points in the whole Lake District. Here we not only had lunch but heard about John’s early career as one of the “heavies” in Glasgow, where his new walking poles, with slight adaptations, might well have come in very useful. Then an easy walk back along the Crummock path and tea and cakes at the café which is normally always shut. A lovely walk, Bernard and I were delighted to have been on the receiving end of the duress and thanks very much to Heather for a beautifully planned and well led walk. Aussi un petit mot pour Jean (alias Mr McKay), merci dix mille fois pour son reportage pour le meilleur promenade cette année.
Pierre (a.k.a. Peter Flynn).
