Lake District 26th July 2012

We arrived at our next hotel, Hunday Manor, late afternoon on Wednesday.
Hunday Manor is a large manor house located close to Workington and the west coast of Cumbria. It is sat in open countryside, more or less on its own and seems as it is used for weddings and conferences on a regular basis.
 We stayed for two nights on another KGB deal at £99 incl. cold buffet breakfast. Whilst the hotel looked very nice in most aspects, the room was good (though there was no bath, just a shower), there didn't appear to be many guests staying there.

We ate that evening in the restaurant, and the food was very good, but there were no others dining in there, just us, and no ambience at all, no background music, nothing!
Good service though, as there was no one else to serve! We decided not to dine there the following evening, though not a reflection on the food as it was very good, we just couldn't face sitting there in the silence.

Web Link : Hunday Manor Hotel



Lakes 26th July 2012 - Rannerdale Knotts
(North & West Lakeland Pathfinder Guide)
(Walk#4  3 Miles, 2 Hours)

With a potentially rainy forecast we set off after breakfast (we did see some other hotel guests this morning, but not many!), for Honister.

A slate mine tour for 10:30 was the plan, and rain was coming down as we left the hotel.
However, as we neared the Honister area there was no rain and it was dry, so we switched to plan "B", did a fly-past of the mine and carried on to Buttermere for a short walk.

We parked in the National Trust car park just up from the Fish Hotel and the village (free parking for N.T. members).

The walk then started almost immediately opposite this car park with a gap across the road leading onto a narrow grassy track adjacent a dry-stone wall.

This then opened out onto a wider grassy, heather/gorse lined path that slowly ascended.

The view back to Buttermere to the left and Crummock Water to the right.

There appeared to be many paths to choose from after a while, many going through various lines in the heather and gorse.

Eventually after about three-quarters of a mile, we turned off along a track left and towards Rannerdale Knotts.

Here you can see the wide ridge at around 1000ft, leading onto Rannerdale Knotts, with good views down to the lakes.

Nearer to the summit a short scramble up some rocks and then not far to the summit cairn.

Rannerdale Knotts Sumitt Cairn (1164ft)

Before long it was time to come down, and we followed the same route back along mainly easy grassy paths.

Whilst this had been a short walk, it was very enjoyable with good views (though cloud at the tops of higher fells).

We finished back at the car park, changed our boots, and drove the short distance to the Fish Hotel for one of their fabulous (and very filling) salads.

After a late lunch we had an hour or two in Keswick before heading back to the hotel.

Our Walk Score: 7/10