Hopegill Head

It is an interesting ridge over Whiteside with fine views across to Grasmere on one side and over to the Whinlatter fells on the other. The Whiteside ridge leads up to a junction of ridges that is Hopegill Head. A young walker caught us up on the summit and after a chat it appeared that he was doing the same route (and Wainwrights) as us. Halfway around the walk I had a doubt as to whether Hopegill Head was actually a Wainwright. Mo looked it up on his phone and he said it wasn't a Wainwright. When we finished the walk we met the same guy in the car park and we informed him Hopegill Head wasn't a Wainwright. He looked a little confused and disappointed at this. When we got back home I double checked and found that Hopegill Head is definitely a Wainwright. Mo has since been demoted from Chief Information Officer to Probationary Tea Maker.

Grasmoor

There is about a 170 metre drop from Hopegill Head to the col at Coledale Hause. A consequence of this is that you have to regain that height, and a lot more besides, to get to the summit of Grasmoor. We took the path that follows the edge of Dove Crags on Grasmoor's northern face. The path had great views down into the valley and over to Whiteside.

Grasmoor is quite a plateau but there is a large shelter at its summit which is difficult to miss. The plateau extends westwards, well beyond the summit, and we wandered over there to get a better view down into the Buttermere valley. After a while we headed back to the summit and then on to the well worn path on Grasmoor's southern edge. The scree slopes looked endless down to Rannerdale Beck. 

Wandope And Whiteless Pike

We gathered such momentum coming down Grasmoor's east slope that it didn't seem to take much time or effort to get up to Wandope's summit. Wandope looks rather bland on its western approach but there are some fearsome crags on its eastern flank. The summit of Whiteless Pike was visible and we headed off in its direction. The path follows Whiteless Edge. I looked across to Lad Hows and saw two people climbing the path up to Grasmoor. It looked quite a steep drag of a path and these two were the only people I've ever seen on the path. 

We had lunch near the top of Whiteless Pike with a wonderful view down into the Buttermere valley. It was still warm enough that we remained in tee shirts.

Rannerdale Knotts

There are occasional stone steps down from Whiteless Pike which makes the descent a little easier. There's about a 350 metre descent from Whiteless Pike's summit to the start of the ridge to Rannerdale Knotts. Thankfully the path along the Rannerdale's ridge is relatively flat and easy, which is a relief for tired legs. Grasmoor looked huge up to our right; it was hard to believe we had been up there.  The view down to Buttermere on our left was serene. The tranquillity was disturbed by some Typhoons that flew over the valley. They flew well above the fells but it was still a spectacular display.

Rannerdale Knotts was our last Wainwright of the day. It is a popular summit, probably due to its low height, relatively easy access, and superb panoramic views. We took the path down the steep west flank. Stone steps are very welcome on the steepest part. As we got to the bottom of the steps, we were greeted by a Pomeranian dog that seemed to have a keen interest in my trekking poles. As I was fending it off a jet flew over Crummock Water within spitting distance of us. It had gone before I could even  get the lens cover off my camera. I missed the photo of a lifetime due to a Pomeranian dog. The pooch looked up at me rather smugly and then wandered over to its owners.

We did a short section of road walking through Rannerdale and then followed a path across moorland, running parallel to the road, back to the car park. Six Wainwrights, glorious sun and a Pomeranian dog; days don't get much better than this.