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Knott Rigg and Ard Crags from Newlands Hause

Lake District Walk

Nat Park - Lake District - Lake District North Western Fells

Wainwrights - Ard Crags, Knott Rigg

County/Area - Cumbria

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 3.5 miles / 5.7 km    Ascent - 1100 feet / 333 metres

Time - 2 hours 50 minutes    Grade - easy/mod

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Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Knott Rigg and Ard Crags
Click image to visit gallery of 3 images.

This short Lake District ridge walk is ideal for those new to hill walking and for those times when you only have a couple of hours to spare or there is a short break in bad weather. However having said that, do not think this walk is second-rate as it offers some grand views and excellent walking.

The start is the roadside parking on the grass at Newlands Hause (Grid ref. NY192176), the highest point on the road from Buttermere village to Braithwaite. From here take the signed footpath uphill to Ard Crags. Climbing quite steeply on grass, the path gains height quickly offering improving views over the hause and beyond. The first rocky section is not the summit. This is located further along the ridge. It is also recommended to keep on the left hand path rather than follow the lower path on your right that avoids Knott Rigg's summit. In poor visibility there is also the possibility that if you trend too far to the right you will start descending towards Keskadale Farm. If you are losing height too quickly, return uphill and reassess your position. Reaching Knott Rigg's top (556 m.) you can see the ridge ahead.

Continue along the ridge dipping to a col before regaining all the height you have lost to reach a long finger of ridge that stretches north-east towards Causey Pike. The summit of Ard Crags (581 m.) does not offer any new perspective on the surroundings but provides the satisfaction that you have reached the second Wainwright of the day. Continuing further along the ridge is very pleasant but do remember that any height you lose has to be regained on the return to the start.

To complete the walk turn back along the way you came, perhaps opting for the path crossing the left flank of Knott Rigg to save a few metres of ascent. Descending steeply to Newlands Hause you might also be tempted with a short walk to the foot of Moss Force, which can be very impressive after heavy rain.

Other walks nearby

Walk 2642 Buttermere Horseshoevery hard14.0 miles
Walk 1142 Buttermere Circulareasy4.5 miles
Walk 2609 Grasmoor via Crag Hillmod/hard8.0 miles
Walk 2735 Fleetwith Pike and Buttermere Circularmod/hard8.5 miles
Walk 1153 The High Stile Ridgehard10.0 miles
Walk 1289 Fleetwith Pike & Haystacksmoderate5.5 miles
Walk 2539 Grasmoor and Rannerdale Knottsmoderate8.0 miles
Walk 1231 Grasmoor via Whiteless Pikemoderate7.0 miles
Walk 2020 Rannerdale Knotts and Crummock Water from Cinderdale Commoneasy/mod2.5 miles
Walk 1187 Robinson & Hindscarth from Newlandsmod/hard6.5 miles

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