Ash Clarke has developed a neat block on the northeast flank of Rannerdale Knotts, a small hillock on the east side of Crummock Water (NY168186). Both he and Nia Fletcher have cleaned up and climbed a handful of decent lines with the following three being the most notable additions.
Blue Lip 6B+/C: SDS A lip traverse from left to right. Start on the low left jug and move out to some small holds and a tricky sequence in order to make a long move out to better holds at the top of the prow, once these are gained, rock over the lip above the prow and top out on easier ground. (FA. Ashley Clarke – Video)
Blooming Prow 6C/+: SDS Climb the prow direct. Start sat at the base of the prow using a low jug for your left hand with right hand around the arete, move up using left hand side pulls before making a long move to slip the lip of the prow. Then surmount the lip and top out more or less the same as blue lip. (FA. Ashley Clarke – Video).
Blue Blood 7B: SDS A hard line through the centre of the wall. Start both hands on the obvious jugs at the base of the prow then move leftwards via a sloping edge and small in cut gaston before making a hard move up and left to a square cut edge on the lip, from here climb to better holds above and top out through the centre of the wall. (FA. Nia Fletcher)
There are also a few obvious easy lines and a traverse on the right side of the boulder all climbed at around 4 to 5.
Ash has made a topo for the boulder. This can be downloaded here: Rannerdale Rock Topo (PDF) 482kb
Directions: park at the last car park at the end of Crummock Water (closest to Buttermere) then walk up the path by the wall and go through the gate. Follow the path through the blue bell area [presumably season dependent?] to the stream, 20m or so before the bridge. Turn around and head directly up the steep grassy hill side for about 150m and you’ll see the prow sticking out above you.