This tiny spot is hidden off beneath the cliffside in the southern portion of Liurnia Elden Ring Runes. It's accessible via the lake and ride up into the village through an eroded cliff. There's not much to do here, aside the possibility of meeting with Nepheli and slaying a mini-boss This area is also the home of one part of the Haligtree Medallion, needed for an area that is hidden from the game.
It's probably not advisable to avoid Raya Lucaria Academy or Caria Manor even if this is your first time playing, but if you've run into a wall with any of the players in these areas or you're just looking to explore something different, it's possible to get to Altus Plateau without using the Grand Lift of Dectus.
From the northwest side of the lake, make your way to the right and you'll eventually reach a shack with a ladder on a structure behind it. The route from here is fairly straight, but there are some tough opponents to fight as you move through--most notably the bat-like enemies that prefer to remain hidden until the very last second.
This path ends by fighting a boss but you can also use the summon sign next to the fog gate in addition to spirit ashes in case you're having difficulties. Again, I wouldn't advise to go here until you've least attempted Raya Lucaria Academy but it is possible to access Volcano Manor located in Mt Gelmir from Liurnia cheap Elden Ring weapons. There are a couple of options.
