Route: Long How
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 21st January 2022
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 2.9 miles
Ascent: 300 feet
Weather: Cloudy with a few sunny patches
We’d visited Crummock Water and Long How Wood yesterday in perfect conditions. During the short stroll we realised that a circular walk could be plotted using the little known paths in the area and linking the foot of Buttermere with the head of Crummock Water
These two lakes were once connected, but after the last ice age the erosion of the fells built up the tract of land that now separates them. This flat land between the two lakes is where Buttermere village now sits
We parked in one of the roadside spaces above St James’s Church Buttermere, although the National Trust car park at Low How would be equally convenient. We walked out of the village through Wilkinsyke Farm, following a path which we’ve walked on numerous occasions as part of the classic Buttermere circuit
On reaching the foot of Buttermere we turned right to walk along the stony beach, heading back into the village. At the Buttermere Court Hotel we joined a path beside Mill Beck which leads to a small hillock named Nether How at the head of Crummock Water. This is a lovely spot and all the better for being unfrequented. We walked along the head of the lake, crossing Mill Beck via a small footbridge, and then turned inland to walk through the woodland at Long How. This brought us to the car park at Long How and from here we walked back through Buttermere village to the start of a short but sweet walk
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Yesterday’s visit to Crummock Water, when the lake was as calm as a millpond
The start of today's walk as we pass by St James's Church Buttermere
We walk through Wilkinsyke Farm
Approaching Buttermere lake
We've followed this path many times as part of the Buttermere circuit...
...but we leave it here today and instead turn right to walk along the foot of the lake
We walk along the stony beach
Gnarled tree roots
The view along Buttermere, sadly the weather was dull and overcast at this point
We head back towards Buttermere village
Looking across to the lake
We walk around the Buttermere Court Hotel (formerly The Fish Inn), which was recently sold for the first time in 50 years
Having walked through the car park, we pick up the path beside Mill Beck, with Long How on our right
Mill Beck, which flows into Crummock Water
Looking back to Fleetwith Pike at the head of Buttermere, unseen from here
We walk around Nether How to the head of Crummock Water
Holme Islands
Looking along Crummock Water, with Low Fell in the distance
Rannerdale Knotts
Looking back
Mellbreak on the left
A couple of photos and a short video from yesterday's visit to the same spot...
We walk along the beach
We cross the footbridge over Mill Beck
Looking along Mill Beck to Fleetwith Pike
Heading into Long How wood
We follow the path through the wood...
The path ends at the National Trust Long How car park, just around the corner
It's a short stroll back through Buttermere village...
Cragg House Farm
Buttermere Old School, established 1866, and now the village hall
St James's Church, and the end of an enjoyable short walk
