Route: Circuit of Buttermere
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 10th October 2021
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 5.1 miles
Ascent: 400 feet
Weather: Cloudy with some patches of sun and good light
It’s been almost a year since I last walked around Buttermere, and a return was long overdue
This circuit appears over 20 times on this site and is one of the classic low level walks in the Lake District. The beauty and accessibility of the walk is both a virtue and a problem, in that the path can be too busy at peak times and if you prefer to walk in relative solitude, then it’s best to choose a quiet day and time. I made an early start and thanks to this only passed by a few other walkers during the course of two hours
I parked in my usual spot, the National Trust car park at Long How. I walked through Buttermere village and followed the path to the foot of the lake. I always walk around Buttermere in an anti-clockwise direction in order to keep the best views ahead. After crossing the footbridge over Buttermere Dubs I set off along the lakeshore path which leads to the head of Buttermere. Although there was a lot of cloud around, especially over the higher fells at the head of the lake, there were some moments of wonderful light, showing the scenery at its best
After crossing Peggy’s Bridge and passing by Gatesgarth Farm I started the return leg along the other shore, passing through the rock tunnel near Hassness along the way. I continued along the shoreline path, and where it forks off to the foot of the lake I carried on ahead. This brought me back into Buttermere village to end a walk which I could never tire of
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)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
The start of the walk as I pass by this row of cottages in Buttermere
I follow the track leading away from the Buttermere Court Hotel, formerly known as the Fish Inn
Waterfall in Sourmilk Gill
I arrive at the foot of Buttermere
I cross the footbridge over Buttermere Dubs
Start of the path to the head of the lake...
A view back to the foot of the lake, with Whiteless Pike in the clouds
Burtness Wood
Early morning sunlight on Mellbreak as I glance back
Whiteless Pike and Whiteless Breast beyond Buttermere
Pine trees in Burtness Wood
Looking across to Hassness
A shaft of sunlight illuminates the head of Buttermere, with Fleetwith Pike in the background
The 'White Hut' bothy at the head of Butteremere
Waterfall in Warnscale Beck as I reach the head of the lake
The bothy again
Haystacks up on the right
Looking along Warnscale Beck from the footbridge
Buttermere on my left
I follow the path across the head of the lake to Gatesgarth Farm
Fleetwith Pike
Looking back to High Crag
A short road section beyond Gatesgarth Farm
The High Stile Range on the far side of Buttermere - High Crag, High Stile and Red Pike
The stony beach at Hassness, with High Stile in the background...
I pass through the tunnel, carved out in the 19th century by a Manchester Mill owner
Beyond the tunnel I continue along the shoreline path
I pass above the foot of the lake
Whiteless Pike, still with its head in the clouds
Buttermere village comes into view
Looking across to Sourmilk Gill, which I'd passed at the start of the walk
After walking back through Buttermere viilage, the end of another wonderful visit to this place is just around the corner
