Route: Circuit of Crummock Water
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 6th July 2017
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 8.4 miles
Ascent: 800 feet
Weather: Light cloud, very hazy
We’d planned a fell walk today, but the weather was so hazy that the views would have been almost non-existent, so we decided to walk round Crummock Water – a beautiful circuit whatever the weather
We parked in the National Trust car park at Scale Hill and followed the track to the foot of the lake. We set off in an anti-clockwise direction as the views down the lake are more extensive in that direction
After walking across the foot of the lake we followed the path beside Mellbreak. This is boggy at the best of times, and anyone walking this route in trainers will soon have wet feet. Beyond the head of the lake we crossed Scale Bridge and walked into Buttermere village. The Bridge Hotel, which is dog-friendly, provided us with some excellent refreshment at this half way point
After walking out of the village we followed the road for a mile or so, avoiding it at one point by taking the path over Hause Point, and on reaching Cinderdale Common we took a path which leads down to the lakeshore and through the woods back to the start
It was a lovely walk despite the hazy weather
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
Looking across the River Cocker from the Scale Hill car park at the start of the walk
The path through Lanthwaite Wood
It's a short walk to the foot of Crummock Water
Bonnie knows the way and waits for us to catch up
Mellbreak
Footbridge over the River Cocker, which starts its journey here
Looking along the outflow of the lake
Start of the path along the west shore
Grasmoor towering over the boathouse
A stand of old pine trees with Mellbreak in the background
Looking across Crummock Water to Whiteside on the left and Grasmoor right
Heading towards Mellbreak
We follow the path around the stony beach
Looking back to Grasmoor
A view along the lake towards Rannerdale Knotts
Haystacks in the hazy background
High Ling Crag right and Low Ling Crag left
We cross one of several wooden footbridges
Fleetwith Pike
This section of the path has been improved but for the most part it's a very squelchy affair
The builders of this footbridge aligned it well, so as to point like an arrow towards Fleetwith Pike
One of the many small streams flowing down from Mellbreak into Crummock Water
We cross Buttermere Dubs via Scale Bridge
Buttermere Dubs
We follow the path into Buttermere village
A young robin on the outskirts of the village
Half time refreshments at the Bridge Hotel
Suitably refreshed, we start the return leg and pass by Cragg House Farm on the edge of Buttermere
A short road section beside Great Wood
Beyond Great Wood and the head of Crummock Water we take a path which rises gently along the flanks of Rannerdale Knotts
Looking back to Wood House, nestled in a wonderful position....
We descend over the shoulder and follow the road (this could be avoided by following a path along the toe of Rannerdale Knotts)
After the road section we descend to the east shore of Crummock Water
Approaching the boathouse
A small beach by the boathouse
The left path leads to the foot of Crummock Water, but we turn right here to retrace our steps back to the start