Buttermere Lakeside Walk

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Buttermere Lakeside Walk

By Dave Roberts   

on January 5, 2021   4/5 (1)

Posted in Walks in the Lake District

Buttermere Lakeside Walk

Further Details

Route Summary:

Buttermere is one of the most beautiful lakes in the country, so a walk around it is bound to be good! No wonder it was voted one of the country’s favourite walks.

Start and Finish: Buttemere village

Distance: 7.21 km

Ascent: 153 m

Time: 2 hours

Timings are approximate and depend on the individual. Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Facilities:

Couple of pubs including the Bridge Hotel and The Fish Inn as well as tearooms in the village.

Keep an eye out for our complete guide to Buttermere – coming soon!

Public Transport:

The Honiston Rambler bus service runs in season from Keswick on a circular route taking in Portinscale, Catbells, Grange, Seatoller, Honister Slate Mine, Buttermere, Lorton and Whinlatter Forest – but runs in both directions. You’ll need to check the Stagecoach site for information to see if the buses are currently running as there are no timetables available online.

Traveline for UK Public Transport

Hazards:

Note that a section of permissive path is closed in the spring to aid nesting birds – more information from the National Trust here.

Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Keeping Safe on the Wales Coast Path,  Navigation and the Gear and Equipment you’ll need.

Scafell Pike Guidebooks:

Recommended Scafell Pike Maps

Buttermere Lakeside Walk Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

Download file for GPS

Buttermere Lakeside Walk

This walk around Buttermere lake (as opposed to Buttermere village – don’t get us started on mere/lake – we know!) was voted one of Britain’s Top 100 favourite walks in a poll in 2018 and is certainly one of the most beautiful and scenic walks in the Lake District. Not only does it have a village that’s well prepared for thirsty walkers with pubs, tearooms and places to stay but is also surrounded by spectacular mountains. From Grasmoor, Robinson and Dale Head to the northern side and through to Fleetwith Pike, Haystacks and the High Stile ridge to the south. For those looking for a longer walk, you can include a walk along Buttermere as part of the ascent of the High Stile Ridge, or any of the hills mentioned above as a scenic, low level return route to Buttermere.

The route itself is quite straightforward, heading on a good path along the southern shores of the lake. It’s certainly well trodden, having been a favourite of the Victorians, and resurfaced into an excellent track in more recent years. While the forest on sections does obscure the view, it makes those more open sections more special as you come across them with the view up towards Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks being a particular highlight of this walk.

At the far end, the walk crosses Peggy’s Bridge and joins the Honster Pass road for a short section before rejoining the lakeside. On this return section, there’s even a tunnel through the rocks at Dalegarth in order to add some interest. Being a short walk, there’s plenty of time for a pint or afternoon tea in one of the many establishments in Buttermere.

Buttermere Lakeside Walk Route

For more information on the walk, visit this link.

 

 

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Dave Roberts

Dave Roberts founded Walk Eryri in 2004, with the aim of providing routes that are off the beaten track. Walk Eryri is now part of Mud and Routes which continues to provide more off beat routes and walks in Snowdonia and beyond. Dave has been exploring the hills of Eryri for over thirty years, and is a qualified Mountain Leader. Dave also established Walk up Snowdon, Walk up Scafell Pike and Walk up Ben Nevis just to mention a few.

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Gear you may need

Welcome to Walk up Scafell Pike

Walk up Scafell Pike is the dedicated on-line guidebook for walking routes up Scafell Pike in the English Lake District, with free walking maps and full guides to all the routes to the summit of England’s highest mountain.

Scafell Pike is the highest mountain in England at 978m high and is one of the mountains climbed on the Three Peaks Challenge walk. It’s a formidable mountain that needs respect, with no such thing as an easy route up  the mountain to be had. All the walks and hikes are a challenge, and well worth the effort to reach the roof of England.

The Routes to the Top of Scafell Pike page has an interactive map that shows all the walking routes to the summit of Scafell Pike from Wasdale Head, Scafell Pike from Borrowdale and Scafell Pike from Langdale as well as hotels, campsites and pubs near Scafell Pike (add your Lake District business for free), and there’s a page for each walk that shows the route, parking postcode,  a downloadable file for your GPS device as well as details on the weather for the mountain.

Check out the Frequently Asked Questions page for more Scafell Pike facts such as how long will it take to climb Scafell Pike, where can i start the walk from and other questions.

Main Walking Routes up Scafell Pike

Route Name Starting Point Parking Post Code Distance Ascent Walking Time
Scafell Pike from Wasdale or Wasdale Head Wasdale or Wasdale Head  CA20 1EX (Wasdale Head)  4.2km*  900m*  3-4 hours**
Scafell Pike from Seathwaite, Borrowdale (Corridor Route) Borrowdale  CA12 5XJ  15km (round trip)  1000m  6 hours+
Scafell Pike from Langdale Langdale  LA22 9JY 9km  1130m 4 hours**
Scafell Pike from Hardknott (southern approach) Eskdale Hardknott CA19 1TG – for Boot – then continue up Hardkott Pass to GR NY211 011  17km  1000m  6 hours
Scafell Pike Corridor Route from Wasdale Wasdale or Wasdale Head CA20 1EX (Wasdale Head)  7.8km*  970m*  3-4 hours **

*Distance/Ascent noted is for one way only.

**Time is for one way only, and variable. Very fit walkers can walk up and down in 3-4 hours(depending on the route)and will know their own timings and speed. If in doubt, assume the longest duration for your ascent and add the longest for your descent, depending on route. Add a good half hour or more for the summit stop as well.

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