logo Walking Britain
Home About Holidays FAQ Email MENU ☰

Buttermere Circular

Lake District Walk

Nat Park - Lake District - Lake District North Western Fells

County/Area - Cumbria

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 4.5 miles / 7.3 km    Ascent - 100 feet / 30 metres

Time - 2 hours 20 minutes    Grade - easy

Maps Ordnance Survey Logo Anquet Maps Logo

Ordnance Survey Explorer OL6Sheet Map1:25kBUY
Anquet OS Explorer OL6Digital Map1:25kBUY
Ordnance Survey Landranger 90Sheet Map1:50kBUY
Anquet OS Landranger 90Digital Map1:50kBUY

Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Buttermere Circular
Click image to visit gallery of 3 images.

With virtually no ascent on the 4.5 mile circuit, this is an ideal Lake District walk for those who wish to spend some time among the mountains yet not expend too much energy! After some overnight snow and storm force winds on the fells, we opted to stay at low level. Starting from the small car park (grid ref. NY 173169) alongside the Fish Hotel, we set off along the south-western shore of this beautifully situated lake, taking time to admire the wonderful mountain vistas all around us.

On the outward leg towards Warnscale Bottom Fleetwith Pike dominated the scene ahead with Hay Stacks looking an interesting mass of craggy outcrops. To our left the crags of Littledale Edge, linking Dale Head with Robinson, looked wonderful with patches of snow adding interest to the fellside. On our right the high mountains of the High Stile ridge soared upwards whilst behind us the upland mass of Grasmoor and the instantly recognisable shape of Mellbreak completed the picture.

Crossing Peggy's bridge we made for Gatescarth farm (parking is available here) to reach the road coming down from Honister Pass. After a short section of tarmac, we were back on the lakeside path, able to concentrate on Mellbreak and the depths of Burtness Combe high on the slopes of High Stile. All too soon we were back in Buttermere after an easy but scenic two hour stroll around the lake.

Other walks nearby

Walk 2642 Buttermere Horseshoevery hard14.0 miles
Walk 2539 Grasmoor and Rannerdale Knottsmoderate8.0 miles
Walk 1732 Coledale and Newlands circular from near Buttermerehard9.0 miles
Walk 1011 Knott Rigg and Ard Cragseasy/mod3.5 miles
Walk 1231 Grasmoor via Whiteless Pikemoderate7.0 miles
Walk 2020 Rannerdale Knotts and Crummock Water from Cinderdale Commoneasy/mod2.5 miles
Walk 1153 The High Stile Ridgehard10.0 miles
Walk 1289 Fleetwith Pike & Haystacksmoderate5.5 miles
Walk 2021 Whiteside, Hopegill Head & Grisedale Pikemoderate7.5 miles
Walk 3676 Hen Comb from Loweswatermoderate5.4 miles

Recommended Books & eBooks

Walking the Lake District Fells - Patterdale

Walking the Lake District Fells - PatterdalePart of the Walking the Lake District Fells series, this guidebook covers a wide range of routes to 35 Lakeland summits that can be climbed from Ambleside, Grasmere and Patterdale and the Thirlmere and Ullswater valleys, with highlights including Helvellyn and Fairfield. Suggestions for longer ridge routes are also included.
More information

Walking the Lake District Fells - Buttermere

Walking the Lake District Fells - ButtermerePart of the Walking the Lake District Fells series, this guidebook covers a wide range of routes to 32 Lakeland summits that can be climbed from the Buttermere, Lorton and Newlands valleys, with highlights including Haystacks, High Stile, Grasmoor and the fells of the Coledale Round. Suggestions for longer ridge routes are also included.
More information

Messaging & Social Media

Message Walking Britain and follow the latest news.

Facebook  Twitter

Mountain Weather

Stay safe on the mountains with detailed weather forecasts - for iOS devices or for Android devices.