Six Walks to do from Buttermere…
Despite Buttermere being a tiny part of the Lake District, the valley offers a range of different walks from lowland lakeside strolls to craggy mountain hikes. Here are six of our favourite Buttermere hikes to get you started…
1. Buttermere lake circular
Distance: 7km Time: 2 hours Difficulty: Easy
A popular walk in the valley, the circuit of Buttermere lake is a stunning, peaceful hike following lakeshore paths and woodland over a skyline of mountains. The path starts by The Fish Inn pub and follows the lake anti-clockwise. The paths are gentle with a part of the route cutting through a stone tunnel, adding even more excitement to the route. Watch out for wildlife on this walk, with otters sometimes appearing on the banks of the lake. Red squirrels and deer can also be spotted on the woodland parts of the trail if you’re quiet enough!
2. Buttermere to Rannerdale
Distance: 4.8km Time: 2 hours Difficulty: Medium
A beautiful hike including a ridge walk to Rannerdale Knotts; one of Cumbria’s smaller fells offering stunning views over all three of Buttermere’s lakes and over Rannerdales secret valley. The route starts from the National Trust car park in Buttermere and summits Rannerdale Knotts before dropping down into the Rannerdale Valley and returning via the shoreline of Crummock Water and through Nether How woodland.
3. Sourmilk Ghyll and Bleaberry Tarn
Distance: 4km Time: 1 hour Difficulty: Medium
For a short but rewarding hike, the route up to Bleaberry Tarn is a great option. The path starts at The Fish Inn pub and follows a track around the edge of the lake before continuing on a quaint little footbridge over Sourmilk Ghyll- a picturesque series of waterfalls running down the fell side. A steep, woodland path then leads to the tarn, nestled in a corrie below Red Pike and High Stile.
4. Haystacks
Distance: 8km Time: 3 hours Difficulty: Medium
A hike not to be missed when visiting Buttermere, Haystacks was a beloved mountain of famous author Alfred Wainwright. He loved the mountain so much, he wished for his ashes to be scattered at Innominate Tarn at the top of the fell. The route begins at Gatesgarth Farm, following a winding path passing Warnscale Bothy, historic mining remnants and a number of tarns including Innominate Tarn. The views from the summit tarn overlooking Pillar and Great Gable make it clear why this was Wainwright’s favourite.
5. Fleetwith Pike
Distance: 7km Time: 3 hours Difficulty: Medium
Rising over the waters of Buttermere, Fleetwith Pike is an iconic mountain standing proud at the head of the valley. It shadows over the lake, making its presence known, standing beside Haystacks. The route up this popular fell starts from Gatesgarth Farm with the path starting immediately from the roadside and steeply rising on the fell side up to the summit, descending via Warnscale Bottom. During this hike, you may notice a white cross standing out on the side of Fleetwith Pike; this is a memorial to a historic local girl called Fanny Mercer who sadly lost her life after falling from a steep ridge on the mountain in 1887.
6. High Stile Range: Red Pike, High Stile and High Crag
Distance: 13km Time: 4 hours Difficulty: Hard
A popular high-level hike, the High Stile Range is long, full days hike offering expansive views over the Buttermere valley and surrounding fells and lakes, visiting three summits along the way. The route begins at the National Trust car park just outside of Buttermere village, following a footpath to the first summit of Red Pike passing Bleaberry Tarn. The route continues over the ridge visiting the highest point of the day- High Stile before heading over to High Crag and descending steeply down via Gamlin End.