Route: Circuit of Buttermere
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 17th January 2018
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 6.1 miles
Ascent: 600 feet
Weather: Cloudy, very cold and windy, snow on fells
Overnight snow made road conditions difficult and in addition the Whinlatter Pass was closed today – not on account of the snow, but because badgers had undermined it. I therefore decided on a local walk, and Buttermere would fit the bill perfectly. This walk can be too popular at times but today the crowds would be deterred by the conditions, and this proved to be the case as I parked in an almost empty car park at Long How, just outside Buttermere village
Instead of walking into the village as usual I headed the other way, into Long How woods, and followed the path to the head of Crummock Water. I then walked along the lakeshore, crossing the footbridge over Mill Beck, and from there around Nether How into Buttermere village crossing some very soggy terrain on the way. On reaching the village I set off round the lake in an anti-clockwise direction as usual – it just seems to be the natural way to go
I emerged from Burtness Wood near the head of Buttermere, where the surrounding snow clad fells were looking very dramatic. I crossed Peggy’s Bridge and walked along the head of Buttermere, joining the road at Gatesgarth Farm. The Honister Pass was closed today and so I had the short roadside section before Hassness all to myself. I followed the rocky path along the lakeshore and through the tunnel back into Buttermere village to complete a circuit that never fails to please
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 day before the walk, a visit to Rutter Force
Next day, a red squirrel at breakfast
A short while later, the start of the walk as I enter Long How
I leave the wood and walk down to the head of Crummock Water
Zooming across Buttermere, unseen from here, to Green Crag at its head...
...and to Haystacks, Wainwright's favourite fell. I've converted this to B&W as it reminds me of his wonderful pen and ink drawings
Crummock Water and Mellbreak
Mill Beck and Fleetwith Pike
Mellbreak again, with Low Fell in the distance
I follow the course of the beck into Buttermere village
I pass by The Fish Inn
Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks at the head of Buttermere
Path to the foot of the lake
Bonnie
I cross the footbridge over Buttermere Dubs
The lakeshore path through Burtness Wood...
Fleetwith Pike
Horse Close ahead
I cross the footbridge over Comb Beck
Looking across to the bothy at the head of Buttermere
Turn right here for Haystacks - I carry straight ahead
The bothy again
Haystacks
I cross Peggy's Bridge at the head of the lake
Looking along Warnscale Beck
Buttermere pines and Warnscale Bottom
The bothy again, with Mellbreak beyond
Haystacks
Gatesgarthdale Beck at the start of the return leg
A short and deserted road section
Mellbreak behind Crag Wood
I follow the sometimes rocky shore line path
Looking across to the bothy and Haystacks
I walk round a small promontory, unnamed on the OS maps
A view back to Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks
Footbridge over Hassnesshow Beck
Zooming in on Mellbreak
Into the tunnel, carved out in the 19th century by a Manchester mill owner....
...and out again
Beyond the foot of the lake now
Buttermere village
A view back to Haystacks
The path to Buttermere...
...which takes me through Wilkinsyke Farm
The end of a wonderful walk as I pass by Cragg House Farm - the car park is just around the corner
