Buttermere

Buttermere

Route: Buttermere circuit

Area: Western Lake District

Date of walk: 4th November 2020

Walkers: Andrew and Gilly

Distance: 6.7 miles

Ascent: 500 feet

Weather: Mixed sunshine and clouds

The plan today was to climb Causey Pike, a wonderful knobbly fell in the Newlands Valley. On the way there, we passed by Buttermere and this caused us to change our plan. A new lockdown on account of the Covid-19 virus comes into force tomorrow, and it somehow felt more appropriate to revisit one of our favourite places, Buttermere. The path around the lake can be too busy at times, but we figured that it would be quiet today, admittedly for the wrong reasons, and this proved to be the case

After making a quick u-turn we parked in the National Trust car park at Long How. Instead of heading through Buttermere village as usual, we went in the opposite direction and passed through a gate in the car park which leads into Long How Wood. A lovely path through the wood brought us to Mill Beck, which we crossed, and then followed a path to Nether How at the head of Crummock Water. There was some lovely light around and we were glad to have made the short diversion. After admiring the views along the lake we walked around the other side of Nether How and beside Mill Beck into Buttermere village

From here we set out on the classic circuit of Buttermere, passing the newly renamed Buttermere Court Hotel and following the path towards the foot of the lake. We crossed the bridge over Buttermere Dubs and set off along the shoreline path to the head of the lake. The views towards Fleetwith Pike and Warnscale Bottom were as good as ever – this is one of the finest paths in lakeland, and we felt lucky to be walking along it in such good weather

After crossing Peggy’s Bridge at the head of the lake, and passing by Gatesgarth Farm, we started the return leg along the other shore. We followed the sometimes rocky path back into Buttermere village, passing through the short tunnel in the rocks near Hassness along the way, to end a wonderful walk

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