Route: Circuit of Buttermere
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 15th January 2026
Walkers: Andrew, Gilly, Phil and Denise
Distance: 5.1 miles
Ascent: 400 feet
Weather: Mostly cloudy, with some light rain, improving at the half way point
The weather wasn’t particulary inspiring in the morning, so we decided on a low level walk and could think of nowhere better than Buttermere, whose beauty outshines mediocre weather. This is a walk which we follow several times a year, though we avoid it during holidays when it becomes too crowded
We parked as usual in the National Trust car park at Long How and walked through Buttermere village, passing by the Buttermere Court Hotel (formerly The Fish). We followed the path to the foot of the lake and set off around Buttermere in an anti-clockwise direction in order to keep the best views ahead.
We continued along the lakeshore path and just beyond the head of Buttermere we turned left to begin the return leg. The light had been poor up to this point but after crossing Peggy’s Bridge there was a gradual improvement, with some wonderful light on Fleewith Pike as we looked back from the stony beach at Hassness. Beyond Hassness we passed through the short rock tunnel (a torch isn’t needed, but keep your head down if you’re tall). From here we walked back into Buttermere village to end a classic circuit, one of the best low level walks in the country
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)
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The start of the walk as we pass by Cragg House Farm Buttermere, with High Stile looming overhead
The foot of Buttermere comes into view
We cross the footbridge over Buttermere Dubs
We follow the shoreline path, with Fleetwith Pike at the head of the lake
Walking towards Warnscale Bottom as we pass by the head of Butteremere
Looking across to Char Cottage, a fishing hut named after the Arctic Char fish that were once plentiful in the lake
Warnscale Bottom, with Haystacks on the right
Buttermere pines, and a waterfall in Warnscale Beck
Looking along Warnscale Beck as we cross Peggy's Bridge
Now looking the other way towards Buttermere
After a short road section (and some rain), we arrive at the stony beach near Hassness, here looking across the lake to High Crag and High Stile
We lingered at Hassness for a while as some promising light started to appear
The head of Buttermere
Light on Fleetwith Pike...
We continue along the stony beach
We pass through the rock tunnel, made by a former owner of Hassness Estate so that he didn’t need to stray too far from the shore
Beyond the tunnel, there are more views back to the head of Buttermere, shown in lovely light...
Mellbreak
I make a short there and back diversion to admire the view back along Buttermere
Buttermere village comes into view
We pass by St James' Church and walk back through Buttermere village to end another wonderful visit to this place
