Buttermere

The Buttermere Valley extends across three lakes: Buttermere, Crummock Water, and Loweswater. There are many large fells and awesome ridgewalks around the area, namely the Buttermere Ridge from Haystacks to High Stiles. If you’re looking for something a little easier, walk along the waterfront of the lakes and admire the towering fells around you. The valley is beautiful for sunset as it captures the warm glow of the sun. You’ll find many pictures online of some truly breathtaking sunset views across Buttermere.

Buttermere Village is surrounded by farmland, many of which offer campsite areas, and you’ll find a handful of cafes and hotels in the area and not much else. There is a small church in Buttermere, and during my 2-week stay I caught two weddings being held here, so it looks like a popular spot.

I spent a lot of time around Buttermere as there are many trails that start or pass through the area. On this page you will find information for the Buttermere Infinity Pools, and the Buttermere lake walk. I also provide information for some of the surrounding trails including Haystacks, Loweswater lakeside walks, and the valley walk between Ennerdale and Buttermere via Floutern Tarn.

Buttermere Infinity Pools

Distance: 4.3km (out & back)

Elevation: 70m

Time: 1.5h (with time to explore and play)

Difficulty: Easy (some small inclines to reach each pool level. Beware the area around the pools can be boggy.)

These cascades are from the Warnscale Beck (river), and so this trail may also be referred to as Warnscale Beck, as on the OS Map.

From Gatesgarth Carpark continue a short way along the Honister Pass road, walking away from the bridge, and turn right onto a gravel path towards Warnscale Bottom. There are footpath signs here for ‘Honister Hause via Warnscale Bottom’, you want to follow this direction.

Follow this gravel path as it veers round the base of Fleetwith Pike and opens to face the end of Buttermere Valley with Warnscale Beck cascading down before you. Continue along this gravel path but keep your eyes peeled to your right, as a thing grass path connects to the main gravel path. You want to follow the grass path right, crossing a small bridge over the stream so that eventually the beck is running to the left of you. (You will be able to see this path on the OS Map as shorter dash lines, and on satellite mode on Google Maps.

From here on it’s basically up to you to explore. The ground around the pools can slippery and boggy so just be careful with your footing.

How to get to Buttermere Infinity Pools / Warnscale Beck

Parking: Garthgate Farm Carpark

Bus: The 77/77A/77C bus stop at the Moutain Rescue Point bus stop between Buttermere and Honister Slate Mine.

Buttermere Infinity Pools alternative walking routes:

Extend the route: You can continue to follow the path alongside the Infinity Pools and continue the incline to get better views acros the valley. Technically, this trail should lead you up towards Buttermere Ridge but gets a lot more technical, and potentially dangerous as I don’t think this path is well maintained.

Alternatively, you can reach Buttermere Ridge, including Haystacks, Warsncale Bothy and other peaks, by taking the long gravel path on the right (when facing Buttermere Lake). This is not the same path as the one used to reach the infinity pools.

View across Buttermere from walking up the trail past the Infinity Pools. The curved gravel path on the right is the route to Buttermere Ridge.

Buttermere Lake

Distance: 6.7km (loop)

Time: 1.5h (with time to explore)

Difficulty: Easy (some uneven ground)

You don’t need to climb up into the mountains to get beautiful views in the Lake District, and this walk is a case in point. This is a really nice and easy walk around Buttermere Lake.

Because it’s a loop it can be started at any point, whether that’s from Buttermere village, Honister Pass, or Gatesgarth carpark. The path sticks to the lakefront apart from a short section on the south-east bank. Here the path joins Honsiter Pass road and you continue along the road until you reach Gatesgarth Farm. Take the path towards the farm and continue on, crossing the bridge at Warnscale Beck and then taking a right turn to rejoin the lakeside path.

There are a couple cool spots of interest around the lake, including plenty of spots to lay down a towel on the pebbles and take a quick dip in the lake, a tunnel path on the north east side, and Sour Milk Gill Falls.

How to get to Buttermere

Parking: Garthgate Farm Carpark, behind Buttermere Court Hotel, behind St James’ Church.

Bus: The 77/77A/77C bus stop at the Moutain Rescue Point bus stop between Buttermere and Honister Slate Mine, or Court Hotel.

Buttermere Lake alternative walking routes:

Extend the route: Aside from incorporating the Buttermere Infinity Pools, as detailed above, another popular route is to head over to Scale Force Waterfall. This is a relatively flat easy route towards Crummock Water with a steady incline towards Scale Force Waterfall. If you want to make this a bit more challenging, and add some peaks to your walk you could loop to Red Pike (725m) or continue to Mellbreak (600m).

Scale Force Waterfall

How to get to Buttermere

By bus: The 77/77A bus runs from Keswick on a circular route that passes through Buttermere and Garthgate. (It also passes through Honister, Borrowdale and Whinlatter). The bus only runs from Easter to October.

By car: I’ve marked on the map above the different parking options around the trail. The main parking areas are Gatesgarth Farm, National Trust Buttermere car park, lay-by and on-road parking next to St James’ Church, and the National Park car park behind Buttermere Court.

Need to knows

Parking will be difficult during peak times, even in March there were moments where we had to try multiple different places, so be prepared with back up parking spots or alternative plans if you can’t find a spot in Buttermere.

R’s take

This was a small and beautiful village with loads to offer from big trails, to easy walks, tea rooms and cafes. I returned to this area multiple times and really enjoyed spending time here.