Welcome To Buttermere
Introduction To Buttermere
Buttermere is a small hamlet located in the north west of the Lake District. Buttermere is a very beautiful rural area the hamlet is situated between Buttermere lake and Crummock water as well as stunning Lakeland fells including Alfred Wainwrights favourite Haystacks. Buttermere is the perfect location for activities such as hiking and water sports such as kayaking and paddle boarding.
Things To Do In Buttermere
Buttermere Lake
Buttermere lake is the most picturesque Lake in the North of the Lake District because of the famous Fleetwith pike backdrop. The lake is 2km i length and 0.5km wide. The deepest point in Lake Buttermere is 23m, on Buttermere you can do water activities such as kayaking, Paddleboarding and swimming.
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Fleetwith Pike is one of the 214 wainwrights in the Lake District national park standing at 648m, it provides the famous picturesque backdrop to Lake Buttermere and is a perfect challenge for beginner hikers. The views of Buttermere at the summit are incredible.​
Honister Slate Mine
The Honister Slate Mine is just a short drive from Buttermere, it is the last working slate mine in England. The mine is now an activity centre where you can do various adrenaline filled activities such as via ferratas and ziplines within the mine.
Moss Force is a waterfall located just north of Buttermere, this stunning waterfall is easily accessible from the car park and is a must do for those visiting Buttermere.
Scale Force Waterfall is a remote waterfall nestled between two Lakeland fells, it is a fairly short walk from Buttermere and its rural location provides epic scenery along the trek towards the waterfall.
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Haystacks
Haystacks is Alfreds favourite wainwright in the Lake District. This summit can be done with in a loop with Fleetwith pike, inbetween the fells there is a little bothay in which you can visit. This walk is also a great challenge for beginner hikes.
Places To Stay In Buttermere
Buttermere is a stunning hamlet located in the North west of the Lake District National Park. Buttermere is an amazing adventure base as it is surrounded by Lakeland fells and the majestic Lake Buttermere and Crummock water. Buttermere has only a few different types of accommodation due to how small the area is however all the accommodation is in walking area of everything outdoors.
Visit the link to find your desired property and your desired location in Buttermere for your wonderful stay in one of the Lake Districts greatest locations.
Walks In Buttermere
Buttermere is a very popular area in the Lake District with plenty of people passing by and staying every day. The Lake District is one of the best places in the UK for adventurous activities hiking being one of them. Buttermere is surrounded by rolling hills and fells with dramatic scenery and is home to some of the most popular walks in the Lake District. There is a variety of walks around Buttermere varying in difficulty and length to suit beginner hikers and more experienced hikers. Below are some of the breath taking walks within the Buttermere area that the Lake District has to offer.
Buttermere Hiking Trails
1. Buttermere Circular
Distance - 7.4 km
Time - 1.50 h
Elevation - 140 m
Difficulty - Easy
This low level walk take you the whole way around Lake Buttermere., it is an easy family friendly walk in which offers breath-taking views the whole along and gives you a view of Buttermere from all different perspectives. Find this route here
2. Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks Circular
Distance - 9.5 km
Time - 3.30 h
Elevation - 767 m
Difficulty - Moderate
The walk up Fleetwith and Haystacks is argubly the most popular in the Buttermere area, This walk climbs the backdrop of the famous Buttermere pictures whilst having a bothy and stone circle inbetween the 2 summits then finishing on Alfred Wainwrights favourite Lakeland fell. The walk takes in the rich scenery or Buttermere it is a must do for all types of hikers. Find this route here
3. High Stile Circular
Distance - 13 km
Time - 5 h
Elevation - 834 m
Difficulty - Hard
This long walk summits 3 Lake District wainwrights, Red Pike, High Stile and High crag. These 3 fells are the biggest in the immediate area and they tower over Buttermere providing sensational views from this big ridge line. Once these 3 summits are completed the walks ends along the length of Buttermere lake. Find this route here
4. Scale Force Waterfall
Distance - 7.2 km
Time - 2 20 h
Elevation - 155 m
Difficulty - Easy
This is a low level walk which has a slight incline towards the end, the tranquil walk to scale force waterfall starts in the centre of Buttermere and then follows along the opposite side of Crummock water before acsending to the waterfall up Scale Beck to return to the start point simply re trace your footsteps. Find this route here
5. Rannerdale Circular
Distance - 4.5 km
Time - 1. 40 h
Elevation - 288 m
Difficulty - Easy
Rannerdale Knotts is one for the 214 wainwrights, this beautiful walk is notorious for the wild flowers scattered around the immediate location as you summit Rannerdale Knotts. The route is steady must the way but the terrain gets a bit rocky towards the summit, it is a great walk for beginner hikers. Find this route here
Buttermere History
Buttermeres economic history dates back to as far as the 13th century from livestock farming of cattle and sheep mainly the Lake Distircts own herdwick sheep. Nearby to Buttermere work started in Honister slate mines in the 17th century becoming a large trade business in the area from late 18th century then mine eventually closed in the late 19th century. The slate mine is an adventure centre for tourists now a days.
How To Get To Buttermere
Buttermere is a very rural location in the Lake District the best way to get to Buttermere is by car, the main road connecting Keswick to Buttermere is fairly narrow and windy, despite the access Buttermere still has many visitors a year.
1. Train To Buttermere
The Train closest to Buttermere is Penrith train station which is a 50 minute drive along the A66 then from Keswick the road to Buttermere. There is also a train station that ends in Windermere. it is a 1 h 30 minute drive to Buttermere in which you would follow the A591 to Keswick then take the road to Buttermere. The train which terminates at Windermere line runs directly to Manchester airport this is as far south the trainline travels without changes.
2. Car To Buttermere
Buttermere is most accessible by car, most likely If coming from the north or the south you will get off the M6 in the North lakes and take the A66 to Keswick the from Keswick take the road to Buttermere from the motorway it is a 50 minute drive to Buttermere. The total time it will take will vary depending on your Location.
3. Bus To Buttermere
There are few buses that go to Buttermere, there is a shuttle bus that goes to Buttermere from Cockermouth, this bus operates from 13 May to 28th August, this bus only runs on Saturday, Sunday and Bank holidays. to get to Cocker mouth you would catch the X4 or X5 bus from Penrith or Keswick. From Windermere catch the 555 bus to Keswick then the X4 or X5 to Cockermouth.
4. Ferry To Buttermere
If travelling to Buttermere by ferry you will most likely be coming from Isle Of Man, Northern Ireland or Ireland. From Isle of Man you would arrive in Heysham port and drive from Heysham to Buttermere which is approximately a 1 hour and 40 min long journey. If travelling from Northern Ireland or Ireland you would catch a ferry to Liverpool which is then approximately a 2 hour 40 minute drive.
5. Flight To Buttermere
The nearest airport to Buttermere is Manchester airport, from Manchester airport you can get a direct train straight to Windermere and then travel by road 1 hour to Buttermere or drive from Manchester airport which is approximately a 2 hour 30 minute drive.