Walk around Buttermere Lake – Lake District- Cumbria

Famous walk around Buttermere lake to admire the summits of the Lake District National Park. Dog friendly.

Around Buttermere lake walk Information:

  • Distance: 8 km
  • Duration: 2h
  • Ascent: 152m
  • Level: Easy
  • Car park: Behind the Fish Hotel (fees, around £8 for the day), National Trust car park before arriving in Buttermere (fees for non-members), two small parking along Newlands Pass after the church (free) or at Gatesgarth Farm (fees apply)
  • Dog friendly: Yes – no stiles, dog on lead when crossing fields with livestocks.

Buttermere is a small, typical village in Lake District national park, located between Buttermere Lake and Crummock Lake water. The place is very busy especially during the tourist season and it can be quite difficult to find a place to park. We recommend that you go early in the morning. We went on Easter weekend around 11am and turned around for half an hour before finding a parking on the edge of Newlands Pass about 1km from the start of the hike. But thanks to that we had a wonderful view from Newlands Pass over the Buttermere Valley.

Buttermere valley, Lake District, Cumbria

The hike around Buttermere Lake is only 10 km and the trail is almost flat the whole time. But beware it is stony and can be muddy. It is a family hike around the lake and at the foot of the fells surrounding Buttermere. There are a few waterfalls flowing into the lake from the top of the circuit overlooking the valley. For the more adventurous there is a multitude of trails that leave from the village and arrive at the top of the different fells but this is for another time when we will have tried some.

Buttermere Lake District Cumbria

In this early spring or late winter given the cold temperatures we had, the high peaks were still snowy and gave to this landscape fairy tunes. The limpid but icy water of the lake made you want to swim and take a few laps while enjoying the beauty of the landscape. The fells fall sensationally in the lake and make this hike so easy exceptional.

It is a beautiful place and easy to access.

Have you walked around Buttermere water?


Find all our dog friendly walks in Cumbria and the Lake District National Park here. To find our adventures in the United Kingdom it is here.

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