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Walks by Buttermere

20 routes and 23 fells within about 5 km of Buttermere, nearest first. Each fell carries today’s conditions and the bus where there is one. Planning the trip? See the full Buttermere guide for parking, buses and where to stay.

Within 5 km of Buttermere

Walking routes near Buttermere, by how close they come to the water

Effort is the size of the day, from the distance and the climb; each route’s own page grades the steepness, navigation, exposure and ground underfoot, and names the hardest.

On the shore 6 walks

Each route’s line comes within 50 m of the water’s edge somewhere along it, measured against OpenStreetMap’s outline of the lake.

The Buttermere Ridge Anti-Clockwise Start 1.5 km away12.88 km~970 m~4–5¾ hHard effort Severe: steepnessWalked October 2026Park: High Snockrigg (verge) · Bus: 77, 330 m walk from Buttermere Youth Hostel (near)A loop of about 12.9 km from Buttermere village over Dodd, Red Pike, High Stile, High Crag and Seat, with about 970 m of climbing: up beside Sourmilk Gill to Bleaberry Tarn and Dodd, up the red scree path to Red Pike, along the ridge over High Stile to High Crag, steeply down Gamlin End to Seat and Scarth Gap, and back along the shore of Buttermere.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 38%. Terrain: graded by Lee on the ground.
Great Borne & Starling Dodd Start 1.5 km away15.97 km~1122 m~5–6¾ hHard effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: Buttermere village, by the Bridge Hotel (roadside, free) · Bus: 77 at the startRed Pike, Starling Dodd and Great Borne along the western end of the High Stile ridge — three tops, 16 km and 1,122 m, with one stage averaging 20%. Hard for length, severe for steepness; about 5–6¾ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the distance; the steepest sustained climb, about 40%. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
High Stile, Seat via Buttermere Start 1.5 km away12.97 km~881 m~4–5½ hHard effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: Buttermere village, by the Bridge Hotel (roadside, free) · Bus: 77 at the startFive tops along the High Stile ridge with Buttermere below you the whole way. 881 m of ascent in 13 km, and a stage averaging 20% to gain the ridge in the first place. Roughly 4–5½ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 39%. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
Red Pike by Scale Force Start 1.6 km away9.25 km~756 m~3–4¼ hModerate effort Hard: steepnessPlannedPark: Buttermere village, by the Bridge Hotel (roadside, free) · Bus: 77 at the startA loop of about 9.3 km from Buttermere village, with about 760 m of climbing: up the public bridleway past Bleaberry Tarn to Dodd and Red Pike, then down north-west and beside Scale Beck past Scale Force, and back east to the village along the foot of the fells.
Buttermere lake circuit Start 1.6 km away7.41 km~66 m~1½–2¼ hModerate: navigation🏞️ Easy & familyPlannedPark: Buttermere village (LDNPA, paid) · Bus: 77 at the startThe classic low-level lap of Buttermere — a flat, well-made path right around the lake beneath High Stile and Fleetwith Pike, passing the famous lone tree and a short rock-cut tunnel. One of the great easy walks in the Lakes.
The Buttermere Ridge Start 1.9 km away13.39 km~1012 m~4¼–6 hHard effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: Buttermere village (NT, paid) · Bus: 77, 410 m walk from Buttermere, outside Court HotelOne of the finest ridge walks in the Lakes — Seat, High Crag, High Stile and Red Pike strung above Buttermere, with plunging drops into Ennerdale on one side and the lake on the other. Earned by the loose, relentless grind of Gamlin End and paid for again on the red scree chute off Red Pike: 13.4 km, 1,012 m of climbing, and severe for steepness.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 35%. Terrain: our judgement from the map and the route’s record; not walked yet.

Within 500 m of the water 3 walks

Each route’s line comes within 500 m of the water’s edge, but not within 50 m.

Fleetwith Edge and Haystacks Start 1.3 km away8.83 km~767 m~3–4¼ hModerate effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: Gatesgarth Farm, Buttermere (paid) · Bus: 77 at the startA loop of about 8.8 km from Gatesgarth Farm, at the head of Buttermere, with about 770 m of climbing: steeply up Fleetwith Edge to the top of Fleetwith Pike, along the top and down quarry tracks and a public bridleway to Warnscale Beck, up past Blackbeck Tarn to the top of Haystacks, then down to Scarth Gap and back to Gatesgarth on the Scarth Gap bridleway.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 42%.
Crummock Water shore circuit Start 1.6 km away13.17 km~191 m~2¾–4 hModerate effort Moderate: distance🏞️ Easy & familyPlannedPark: Buttermere village (LDNPA, paid) · Bus: 77 at the startThe full circuit of Crummock Water — about 8.2 miles around one of the loveliest of the western lakes. Largely level but long, and boggy in places along the western shore.
Scale Fell and Mellbreak Start 1.9 km away14.68 km~572 m~3¾–5¼ hModerate effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: Buttermere village (NT, paid) · Bus: 77, 460 m walk from Buttermere, outside Court HotelScale Knott and both Mellbreak tops — 14.7 km and 572 m, with a stage averaging 19%. Hard for length and navigation. About 3¾–5¼ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the distance; the steepest sustained descent, about 39%. Navigation: estimated from the map, not checked on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.

More walks within about 5 km 11 walks

Each starts within about 5 km of the lake, and its line stays more than 500 m from the water.

High Snockrigg, Eel Crag & Lad Hows Start 1.5 km away15.69 km~1446 m~5½–7½ hSevere effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: High Snockrigg (verge) · Bus: 77 at the startA big north-western day — seven tops from High Snockrigg over Whiteless Pike to Crag Hill, 15.7 km and 1,446 m, with one stage averaging 22%. About 5½–7½ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 43%. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
High Snockrigg from Buttermere Start 1.5 km away4.02 km~404 m~1¼–2 hEasy effort Hard: steepnessPlannedOut and back · Park: Buttermere village, by the Bridge Hotel (roadside, free) · Bus: 77 at the startAn out-and-back of about 4 km from Buttermere village to the top of High Snockrigg, with about 400 m of climbing: 0.4 km up the Newlands Pass road, then a steep public footpath east up the fell and a short path to the top, and back the same way.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 28%.
Rannerdale Knotts from Buttermere Start 1.9 km away4 km~265 m~1–1¾ hEasy effort Severe: steepnessWalked in partPark: Buttermere village (NT, paid) · Bus: 77, 450 m walk from Buttermere, outside Court HotelA short loop of about 4.0 km from Buttermere village over Rannerdale Knotts, with about 265 m of climbing: up on paths to the ridge, west along it to the top, steeply down its western end, and back to the village below the fell on the Crummock Water side, on a bridleway, the B5289 and paths.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 38%.
Newlands Hause to the Coledale Tops Start 2.1 km away11.4 km~1107 m~4–5½ hHard effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: Newlands Hause car park (free) · Bus: 77, 2.2 km walk from Buttermere Youth Hostel (near)A loop of about 11.4 km from Newlands Hause, with about 1,110 m of climbing: over Knott Rigg and Ard Crags, up to Scar Crags and Sail, on to Crag Hill, round over Wandope and along Whiteless Edge to Whiteless Pike, then steeply down to Sail Beck and back up to the Knott Rigg path for the way down to the car park.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 43%.
Knott Rigg & Ard Crags Out-and-Back from Newlands Pass Start 2.1 km away5.52 km~355 m~1½–2¼ hEasy effort Hard: steepness and navigationPlannedOut and back · Park: Newlands Hause car park (free) · Bus: 77, 2.2 km walk from Buttermere Youth Hostel (near)An out-and-back of about 5.5 km from the car park at Newlands Hause, the top of the Newlands Pass road above Buttermere, with about 355 m of climbing: a steep start straight up from the pass, then a gentle ridge path north-east over Knott Rigg and its north top to Ard Crags, and back the same way.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 27%.
Rannerdale bluebell valley and Rannerdale Knotts Start 4.1 km away6.19 km~394 m~1¾–2¾ hEasy effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: unnamed car park south of Crummock Water, Cinderdale Common (free) · Bus: 77 at the startA loop of about 6.2 km from Cinderdale Common by Crummock Water, with about 390 m of climbing: up the hillside above the car park, down into Rannerdale and up the valley beside Squat Beck, west along the ridge to the top of Rannerdale Knotts, then steeply down to the foot of the valley and back to the car park.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 37%.
Haystacks Start 4.6 km away11.21 km~792 m~3½–4¾ hModerate effort Hard: steepness and navigationWalked April 2026Park: Honister Pass (paid, slate mine) · Bus: 77 at the startFrom Honister up the old quarry tracks to Fleetwith Pike, down past Dubs Hut to the tarns and rocky knolls of Haystacks, then a late climb back over Brandreth and Grey Knotts — four Wainwrights in one round. There is a scramble to the true top of Haystacks, and a maze of paths up there that needs care in cloud.Exposure: graded by Lee on the ground. Navigation: estimated from the map, not checked on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
Black Star Brandreth and others Start 4.6 km away9.29 km~629 m~2¾–4 hModerate effort Hard: steepness and navigationWalked in partPark: Honister Pass (paid, slate mine) · Bus: 77 at the startStraight up from the Honister pass — Honister Crag, Fleetwith Pike, Brandreth and Grey Knotts in 9.3 km with 629 m of climbing. Short but hard for steepness, with one stage averaging 15%. About 2¾–4 hours.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 33%. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
Honister to Keswick: over the Newlands fells Start 4.6 km away19.62 km~1057 m~5½–7¾ hHard effort Severe: steepnessPlannedOne-way: finishes at Keswick · Start: Honister Pass (paid, slate mine) · Bus: 77 at the startA big Newlands horseshoe walked one–way from the top of Honister Pass to Keswick. You climb straight onto Dale Head, trace the broad grassy tops over Hindscarth and Robinson, drop to Newlands Hause and pick up the Knott Rigg–Ard Crags ridge, then walk out down the Newlands valley into town — five summits and a proper day out, with no car to collect.
Great Gable from Honister Slate Mine Start 4.7 km away9.61 km~721 m~3–4¼ hModerate effort Severe: steepness and navigationPlannedPark: Honister (NT, paid) · Bus: 77 at the startThe kindest way to England’s most-loved mountain. Honister starts you at 350 m. The route goes out along Moses Trod, under Gable Crag to Beck Head, climbs the steep, stony north-west ridge onto Great Gable, and comes back over Green Gable, Brandreth and Grey Knotts. Four Wainwrights, a summit war memorial and the finest view in Lakeland down into Wasdale — but the top is a broad boulder plateau, and in cloud it is one of the great navigation traps.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 45%. Terrain and navigation: our judgement from the map and the route’s record; not walked yet.
Dale Head Hindscarth and Robinson Start 4.7 km away17.46 km~808 m~4¾–6½ hHard effort Hard: distance and steepnessWalked July 2026One-way: finishes at Keswick · Start: Honister (NT, paid) · Bus: 77 at the startThree big Newlands tops — Dale Head, Hindscarth and Robinson — linked by a fast, airy ridge, reached by a lung-bursting pull straight off Honister Pass with no warm-up at all. A linear day rather than a round: 17.5 km and 808 m of climbing, of which the last 11.7 km is the valley walk-out to Keswick after the final summit.Hazard notes checked by Lee McCoy: Dale Head (14 June 2026), Hindscarth (14 June 2026) and Robinson (14 June 2026); they draw on Keswick Mountain Rescue Team.

Fells within about 5 km

High Crag (Buttermere) 1.7 km away745 m~5–6 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsHigh Crag at 745m (2,444ft) is the south-eastern anchor of the Buttermere ridge, its dramatic Gamlin End providing the steepest descent in the three-peak circuit.
High Stile 1.8 km away806 m~4½–5½ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsHigh Stile is the highest of the three great fells of the Buttermere ridge, and one of the finest summits in the Western Fells.
Robinson 2.2 km away738 m~4¾–6 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsRobinson at 738m (2,420ft) is the north-western bastion of the Newlands Horseshoe — the great classic ridge walk that circuits the Newlands valley.
Red Pike (Buttermere) 2.3 km away755 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsRed Pike is the shapely, warm-hued peak at the Buttermere end of the High Stile ridge — its name from the red Ennerdale granophyre that colours its screes and summit.
Fleetwith Pike 2.7 km away649 m~2½–3 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsFleetwith Pike at 649m (2,129ft) stands above Honister Pass, its northern face falling in the famous Honister Crags that Wainwright described as giving one of the most dramatic fell profiles in the Western Fells.
Haystacks (Buttermere) 2.7 km away597 m~4–5 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsHaystacks at 597m (1,959ft) is the fell Wainwright loved above all others — not for its height, but for its character.
Rannerdale Knotts 3 km away355 m~1½–2 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsRannerdale Knotts at 355m (1,165ft) is a small, delightful ridge of rocky knolls above Crummock Water, giving some of the finest views of the lake from any fell in the North Western Fells.
Whiteless Pike 3.3 km away660 m~5–6 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsWhiteless Pike at 660m (2,165ft) is the southern sentinel of the Grasmoor ridge above Buttermere, a sharp, pointed summit giving excellent views of the Buttermere valley and Crummock Water.
Hindscarth 3.3 km away727 m~3½–4½ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsHindscarth at 727m (2,385ft) is an elegant summit on the Newlands Horseshoe between Dale Head and Robinson, its pointed profile visible from the Newlands valley below.
Knott Rigg 3.5 km away556 m~5–6¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsKnott Rigg at 556m (1,824ft) is a pleasant, grassy ridge summit above the Newlands valley between Ard Crags and the Buttermere road, giving fine views of the Grasmoor and Newlands Horseshoe ranges.
Pillar 3.8 km away892 m~5½–6¾ hSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsPillar at 892m (2,928ft) is one of the great mountains of Lakeland, its tremendous northern face — dominated by the famous Pillar Rock — home to some of the longest rock climbs in England.
Dale Head 4 km away754 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsDale Head at 754m (2,474ft) is the highest summit of the Newlands Horseshoe, a broad, rocky top above the head of the Newlands valley giving outstanding views of the full horseshoe circuit and south to the Borrowdale fells.
Wandope 4.1 km away774 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsWandope at 774m (2,539ft) is a southern arm of the Grasmoor massif, a high ridge with outstanding views of Crummock Water and the coastal plain beyond.
Starling Dodd 4.1 km away633 m~5–6 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsStarling Dodd at 633m (2,077ft) is a broad, grassy summit above Ennerdale between Red Pike and Great Borne, giving fine views of Ennerdale Water and the remote Ennerdale valley.
Mellbreak (Mellbreak South Top) 4.5 km away511 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsMellbreak at 511m (1,677ft) is a distinctive double-summited ridge above the western shore of Crummock Water, its steep flanks rising directly from the lake edge.Hazard notes checked by Lee McCoy: Mellbreak (Mellbreak South Top) (14 June 2026); they draw on Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team.
Grey Knotts 4.6 km away697 m~2¾–3½ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsGrey Knotts at 697m (2,287ft) is the first summit above Honister Pass, a pleasant rocky summit giving fine views of the Gable group and across Borrowdale.
Ard Crags 4.7 km away581 m~5–6¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsArd Crags at 581m (1,906ft) is a craggy ridge summit above the head of the Newlands valley, its rocky west face giving the fell its name.
Crag Hill (Eel Crag) 4.7 km away839 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsCrag Hill at 839m (2,753ft), also known as Eel Crag, is the highest point of the Coledale Horseshoe ridge in the North Western Fells, a broad, rocky summit connecting Grasmoor to Sail and Hopegill Head.
Grasmoor 4.7 km away852 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsGrasmoor at 852m (2,794ft) is the highest and most massive of the North Western Fells, a great dome of a mountain above Crummock Water that Wainwright described as one of the finest viewpoints in the district — the panorama from Grasmoor's summit takes in the full sweep of the northern and western fells, with the two great lakes of Crummock Water and Buttermere gleaming in the valley far below.
Steeple 4.8 km away819 m~6–7¼ hSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsSteeple at 819m (2,687ft) is a pointed, dramatic summit on a short spur off Scoat Fell, its crags dropping steeply into Mirk Cove above Ennerdale.Hazard notes checked by Lee McCoy: Steeple (22 September 2026); they draw on Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team.
Sail 4.8 km away773 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsSail at 773m (2,536ft) is a rounded summit on the Coledale Horseshoe between Eel Crag and Causey Pike, its attractive profile one of the defining features of the skyline above Braithwaite.
Brandreth 4.9 km away715 m~2¾–3½ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsBrandreth at 715m (2,346ft) is a broad, grassy summit on the Gable ridge above Honister, giving excellent views of Great Gable and the Scafells from the north.
Scoat Fell (Little Scoat Fell) 4.9 km away841 m~6–7¼ hSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsScoat Fell at 841m (2,759ft) is the broad, high ridge connecting Pillar to Red Pike (Wasdale) and Haycock, a summit of wide views but modest individual character.

None of the fells here are rated good to climb on 27 October — see fells to save for a bad day →
A prediction from our daily fell score, not a guarantee — always check the mountain forecast before you go. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (opens in new tab).

Map

● routes · ● fells within ~5 km

Distances are straight-line from the centre of Buttermere — ‘within ~5 km’ means as the crow flies, not that the walk necessarily starts there. Always plan your own route and check the bus before you travel.