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Walks near Scale Force

25 routes and 13 fells within about 5 km of Scale Force, nearest first. Each fell carries today’s conditions and the bus where there is one. Planning the trip? See the full Scale Force guide for parking, buses and where to stay.

Walking routes near Scale Force

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.

• Scale Fell and Mellbreak →Start 2.2 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.
• Rannerdale Knotts from Buttermere →Start 2.2 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%.
• The Buttermere Ridge →Start 2.3 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.
• Buttermere lake circuit →Start 2.3 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.
• Crummock Water shore circuit →Start 2.3 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.
• Red Pike by Scale Force →Start 2.4 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.
• High Stile, Seat via Buttermere →Start 2.4 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.
• High Snockrigg from Buttermere →Start 2.4 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%.
• Great Borne & Starling Dodd →Start 2.4 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.
• Rannerdale bluebell valley and Rannerdale Knotts →Start 2.5 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%.
• High Snockrigg, Eel Crag & Lad Hows →Start 2.6 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.
• The Buttermere Ridge Anti-Clockwise →Start 2.7 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.
• The Grasmoor Round →Start 3.8 km away16.17 km~1304 m~5¼–7¼ hSevere effort Severe: steepnessWalked August 2026Park: Lanthwaite Green (paid) · Bus: 77 at the startOne of the hardest starts in the Lakes — a gruelling climb averaging 27% over loose scree onto Whiteside — followed by superb high ridge walking over Hopegill Head and Grasmoor. There is a short, hands-on scramble onto Hopegill Head, a broad plateau that disorients in fog, and a narrow descent along Whiteless Edge.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 39%; the steepest descent, about 40% over 250 m. Exposure and terrain: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Dodd & Whiteside →Start 3.9 km away7.91 km~682 m~2½–3¾ hModerate effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: Lanthwaite Green (paid) · Bus: 77 at the startTwo tops, 7.9 km and 682 m — and a stage averaging 29%, which is what a short walk with that much ascent in it means. Easy for length, severe for steepness. About 2½–3¾ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the distance; the steepest sustained climb, about 41%. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• The Grasmoor round: Whiteside, Hopegill Head and Whiteless Pike →Start 3.9 km away16.17 km~1161 m~5–7 hHard effort Severe: steepnessWalked August 2026Park: Lanthwaite Green (paid) · Bus: 77 at the startTen tops and the finest ridge walking in the North Western Fells — up Whiteside, along the narrow crest of Gasgale Crags to Hopegill Head, over the great whaleback of Grasmoor, then out along Wandope and down the elegant cone of Whiteless Pike to Rannerdale. Sixteen kilometres, a thousand metres of climbing, and views over Crummock Water all the way round.
• Around Loweswater →Start 4.2 km away19.13 km~1068 m~5½–7½ hHard effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: Maggie's Bridge, Loweswater (NT, paid) · Bus: 77, 3.2 km walk from Lanthwaite Green Farm (opposite)The full circuit of the fells around Loweswater — six tops from Darling Fell round to Blake Fell, 19.1 km and 1,068 m, with one early pull a sustained 40% over 250 m. A long day with one steep start: roughly 5½–7½ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 35%. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Mellbreak and Crummock Water →Start 4.2 km away11.71 km~535 m~3–4½ hModerate effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: Maggie's Bridge, Loweswater (NT, paid) · Bus: 77, 3.2 km walk from Lanthwaite Green Farm (opposite)Both Mellbreak tops above Crummock Water — 11.7 km and 535 m, severe for steepness, with one stage averaging 14%. About 3–4½ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 42%. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Knott Rigg & Ard Crags Out-and-Back from Newlands Pass →Start 4.2 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%.
• Newlands Hause to the Coledale Tops →Start 4.3 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%.
• Around Loweswater to Fellbarrow and Low Fell →Start 4.3 km away10.84 km~446 m~2¾–4 hModerate effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: Maggie's Bridge, Loweswater (NT, paid) · Bus: 77, 3.2 km walk from Lanthwaite Green Farm (opposite)A short north-western round over Low Fell, Sourfoot Fell, Smithy Fell and Fellbarrow — 10.8 km and 446 m, moderate on every axis except steepness, which is severe: the climb onto Low Fell reaches about 43%. About 2¾–4 hours.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 43%. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Birketts by Loweswater →Start 4.3 km away18.69 km~1082 m~5½–7½ hHard effort Hard: distance, steepness and navigationPlannedPark: Maggie's Bridge, Loweswater (NT, paid) · Bus: 77, 3.3 km walk from Lanthwaite Green Farm (opposite)Nine tops above Loweswater, from High Pen and Knock Murton round by Carling Knott — 18.7 km and 1,082 m, with a steepest sustained climb of about 31%. Hard for length, steepness and navigation alike: about 5½–7½ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the distance; the steepest sustained climb, about 31%. Navigation: estimated from the map, not checked on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Loweswater circuit →Start 4.3 km away5.87 km~56 m~1¼–1¾ hModerate: navigation🏞️ Easy & familyPlannedPark: Maggie's Bridge, Loweswater (NT, paid) · Bus: 77, 3.2 km walk from Lanthwaite Green Farm (opposite)A nearly-level lap of Loweswater, taking in the lakeshore and the path through Holme Wood. Lovely with a dog.
• Blake Fell, Gavel Fell, Hen Comb →Start 4.3 km away14.03 km~764 m~4–5½ hHard effort Hard: distance, steepness and navigationPlannedPark: Maggie's Bridge, Loweswater (NT, paid) · Bus: 77, 3.2 km walk from Lanthwaite Green Farm (opposite)Five tops behind Loweswater — Burnbank Fell, Blake Fell, Gavel Fell, Hen Comb and Little Dodd — in 14 km with 764 m of climbing and a steepest sustained pull of about 29%. Hard for length, steepness and navigation alike; about 4–5½ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the distance; the steepest sustained climb, about 29%. Navigation: estimated from the map, not checked on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Round Ennerdale Water from Bowness Knott →Start 4.4 km away10.9 km~92 m~2¼–3¼ hModerate effort Moderate: distance, terrain and navigationPlannedPark: Bowness Knott, Ennerdale (Forestry, paid)A loop of about 10.9 km right round Ennerdale Water from the Bowness Knott car park, with about 90 m of climbing: east on the forest track along the north shore, over the River Liza near the head of the lake, west on the south shore path past Angler's Crag to the foot of the lake, over the River Ehen, and back on bridleways past Bowness to the car park.
• Fleetwith Edge and Haystacks →Start 4.9 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%.

Fells within about 5 km

• Mellbreak (Mellbreak South Top) →1.6 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.
• Starling Dodd →1.6 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.
• Red Pike (Buttermere) →1.9 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.
• Rannerdale Knotts →2 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.
• Hen Comb →2.1 km away506 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsHen Comb at 506m (1,661ft) is a distinctively shaped ridge above Loweswater, its narrow summit giving fine views of Loweswater and Crummock Water.
• Great Borne →2.7 km away616 m~5–6 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsGreat Borne at 616m (2,021ft) is an isolated, rounded summit above Ennerdale Water, its summit giving excellent views of the lake and the remote Ennerdale valley below.
• High Stile →2.8 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.
• Whiteless Pike →3.5 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.
• Gavel Fell →3.7 km away524 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsGavel Fell at 524m (1,720ft) is a broad, heathery summit between Ennerdale and Loweswater, giving wide views of the western fells.
• Grasmoor →4.1 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.
• High Crag (Buttermere) →4.3 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.
• Wandope →4.6 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.
• Blake Fell →4.8 km away573 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsBlake Fell at 573m (1,879ft) is a broad, heathery summit above Crummock Water and Loweswater, giving fine views of both lakes from its open top.

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).

Distances are straight-line from the centre of Scale Force — ‘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.