Buttermere
Getting there, parking, where to stay and the fells you can walk straight from Buttermere.
Buttermere at a glance
Buttermere is, for many people, the perfect low-level lake walk — a 4.5-mile (7 km) flat lakeshore circular that hugs the water the whole way, ringed by some of the most dramatic fells in the Lakes: Haystacks, Fleetwith Pike, High Crag and High Stile rising straight from the far shore. It's owned by the National Trust, easy underfoot, and just about the most photographed valley in the District. This page answers the things people actually search — how long the walk takes, whether you can swim, where to park — honestly, including the bits the postcards leave out (a rock tunnel, and a spring path closure for nesting birds).
Quick facts
| What it is | A National Trust lake with a famous flat shoreline circular |
| The walk | ~4.5 miles / 7 km, allow 2–2.5 hours (3 with stops); near-level |
| Can you swim? | Yes — popular, with a shallow beach at the village end |
| Watch for | A short rock tunnel (low, often puddled) and a brief rock step |
| Spring closure | A short north-shore permissive path shuts ~1 Apr–30 Jun for nesting sandpipers |
| Getting there | Buttermere village car parks on the B5289; the seasonal 77 / Honister Rambler bus from Keswick |
Where is Buttermere?
Buttermere near Keswick, in the Lake District. Zoom and pan to explore — or see all the Lake District lakes & waters on one map.
The Buttermere lake walk
The circuit is the reason most people come, and it deserves its fame: a near-level path right around the lake, roughly 4.5 miles (7 km), taking most walkers 2 to 2.5 hours (allow 3 with photo stops and a picnic). It's one of the gentlest of the big-lake circuits — stretches are "Miles without Stiles"-easy — and you can start from Buttermere village and go either way. Two small surprises to know about:
- A short rock tunnel on the south-western shore (about 20 m, low-roofed, often wet and puddled underfoot) — carved in the 19th century at the whim of a Manchester mill owner so guests could walk the shore. It's fine but a torch helps.
- One brief "rock step" — a few moments of easy hands-on scrambling — otherwise the path is straightforward.
Can you cycle or run round? Runners love it; cycling the shore path isn't really on (it's a walkers' footpath, rough and busy) — better to ride the valley road or the passes.
Spring closure — the nesting sandpipers
One honest caveat that catches people out: a short permissive path along the north-eastern edge is closed each spring, roughly 1 April to 30 June, to protect ground-nesting sandpipers. For most of the year the full circuit is open; in late spring you may have to follow a short signed diversion, so don't promise yourself the complete shoreline loop in May without checking the signs on the day.
Can you swim in Buttermere?
Yes — and it's lovely. There's a shallow, shelving entry and a small beach at the Buttermere village end, which makes a natural place to wade in, paddle or launch a paddleboard. As always in Lakeland water, take cold-water care — it's cold year-round, there are no lifeguards, and you should ease in rather than jump. Out of respect for the ground-nesting birds, keep to the village end in spring rather than the quiet north shore.
The fells & the valley
Few lakes have a finer skyline. From the shore you look straight up at:
- Haystacks — Wainwright's favourite fell, where his ashes were scattered at Innominate Tarn;
- Fleetwith Pike, the shapely prow at the head of the valley;
- High Crag and High Stile, the high wall of the western fells.
It's also Maid of Buttermere country — Mary Robinson, the celebrated 18th-century beauty of the Fish Inn — and Sour Milk Gill tumbles white down the far hillside. Check the live "Best Fells today" conditions before the tops; the Fells & walks nearby box below lists the closest summits with full guides, and our Buttermere circuit route covers the shore walk in detail.
Fells & walks near Buttermere
Straight-line distances from the centre of Buttermere — the nearest summits with a full guide on this site.
All walks by Buttermere → — every route and fell within about 5 km, ranked, with today’s conditions.
Getting there, parking & postcode
Buttermere village sits between the lake and Crummock Water on the B5289, reached from Keswick over the Newlands or Honister passes (narrow, spectacular, busy on fine days). Park in the village car parks — the National Trust pay-and-display and the honesty-box field car parks behind the inns; the searched-for postcode (CA13 9XA / 9UZ area) drops you in the village, but treat sat-nav as a guide on these lanes. Come early — the car parks fill by mid-morning at weekends. Car-free, the seasonal 77 / Honister Rambler bus loops in from Keswick, and the ride itself is a highlight. Dogs are welcome on lead (livestock and ground-nesting birds).
Where to stay & practical
Most people stay in tiny Buttermere village — a couple of historic inns, a YHA and farm B&Bs — or down the valley at Lorton and Loweswater, with the full range over the passes in Keswick. There's no campsite right on the lake; the nearest are valley farm sites and the Honister/Gatesgarth area — book ahead, and don't wild-camp the shore. Pair Buttermere with Crummock Water and Loweswater for a classic three-lake valley.
Events & festivals
Planning a trip around a show or festival? See our Lake District events & festivals guide for what's on near Buttermere — traditional Lakeland sports, agricultural shows and seasonal events, month by month.
Frequently asked questions about Buttermere
How long is the walk around Buttermere lake, and how long does it take?
Where do you park to walk around Buttermere (and what's the postcode)?
Can you swim in Buttermere lake?
Can you walk all the way around Buttermere — is the path closed at any time?
Is the Buttermere walk dog-friendly, and can you cycle it?
What's the tunnel on the Buttermere walk?
Who owns Buttermere, and where can you camp nearby?
Where is Buttermere and is it a ribbon lake?
📚 Maps & guidebooks for Buttermere
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