High Stile, Seat via Buttermere

The walk, stage by stage

1. 1

   Start → Red Pike (Buttermere) (3.3 km, 649 m)

   Climb of about 649 m over 3.3 km (around 20% average).

   Depart Buttermere village, cross the grazing fields to the lake edge, and begin the brutal ascent up through Burtness Wood, climbing alongside the cascading waters of Sour Milk Gill. Emerging at the tranquil, high-mountain bowl of Bleaberry Tarn, catch your breath before tackling the final, punishingly steep zig-zag path directly up the rust-colored scree to the summit of Red Pike

   Waypoints

   Buttermere village (start), Sour Milk Gill, Bleaberry Tarn, The Saddle, Red Pike summit (755m)

   Decision point

   Sour Milk Gill provides an unmistakable acoustic and visual handrail through the lower woods. Above Bleaberry Tarn, the heavily eroded, red-soiled path leading directly to the summit is glaringly obvious in all but the thickest winter snow

   Easy to get wrong

   The final push from Bleaberry Tarn to the summit is notorious; it is a relentless 250m wall of loose, red syenite scree that slides away underfoot and saps energy fast. In wet conditions, the pitched stone steps lower down by Sour Milk Gill become greasy, and the summit itself is heavily exposed to westerlies funneling over the Ennerdale valley

   If you need to get off

   The only sensible retreat before the summit is to turn 180 degrees and descend the exact same path past Bleaberry Tarn to Buttermere. Do not try to cut corners across the steep, craggy northern flanks above the lake

2. 2

   Red Pike (Buttermere) → High Stile (1.1 km, 88 m)

   Climb of about 88 m over 1.1 km (around 8% average).

   From the summit of Red Pike, bear south-east to pick up the magnificent ridge path that arcs dramatically above the steep northern face. The route provides a gentle, undulating climb over shattered rock and stony ground, tracing the rim of Chapel Crags all the way to the broad summit plateau of High Stile

   Waypoints

   Red Pike summit, Chapel Crags (rim), High Stile summit plateau (807m)

   Decision point

   The sheer drop of Chapel Crags to your left acts as an imposing but highly reliable handrail for the entire traverse. In thick clag, ensure you stay a safe distance from the edge by walking on a south-easterly bearing, following the line of old iron fence posts where visible

   Easy to get wrong

   While the gradient eases beautifully here, the drops to your left (north) are precipitous; large cornices form over Chapel Crags in winter, presenting a hidden, fatal drop if you walk too close to the edge. The terrain underfoot is rocky and can be jarring on the ankles over prolonged stretches

   If you need to get off

   If the weather closes in, you must either retrace your steps to Red Pike and descend via Bleaberry Tarn, or push onward to High Crag to use the Scarth Gap descent. Escaping south into Ennerdale commits you to a massive detour miles away from your starting point

3. 3

   High Stile → High Stile (Grey Crag - High Stile) (0.3 km, 16 m)

   Undulating section of about 0.3 km.

   Navigate the brief, rocky expanse of the High Stile plateau, heading east to cross the minor depression on the summit. It is a short, almost level stroll across a boulder-strewn landscape to reach the secondary cairn situated just above Grey Crag, offering unmatched, plunging views down the entire length of Buttermere

   Waypoints

   High Stile true summit, Grey Crag viewpoint cairn

   Decision point

   Rely on a strict compass bearing if the cloud base drops, as the faint paths across the rocky plateau easily vanish into the stones. The cairn above Grey Crag sits right on the north-eastern lip, marking the exact point where the ridge begins to swing south-east towards High Crag

   Easy to get wrong

   The summit plateau is expansive, flat, and remarkably featureless aside from scattered boulders, making it a notorious black spot for disorientation in thick fog. The rock here holds puddles and small tarns that turn to ankle-deep icy sludge in winter months

   If you need to get off

   Due to the sheer cliffs of Grey Crag to the north and the remoteness of Ennerdale to the south, there is no immediate bailout here; you must proceed forward to High Crag or retreat to Red Pike

4. 4

   High Stile (Grey Crag - High Stile) → High Crag (Buttermere) (1.6 km, 36 m)

   Descent of about 83 m over 1.6 km.

   Leave the Grey Crag viewpoint by following the ridge line as it bends south-east, dropping steadily over rocky, broken ground into the saddle. From the depression, a short, sharp climb weaves through small craglets and patches of scree to deliver you onto the pointed, rocky summit of High Crag

   Waypoints

   Grey Crag viewpoint, High Stile/High Crag depression, High Crag summit (744m)

   Decision point

   The ridge path is distinct and well-cairned, hugging the rim of the Burtness Comb bowl to your left. Keep the steep northern drops on your left-hand side, using the edge as a natural guideline across the saddle

   Easy to get wrong

   The descent from High Stile is rocky and requires careful foot placement, particularly when the stones are wet. The ridge narrows considerably here, funneling the prevailing westerly winds over the saddle, which can create powerful, buffeting updrafts capable of knocking tired walkers off balance

   If you need to get off

   Do not attempt to drop into Burtness Comb from the saddle; the ground is dangerously steep, craggy, and pathless. Your only viable escapes remain turning back to Red Pike or pushing forward to the Scarth Gap descent

5. 5

   High Crag (Buttermere) → Seat (0.9 km, 0 m)

   Descent of about 190 m over 0.9 km.

   Step off the High Crag summit and brace yourself for the notorious descent of Gamlin End, pitching steeply south-east down the nose of the fell. Navigate the zig-zagging, pitched stone path and loose scree to reach the broad, grassy saddle of Scarth Gap, then make a very brief, final bump over the minor rise of Seat

   Waypoints

   Gamlin End, Scarth Gap pass, Seat (minor summit, 561m)

   Decision point

   The heavily engineered stone path down Gamlin End is impossible to miss. At the bottom, the major crossroads of Scarth Gap serves as a perfect catching feature, marked by a massive cairn and a convergence of well-trodden trails

   Easy to get wrong

   Gamlin End is a notorious knee-wrecker; it is an aggressively steep, loose, and punishing descent where slips are common, even on the heavy pitched stone sections added to stabilize the scree. Walking poles are highly recommended here to take the sheer impact off your joints and maintain balance on the rolling stones

   If you need to get off

   Once at Scarth Gap, you are at a major, highly reliable bailout point. Simply turn left (north-east) off the ridge to take the heavily established pass path directly down to the shores of Buttermere

6. Seat → Finish (5.9 km, 48 m)

   About 5.9 km with 48 m of ascent.

   From the minor bump of Seat, drop back into Scarth Gap and turn north-east, following the rough, stony packhorse path that winds down the hillside to the valley floor. Cross Peggy's Bridge, then pick up the beautiful, undulating woodland trail that hugs the south-western shore of Buttermere, leading you all the way back into the village to complete the circuit

   Waypoints

   Scarth Gap path, Peggy's Bridge, Buttermere south-western shore, Burtness Wood, Buttermere village

   Decision point

   The descent path from Scarth Gap is a highly visible, historical route that is easily followed. Once at the valley floor, the shoreline of Buttermere acts as an infallible, continuous handrail guiding you perfectly back to the start point

   Easy to get wrong

   The initial descent from Scarth Gap is a knee-jolting, rocky staircase that can be very slick after rain, requiring concentration right when physical fatigue is setting in. The subsequent 5km lake-shore walk is stunning but feels surprisingly long at the end of a big mountain day, with a few rocky, undulating sections near the water's edge that easily catch tired feet

   If you need to get off

   You are effectively off the mountain once you reach the lake. Simply stick to the main shore path; do not stray off into the dense, confusing forestry of Burtness Wood