The Buttermere Ridge Anti-Clockwise
Photo: © Lee McCoy
Start Buttermere village
Getting here Parking: Buttermere village (NT, paid), 0.5 km from the start (straight line). Bus: the 77 stops at Buttermere Youth Hostel (near), a 330 m walk from this start. Seasonal: the 77 does not run all year. 1 November 2026 is its last day. Parking & buses ↓
Hardest part Severe steepness: Steepest sustained descent about 38% around the 7.1 km mark. Hands for a few steps: the red scree up from Dodd to Red Pike, the loose ground on to High Stile, and the high rocky steps down off Seat (km 3.5–5.0 and km 7.7–8.1).
Before you choose
- The line follows the road for about 0.3 km at the start, down the Newlands Pass road into Buttermere village and along the B5289 past the Fish Hotel, and for about 0.25 km at the end, back up the Newlands Pass road from the Bridge Hotel. OpenStreetMap maps no pavement beside it.
- Two stretches are steep and loose. The climb from Dodd to Red Pike is a path of red scree, about 125 m of height between about 3.5 and 3.8 km. The descent from High Crag down Gamlin End is the steepest ground of the walk, about 38% sustained around 7.1 km.
- Crags are mapped beside the ridge path on its north side: Chapel Crags between Red Pike and High Stile, within a few metres of the path near 4.7 km, and the crags above Burtness Comb between about 5.6 and 6.6 km. Keep back from the edge, above all in mist or a strong wind.
- The line crosses the outflow of Bleaberry Tarn, Sourmilk Gill, at a place OpenStreetMap maps as a ford near 2.7 km, and becks at mapped fords on Scarth Gap Pass near 8.5 and 9.6 km.
- About 2.2 km of the line, in pieces, follows paths that OpenStreetMap does not record as public rights of way; the longest is about 0.8 km between about 7.25 and 8.1 km, from below Gamlin End over Seat to Scarth Gap. The rest is public bridleways, a permissive path by the lake and the road in the village. That is a map-data note, not a ruling on access: check the access land and rights of way maps before relying on this stretch.
Conditions on this route
We score every Lakeland Wainwright each morning on cloud, wind, rain and underfoot, and this route crosses 3 of them. The worst summit governs the verdict — a route is only as kind as its roughest top.
Modelled guidance — not a substitute for the mountain forecast or your own judgement. See how every fell ranks today →
Daylight & turnaround
Daylight is short from October to February — check today’s sunrise and sunset before you set off, and carry a head-torch and spare batteries. On short days, decide your turn-back time before you start.
See also walking in bad weather and today’s conditions.
Route map
1 Dodd (Buttermere)2 Red Pike (Buttermere)3 High Stile4 High Stile (Grey Crag - High Stile)5 High Crag (Buttermere)6 Seat
Easy 63%Moderate 26%Hard 10%Severe 2%
Heights on this chart and its high point are read from the track itself (a terrain model sampled along the line, or a GPS recording), so a top can differ from its listed height, usually reading lower.
Free mapping: OpenTopoMap / OpenStreetMap, with SRTM elevation data (switch layers top-right).
The elevation profile is under the map; the stage notes follow.
The walk, stage by stage
- 1
Buttermere village → Dodd (Buttermere) (3.3 km, 535 m)
From the Newlands Pass road just above the village, walk down south-west into Buttermere and along the B5289 past the Fish Hotel. At about 0.3 km take the public bridleway by the Buttermere Court Hotel and follow it south-south-west across the fields, through gates at about 0.4 and 0.5 km, towards the foot of the lake. At about 0.9 km a permissive path leads on south-west, and the line crosses Buttermere Dubs and then Sourmilk Gill on footbridges at about 1.1 and 1.2 km. Here the climbing starts. The bridleway goes south up the fellside beside the conifers of Burtness Wood, on pitched stone and rock: a steep climb, about 37% sustained near 1.6 km. Above the trees it turns west, then south-west into the corrie, to Bleaberry Tarn at about 2.7 km, where the path crosses the tarn's outflow at a mapped ford. From the tarn climb west and north-west to The Saddle, the dip between Dodd and Red Pike, at about 3.2 km, and turn right up the short spur to the top of Dodd at about 3.3 km.
WaypointsButtermere village (start), the Fish Hotel, the Buttermere Court Hotel, the footbridges on Buttermere Dubs and Sourmilk Gill, Burtness Wood, Bleaberry Tarn, The Saddle, Dodd (641 m).
Decision pointSourmilk Gill: the path climbs with the gill, which comes down from Bleaberry Tarn. Bleaberry Tarn: it sits in the corrie below the ridge you walk next.
Easy to get wrongThe climb above the footbridges is steep pitched stone and rock, slippery when wet. The tarn's outflow is crossed at a ford, which is harder after heavy rain. Dodd is a short spur off the path to Red Pike: the line goes up to its top and comes back down to The Saddle. Many paths are mapped on this ground: the desk count for the whole line is 23 path junctions near it, so check each turn against the map.
If you need to get offUntil Dodd, the way off is back the way you came, down past the tarn and Burtness Wood to the village: never more than about 3.3 km.
© Lee McCoy · 2 photographs - 2
Dodd (Buttermere) → Red Pike (Buttermere) (0.5 km, 135 m)
From Dodd, go back down south-south-west to The Saddle. Then climb south-west up the red scree path to the top of Red Pike at about 3.8 km: about 125 m of height between about 3.5 and 3.8 km, on loose red stone that slides underfoot.
WaypointsDodd, The Saddle, the red scree path, Red Pike (755 m).
Decision pointThe scree path: the worn red line up the slope from The Saddle is the way to the top.
Easy to get wrongThe scree is loose. Stones slide underfoot, and walkers above can knock them down, so keep apart from anyone above or below you. It is dusty in dry weather and slick red mud in rain.
If you need to get offBack down to The Saddle and the way you came, past Bleaberry Tarn to the village.
- 3
Red Pike (Buttermere) → High Stile (1.2 km, 118 m)
From Red Pike, head south and then south-east along the ridge path, a public bridleway, dipping to a saddle at about 4.3 km. Chapel Crags are mapped along the left-hand (north-east) side of the path all the way to High Stile, within a few metres of it near 4.7 km. From the saddle the path climbs south-east and then east, about 95 m of height, to the top of High Stile at about 5.0 km.
WaypointsRed Pike, the saddle, the rim of Chapel Crags, High Stile.
Decision pointBleaberry Tarn is in the corrie below on the left. The crag edge is on the left all the way to High Stile.
Easy to get wrongThe red stone of Red Pike is loose underfoot as you leave the top. Chapel Crags drop away on the left: keep to the path.
If you need to get offGoing back over Red Pike means going down the red scree; the other way off is on over High Crag and down Gamlin End to Scarth Gap. Do not try to leave the ridge to the north, into the corrie: Chapel Crags are in the way.
© Lee McCoy - 4
High Stile → High Stile (Grey Crag - High Stile) (0.2 km, 12 m)
From High Stile, cross the broad, stony top east, past old iron fence posts, to a large cairn near its eastern top at about 5.2 km.
WaypointsHigh Stile, the old fence posts, the eastern top.
Decision pointThe fence posts: the old fence line runs along the top and on along the ridge.
Easy to get wrongThe top is broad and flat, and easy to lose your line on in mist. Its northern edge drops into the corrie: keep back from it.
If you need to get offBack over Red Pike (down the red scree), or on over High Crag and down Gamlin End.
© Lee McCoy · 2 photographs - 5
High Stile (Grey Crag - High Stile) → High Crag (Buttermere) (1.6 km, 67 m)
From the eastern top, the ridge path drops south for about 0.2 km and then runs east-south-east along the crest, dipping to about 5.9 km, with the crags above Burtness Comb mapped on the left (north), among them Comb Crag and Eagle Crag. Near 6.5 km it turns east and climbs to the top of High Crag at about 6.8 km.
WaypointsThe eastern top of High Stile, the ridge above Burtness Comb, High Crag (745 m).
Decision pointThe fence posts run on along the crest. Buttermere and Crummock Water are in the valley on the left (north).
Easy to get wrongThe north side of the ridge drops steeply into Burtness Comb: stay back from the edge, above all in a strong wind or snow. The ridge is open to the weather from the west.
If you need to get offDo not leave the ridge north into Burtness Comb or south into Ennerdale: the ground is crag. Go on over High Crag and down Gamlin End, or back the way you came over Red Pike.
© Lee McCoy · 2 photographs - 6
High Crag (Buttermere) → Seat (0.8 km, 25 m)
From High Crag, go down Gamlin End south-east. This is the steepest ground of the walk: about 38% sustained around 7.1 km, about 200 m of height lost in about 0.6 km, on loose stones and pitched steps. At the foot the path runs on south-east over a small rise to Seat at about 7.7 km.
WaypointsHigh Crag, Gamlin End, Seat (561 m).
Decision pointThe crest: the path keeps to it, and there is one way down Gamlin End.
Easy to get wrongGamlin End is loose: scree that slides underfoot, and pitched stones that can be loose or polished. On the way down it is easy to slip or turn an ankle, so take it slowly.
If you need to get offFrom High Crag the way off is the line on, down Gamlin End and Scarth Gap Pass: about 6.1 km to the finish. Going back means the whole ridge again and the red scree down.
© Lee McCoy Seat → Finish (5.2 km, 79 m)
From Seat, head east down high rocky steps to Scarth Gap at about 8.0 km, where paths cross. Turn left and go north down Scarth Gap Pass, a public bridleway on a pitched, zigzagging stone path, past mapped fords near 8.5 km and through a gate at about 9.1 km. At the foot of the pass, at about 9.6 km near the head of the lake, more mapped fords; the line does not go on to Gatesgarth but turns north-west on to the path along the south-west shore of Buttermere. Follow the shore path north-west for about 2 km, through a gate at about 10.4 km and by a short permissive path at the water's edge near 10.6 km, to the foot of the lake. At about 11.8 km cross Sourmilk Gill and Buttermere Dubs on the footbridges you crossed on the way out, and walk back north on the bridleway you came out on, to the village by the Bridge Hotel at about 12.6 km. Then walk back up the Newlands Pass road to the start, about 0.25 km: OpenStreetMap maps no pavement beside it.
WaypointsSeat, Scarth Gap, Scarth Gap Pass, the head of Buttermere, the shore path, the footbridges on Sourmilk Gill and Buttermere Dubs, Buttermere village (finish).
Decision pointScarth Gap: at the crossing of paths, the line turns north, down towards the lake. The lake: from the foot of the pass the shore path leads back to the village.
Easy to get wrongThe steps down off Seat are high and rocky, over broken rock and heather. Scarth Gap Pass is a long way down on pitched stone, about 330 m of height from Scarth Gap to the lake.
If you need to get offThe line is the way off: from Scarth Gap the pass leads down to the lake and the shore path back to the village, about 4.6 km.
© Lee McCoy · 2 photographs
GPX track for your GPS or phone. Walked by Lee, October 2026
Summits bagged (6)
- 1Dodd (Buttermere)641 m
- 2Red Pike (Buttermere)755 m
- 3High Stile806 m
- 4High Stile (Grey Crag - High Stile)807 m
- 5High Crag (Buttermere)745 m
- 6Seat561 m
In the order you walk them — the same numbers the elevation profile, the stage notes and the pacing table use.
More about this walk
This walk runs the Buttermere ridge the other way round from The Buttermere Ridge: the red scree below Red Pike is climbed, not descended, and Gamlin End is the way down.
Conditions and timing
Check live conditions in the “From the fells” panel, on MWIS (opens in new tab) and the Met Office mountain forecast (opens in new tab) before you set off.
When the sun reaches the tops
Not sunrise — the moment the sun clears the skyline from that summit, which on a fell with high ground to its east can be a good deal later.
- Red Pike (Buttermere) — in late March the sun reaches it around 06:15, with the sunrise. In late September, about 07:00. It waits longest in late December — about half an hour after sunrise.
- High Stile — in late March the sun reaches it around 06:15, with the sunrise. In late September, about 07:00.
- High Crag (Buttermere) — in late March the sun reaches it around 06:15, with the sunrise. In late September, about 07:00.
How to read these times
The two equinoxes are shown because they fall in the walking season, and late December too wherever a top keeps you waiting then; the clock gap between the equinoxes is British Summer Time, not the hill. Rounded to the nearest quarter hour and meant as a general idea, not a schedule.
Modelled from a 30 m elevation model against each summit’s own skyline — the same figures the fell pages carry, never observed. Cloud is not in it.
Getting there and back
Parking
2 more places to park near the start
Positions are approximate.
Of the pay-and-display machine tickets sold at Buttermere from 17 August 2024 to 31 March 2026, 15% were bought before 10am (our count of FOI/2026.500 ticket data). Contains public sector information provided by the Lake District National Park Authority and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Vehicles are left at their owner’s risk: we list places people park and cannot vouch for any of them. Take valuables with you and leave nothing on show.
If the parking is full
There is no real plan B by car here. Every place we know beside this route serves the same walks and sits close together, so expect them to fill on the same mornings. Worth starting early, or having a different walk in mind before you set off. The bus below is the exception: it is not limited by car-park space, though it runs to a timetable and can be full.
- Buttermere village (LDNPA, paid) — joins the loop at about km 0.3 of 12.9: a 210 m walk to the line, and you walk the round from there
- High Snockrigg, north-west (layby) — a 400 m walk to the start
- High Snockrigg (layby) — a 250 m walk to the start
- By bus: buses stop at Buttermere Youth Hostel (near), a 330 m walk from the start. A bus is not affected by a full car park. Its return times are under Buses.
We never say whether anywhere has spaces today. Walks to the line are measured along mapped paths (OpenStreetMap), not in a straight line. How we choose these places.
No signal when you get there? RoutePark keeps this list on your phone: choose this walk’s GPX at home, keep it, and it opens offline.
Buses
The 77 stops at Buttermere Youth Hostel (near), a 330 m walk from this start. Seasonal: the 77 does not run all year. 1 November 2026 is its last day. It returns on 22 March 2027. Confirmed with the operator: its last day on 29 August 2026, its return on 16 October 2026. The last bus is 18:21 towards Keswick (77), every day. Checked against the operator’s timetable, 7 September 2026; that timetable runs to 1 November 2026. Times here are a guide, not a promise — leave yourself more than the minute.
The 77 passes this route at 12.6 km (Buttermere, outside Court Hotel, 10 m off the line).
Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com (opens in new tab) or Traveline before travelling.
Toilets and refreshments
The essentials
- Arrival The Mountain Road junction bus stop is about 100 m from the start, which is also the finish. The line passes the Bridge Hotel bus stop in the village, about 0.25 km down the road from the start. 103 m in a straight line, not a walking distance. (OpenStreetMap contributors, via Overpass, 19 October 2026, checked 19 October 2026)
- Toilets Paid toilets are mapped in the village, about 380 m from the start and finish. 380 m in a straight line, not a walking distance. (OpenStreetMap contributors, via Overpass, 19 October 2026, checked 19 October 2026)
- Refreshments Syke Farm Tea Room is mapped in the village about 210 m from the start and finish, Croft House Farm Café about 280 m and The Buttermere Court Hotel about 330 m. Opening hours are not recorded here. 207 m in a straight line, not a walking distance. (OpenStreetMap contributors, via Overpass, 19 October 2026, checked 19 October 2026)
- Limitation Steep and loose in two places, the red scree up to Red Pike and the descent of Gamlin End, about 38% sustained near 7.1 km: not a pushchair route. (this route's own track and OpenStreetMap contributors, Cumbria extract of 24 July 2026, checked 17 October 2026)
Water, shelter & getting away
On-route facilities © OpenStreetMap contributors — an absent marker does not mean the facility isn’t there.
Getting there across the Lake District: Buses · Parking map · By train · By boat
Planning detail
How each grade on this page is set, and the timings stage by stage.
Difficulty profile
Severe overall — hardest: Steepness; exposure not assessed on the ground
Five independent axes, not one score. One of the five was set on the ground; the rest are computed from the recorded track and the map, which measures the line rather than surveying the ground.
How we grade: each axis is Easy, Moderate, Hard or Severe, and a route between two bands takes the higher one. Length: under 8 km, 8–14 km, 14–20 km, over 20 km. Steepness, the steepest 500 m of the track: under 15%, 15–25%, 25–35%, over 35%. Terrain, navigation and exposure are judged rather than measured, and each note says why. How we grade.
Pacing
| Summit | Cumulative | Ascent | Time (fast–steady) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Dodd (Buttermere) | 3.3 km | 535 m | 1:34–2:04 |
| 2Red Pike (Buttermere) | 3.8 km | 670 m | 1:53–2:30 |
| 3High Stile | 5.0 km | 788 m | 2:18–3:04 |
| 4High Stile (Grey Crag - High Stile) | 5.2 km | 800 m | 2:23–3:10 |
| 5High Crag (Buttermere) | 6.8 km | 867 m | 2:49–3:44 |
| 6Seat | 7.7 km | 892 m | 3:01–4:01 |
| Finish | 12.9 km | 970 m | 4:12–5:35 |
A fast–steady range from Naismith’s rule, deliberately on the slow side. Breaks, weather, rough ground and the slowest person in your party all add to it. How we time walks.
Access & barriers
Can a dog, a buggy or dodgy knees manage this route?
- Buggy: No mapped stiles, but the ground is not a buggy line: terrain Hard – graded by Lee on the ground.
- Knees: A long, steep ~48% drop over 250 m around the 6.9 km mark — hard on the knees.
With a dog
Hardest for a dog here: drops and exposed ground (estimated from the map). The steepest stretch is a sustained descent of about 38% around the 7.1 km mark.
- Drops and exposed ground: Not assessed on the ground; the map suggests Hard. 13 mapped crag feature(s) near the line — check the airy sections.
- Rock and scrambling: Hands for a few steps: the red scree up from Dodd to Red Pike, the loose ground on to High Stile, and the high rocky steps down off Seat (km 3.5–5.0 and km 7.7–8.1). Ground underfoot: Hard – graded by Lee on the ground. The red scree up to Red Pike and the steep, loose descent of Gamlin End; a good ridge path between. Hard confirmed on the ground by Lee, who walked the line on 17 Oct 2026 (gq1 G2 A, 19 Oct 2026).
- Stiles and gates: Only gates and kissing gates are mapped: no stile a dog can’t get through. That is the barriers alone; check the route’s steep or rocky ground before you bring a dog. (OpenStreetMap, mapped as of 2026-10-17)
- Ways off early: None recorded for this route.
- Livestock, shade and water: Not recorded for this route yet. We never call a stream safe for a dog to drink, so carry enough for both of you. The lead rules, and what to do around cattle, are on dogs on the fells.
On the line: 9 gates
Barriers as mapped on OpenStreetMap, which can miss some. Spotted one? Tell us (opens in new tab). Barrier data as of 2026-10-17. Access data © OpenStreetMap contributors (local extract).
Walks from places nearby
- Walks from Moss Force — 1.6 km from this start
- Walks from Scale Force — 2.7 km from this start
Straight-line distance from this walk’s start. Those lists hold the routes we have mapped and every Wainwright and Outlying fell within about 5 km of the town, ranked nearest first.