The Buttermere Valley is one of the finest, most beautiful valleys in all of the Lake District. It has an aura of natural beauty that just can not be matched by any other area of Lakeland. There is so much charm and character to the place that once you’ve visited you’ll find it hard not to want to return. Read on to find out all you need to know about a stay in one of the most gorgeous places in Cumbria.
Getting there…
Following my graduation day (I’m officially a vet now, how did that happen?!) me and my mum set off for the lakes. For those of you coming from the South, this is probably the route you’ll take. After a short jaunt on the M6 we exited at Junction 36 for the A590. This took us towards the Southern lakes. Mum wanted to take me along the scenic route. What a good decision and one I would recommend to anyone!
From here we followed the signs first to Windermere and stuck to the Eastern shoreline of the lake. We headed up through Ambleside and from here we followed the A591 all the way to Keswick. This passed by Rydal Water, Grasmere and Thirlmere, as well as the very impressive looking Helvellyn. Once you arrive in Keswick you can get to Buttemere in one of two ways. Either following the signs for Borrowdale and enter via the Honister Pass, or the route that we took, which was to follow the signs to Newlands Valley and enter via the Newlands Pass.
There is a small car park at the top of Newlands pass where you can stop to take in the views of the valley in either direction. The waterfall nearby is absolutely beautiful and if you’re brave enough you can climb up to the plunge pool and look back out across Newlands Valley. This carpark is also a great place to park to access Robinson or Knott Rigg. If you’re feeling particularly energetic one day then park here early and head down the valley towards Catbells and walk the horseshoe (Catbells, Maiden Moor, High Spy, Dales Head and Robinson).
Buttermere
Once we finally arrived in Buttermere I was overawed. We were in the middle of a quaint little village that was surrounded by mountains. Like something out of a fairy-tale.
Where to stay?
There are many places available to stay in Buttermere. We opted for my mums childhood favourite, The Fish Inn (now the Buttermere Court Hotel). A love of the Lake District must run in the family. I have to say that I would highly recommend this accommodation. The rooms are lovely and comfortable, the staff are friendly, the food is absolutely incredible, and it is perfectly organised to cater for walkers. Weather forecasts are available in reception, walkers’ lunches can be pre-ordered and route plans are given in before you start your day so that if you do get into trouble Mountain Rescue will be able to find you! (Not that you would but it’s a comforting thought).
For those of you on a budget I can definitely recommend the Buttermere Youth Hostel. It’s comfortable, secure and even offers breakfast in the morning! You can opt for a dorm, private room or even camp on the grounds depending on how budget friendly you are attempting to be.
What to do?
We spent most of our time walking the various surrounding fells and the lakes of Buttermere and Crummock Water. There are many different walks and trails that cater for a range of abilities and interests. From Buttermere itself the main trails include:
- Buttermere lake walk
- Haystacks
- Fleetwith Pike
- Dale Head, Hindscarth and Robinson ridge walk
- Red Pike, High Stile and High Crag ridge walk
- Mellbreak
- Rannerdale Knotts
- Grasmoor
- Whiteless Peak
NB: Other fells are accessible from Buttermere, they are just a little further afield.
You will be able to read about these hikes in more detail in further posts as I endeavour to complete all of the Wainwright walks. On this trip I completed Rannerdale Knotts and combined the Haystacks walk with the Dales Head ridge walk. Possibly a crazy idea but we survived! We also took a route part way up Red Pike in order to see the highest waterfall in Lakeland, Scale Force.
I used the A. Wainwright guide to the Western Fells in order to navigate my way to Scale Force. This was a pretty gentle walk and we had some splendid views of Crummock water and across to Rannerdale Knotts and the fells on the Eastern shore of the lake. Scale Force itself was highly impressive. I managed to scramble up a few rocks to the side of the waterfall to get a better view of the plunge pool. If the weather were better it would have been perfect for a swim!
Honister Slate Mine
If you’re after something to do other than walking, then the Honister Pass Slate Mine which is just up the road (or a hike over Fleetwith Pike) is a great option. There are different options for tours into the mines and the possibility to do an assault course over the side of the mountain. A variety of different tours mean there is something for everybody.
Sykes Farm Ice Cream
Another brilliant find in Buttermere was the Syke Farm Luxury Ice Cream. I would definitely recommend! It was a welcome relief after a long days walking and exploring the area. From the main road through Buttermere it is very easy to find with a large sign by the roadside. The ice cream is made on site on the farm with milk from their own cows. You definitely notice the high quality and amazing taste of home-made ice cream.
Buttermere overall was a fantastic getaway. The lack of phone signal is, to be honest, part of the reason. You really can escape from the outside world here. The surroundings are absolutely magical. If you’re after a holiday in the lakes where you can do a lot of walking then Buttermere is the place to be. I can’t wait to return.
#TopTip – Most places in Buttermere are dog friendly! That means you can enjoy all of this with your best four-legged friend in tow. Dogs also make great walking buddies!
Have you visited Buttermere? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Comment below!
