Buttermere Travel Guide

  Not one of my best, you can just see the...
by davesut
 
  • Not one of my best, you can just see the path
      Not one of my best, you can just see the...
    by davesut
  • Very chuffed that I found the front door
      Very chuffed that I found the front door
    by davesut
  • some local residents came to say hello
      some local residents came to say hello
    by davesut
  • Buttermere lake
      Buttermere lake
    by davesut
  • Just going dark
      Just going dark
    by davesut
 

Explore Buttermere

Things to Do  

Walk around the Lake

Walk around the Lake, Buttermere

 davesut Says:  If you are looking for the chance to walk around a lake in the Lake District then this is it. Many Lakes have private landowners on the banks but this one has a full circuit that will take about 2 hours. No need for walking boots either, a stone path. There are some parts... 

Buy some ice cream from Syke Farm

Buy some ice cream from Syke Farm, Buttermere

 davesut Says:  At the end of a walk, what better way to celebrate than with a flavoursome ice cream made on site using the output from the resident Ayrshire herd. Very good but no photo which is criminal. There is also a small tea room in the farm yard, very enjoyable. Buttermere is such a... 

Go to the pub

Go to the pub, Buttermere

 davesut Says:  Buttermere is a very small village with about a dozen buildings, two of which are pubs, the Fish Inn and The Bridge Hotel. The Bridge HotelPictured at dusk appeared the more atmospheric of the twoThe Fish InnA little walk away has a pleasant garden to sit in. Note the car... 

Sunny Headland

Sunny Headland, Buttermere

 steventilly Says:  There is a lot of lake shore access at Buttermere, as there is for many of the lakes (with the sad exception of Windermere). You can bring a picnic along when the weather is suitable - or even if it is cold and wet if you are hardy enough - and sit by the waters edge to... 

Rushing Rills

Rushing Rills, Buttermere

 steventilly Says:  There are dozens of streams rushing down the hills around Buttermere. This one is at the far end of the lake from Sour Milk GIll and has no name that I know of. We climbed it once to see if it also comes from a tarn but it doesn't, it just springs from the moss on the... 

Splendid Vistas

Splendid Vistas, Buttermere

 steventilly Says:  When the sun is out there are not many more beautiful places in the lakes than around here. I'm not sure if it was in Bigs' book's Top 15 places to see, but it would be in mine. 

Hello My Good Friend

Hello My Good Friend, Buttermere

 steventilly Says:  The lake district's particular breed of sheep is the Herdwick. They're a hardy sheep with a dirty brown colour and have thicker, chunkier legs than most lowland and dales sheep. I think they're rather cute, some people think they're rather delicious ("kill it & grill it!")... 

Sun Peeping Through

Sun Peeping Through, Buttermere

 steventilly Says:  Eventually the Sun made an appearance and the middle part of our walk, down the far end of the lake, was made in some quite nice sunshine. Still bits of mist hung around the tops of the hills, like a warm fluffy blanket! 

Views Around Every Corner

Views Around Every Corner, Buttermere

 steventilly Says:  As we walked around the lake the mist gradually lifted, exposing more and more of the lake and the surrounding mountains. There was a new photo-opportunity around every corner, and we spent a lot of time stopped taking pictures. 

Wintering Grounds

Wintering Grounds, Buttermere

 steventilly Says:  The lakes are quite important wintering grounds for water birds. This flock of Tufted Ducks was on the lake when we walked past. They were just resting, waiting for the weather to improve I think before they started doing much. 

Misty Vistas

Misty Vistas, Buttermere

 steventilly Says:  The Lake can look great in all weathers and the fact that it was a misty day on the day we visited only added to the beauty of it, rather than detracting from it. I loved this view quite dark and brooding of the fence disappearing into the lake. 

Sour Milk Gill

Sour Milk Gill, Buttermere

 steventilly Says:  This is a common name for rapidly running streams like this. This one flows out of Bleaberry Tarn a little way up the hill and into the lake. You can take a path up to the Tarn that continues on up to the small peak called Dodd. From there there are some nice views over both... 

Take A Hike

Take A Hike, Buttermere

 steventilly Says:  There's a nice hike that you can do right around Buttermere. It follows the lake shore for almost all of its route. You set off through the village, passing to the left of the hotels there and go down a lane towards the hills beyond the lake. On your left will be Buttermere... 

Restaurants  

The Bridge Hotel: Traditional Puddings

The Bridge Hotel: Traditional Puddings, Buttermere

 steventilly Says:  This was a very cozy bar/restaurant area inside The Bridge Hotel in Buttermere. Despite being dressed for a hike we did not feel out of place (and this is common in most Lake District hotels & pubs). The food looked great although we ween't ready for a big meal (it was only... 

Nightlife  

The Bridge Hotel: Winter Warmer

The Bridge Hotel: Winter Warmer, Buttermere

 steventilly Says:  There are a couple of hotels in Buttermere that have public bar/eating areas. We went intoThe Bridge and it was a good choice. It was very comfortable, cozy and friendly and they had some nice beer and good food. We were dressed for hiking and this is no problem, though you... 

Local Customs  

Kissing Gates

Kissing Gates, Buttermere

 steventilly Says:  On this walk there are a lot of what we call Kissing Gates. These are the type of gate where you have to pass through one at a time, and the tradition is you kiss your partner/companion across the gate. After I explained this to Bigs she made sure she was always walking 1/2... 

Warnings Or Dangers  

Careful Where You Step

Careful Where You Step, Buttermere

 steventilly Says:  Be careful where you step when out walking. Whether it's sheep muck or just mud muck, you might end up having to paddle in the lake to get your boots cleaned up! 

What to Pack  

Take Plenty Of Clothing!

Take Plenty Of Clothing!, Buttermere

 steventilly Says:   The Lakes are The Lakes for a good reason - it rains a lot. And in winter, it gets very cold. This might all seem rather obvious, but if you're going to go for a long walk (even if it's an easy one) then you should dress appropriately, otherwise at best you will be... 

Sports & Outdoors  

Lakeshore Jogging

Lakeshore Jogging, Buttermere

 steventilly Says:  We saw two people jogging on the opposite side of the lake, going in the opposite direction to us (pictured). Eventually they passed us (we were STILL on the opposite side of the lake) and they were a man and woman of about 90. Well, maybe only 70. But they sure were fit, it... 

Favorites  

Buttermere Circuit

Buttermere Circuit, Buttermere

 sandysmith Says:   Its an easy walk around Buttermere - about 2 hours in total - and in clear weather like we had just after Christmas 2005 wonderful views and reflections galore can be enjoyed :-))We parked our car near Garthgate farm and made an anti-clockwise circuit of the lake. A short... 

The Place

Plan a Buttermere vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Buttermere locals

Experience Buttermere
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The People

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Our Members Say
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 When the sun is out there are not many more beautiful places in the lakes than around here. I'm not sure if it was in Bigs' book's Top 15 places to see, but it... 

1 member lives in Buttermere

 

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Top 3 Buttermere Writers

1

Buttermere

steventilly profile photo

 Buttermere is a small village and lake not too far from Keswick - just a short drive over the Honnister Pass. It's a great place to come for a hike because it's very picuresque and there's something... 

2

Walking around Buttermere

sandysmith profile photo

 I've got some interesting experiences in Buttermere. I'd love to share with you the 1 tip I've written, the 4 photos uploaded, and 0 travelogues I've created. 

3

The view is very good

davesut profile photo

 Buttermere, south west of Keswick, very small village and access to a more remote parts of the English Lake District Back to Davesut's home page 

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