Buttermere Dog Walk

Walk Stats

Overview

I’ve always thought that rock and water is one of the most visually appealing combinations in the natural world. Stacks that rise sheer from a turquoise ocean; weather-beaten mountains that tower over sea lochs; crags and hills mirrored perfectly in the blue of a becalmed lake. And there’s nowhere in England where the latter is more likely to have you reaching for your camera or phone than at Buttermere.

One of the National Park’s smaller lakes, Buttermere occupies a sublime location with steep-sided, rugged mountains rearing up directly from its shores, almost completely encircling it. Starting from Buttermere village, clear, well-maintained paths through woodland and along the base of the fells allow for easy walking – and provide lots of opportunities for photography. There’s not a massive amount of effort involved in this walk but it’s enough to justify a treat – for the humans as well as their pets – in one of the dog-friendly cafés or pubs when you get back to the village.

The Walk

Follow the public bridleway to the left of the Buttermere Court Hotel, formerly the Fish Inn. Ignoring a path signposted to Scale Bridge on the right, follow this wide track almost as far as the lake. After passing through the gate that gives access to Buttermere’s shore, turn right, soon crossing the lake’s outlet stream via a bridge and then Sourmilk Gill via a second bridge.

Immediately after a small gate, bear left along the wooded lakeshore path. Keep left at any forks, so that you’ve always got beautiful, uninterrupted views across the lake – and your dog can swim or drink to their heart’s content.

The impressive ridge that drops almost to the water’s edge at the far end of the lake is Fleetwith Edge, leading up to Fleetwith Pike. As you near it, you’ll see a white cross on its lower slopes. This is dedicated to Fanny Mercer, the young servant of a Rugby School master who fell to her death after tripping over her walking staff on the fell in 1887.

After leaving the woods via a small gate, the path crosses a footbridge over Comb Beck, a tumultuous beck that comes crashing down from the craggy mountains above. It’s hard to get any sense of their grandeur from here, but there’s a better view of them later – from the other side of the lake. Keep left as a trail heads uphill to the right in a short while and, before long, you reach a signposted path junction. Turn left through the gate here.

Nearing the buildings of Gatesgarth Farm, one of the Lake District’s largest privately owned farms, walkers join a fenced path that leads to the B5289. Turn left along the road, staying into the side and keeping a particularly watchful eye on your dog on the bends. After about 500 yards (460m) of road walking, the lakeshore is regained. Take the clearly signposted path to the left in a short while. The path makes its way along the water’s edge, back towards the village, below Hassness and passing through a short, dark tunnel along the way.



This tunnel was created in the 19th century when George Benson, the owner of Hassness, got his estate workers to create a passage through the crag. This enabled him to complete a full circuit of the lake without straying too far from the water’s edge. Today, its dark, dripping confines add some excitement to the walk, especially for young families, but its presence also means those fantastic views you’ve been enjoying – back across the lake to the fells skirted earlier – are briefly interrupted.   
 
Reaching the north-western end of the lake, bear right at a fork in the path. The route soon climbs some steps cut into the rock. At the top of a fenced section, turn left, soon passing between farm buildings to emerge on the road just below Buttermere’s tiny St James’ Church. Turn left and then left again just before the Bridge Hotel. The entrance to the car park where the walk started is on the right.

Vivienne Crow has written a number of Lake District guidebooks. Her latest titles include Outstanding Walks Lake District, published by Ordnance Survey.

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