Miles Without Stiles 25: Buttermere Lakeshore
Conditions update
January 2012: The section around Peggy’s Bridge has now been cleared of flood debris and repaired to a route suitable for some. Find out more in News release: Top walking route now back in top shape.
Details
Route type: For all / for many / for some. Varying lengths of walks, depending on levels of ability. They all have one thing in common - the beauty of Buttermere - OS Explorer Map OL4
Distances: 1.5 km or 0.9 miles for all, 4.5 km or 2.8 miles for many, 7.5 km or 4.7 miles for some
Start point: Buttermere village - grid ref. NY 175170
Turning points: For all, Buttermere lakeshore - grid ref. NY 173164
For many, end of Burtness Wood - grid ref. NY 183155
For some, Gatesgarth Farm - grid ref. NY 194150
Facilities: Accessible toilets, refreshments and pubs at Buttermere
Getting there: Bus: Honister Rambler service 77 / 77A stops eight times a day from March to November. The 949 dial a ride bus also calls at Buttermere from Cockermouth. Phone 01900 822795. Car: B5289 to Buttermere from both Borrowdale and Lorton, or drive over Newlands Pass
Route
Walk back up through the car park and turn right past the Fish Inn, following signs to the lake. After about 200 metres, take the left lane down to the shoreline. Ignore the track signed Scale Force. The route for all ends here.
Once in Burtness Wood, it gets more undulating and there are some rougher sections. Cross the footbridge and go through the gate into the wood. Our route hugs the shoreline and has fine fell views across the water.
After 1.5 km, the woodland boundary is reached and although the path has been recently repaired, the surface becomes rougher and more difficult for limited mobility users. The surface is uneven. Carry on to the junction with the Scarth Gap path, turn left through a gate and cross Peggie’s Bridge back to Gatesgarth Farm. This section is level, but rough in places and is narrow at the farm.
Map
