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The Buttermere Valley is a classic Lakelands postcard: the blue ribbon lakes of Buttermere, Crummock Water and Loweswater knotted together at the impossibly charming villages of Buttermere and Loweswater – like ‘a string of pearls each connected to the next.’ Between the pearls the flat green fields radiate outward and are enveloped by the encircling buttresses of Red Pike, High Stile, Fleetwith Pike, Robinson, Whiteless Pike, Grasmoor and Melbreak. It’s almost impossible not to get poetic about it.
Tiny Buttermere village – from the ‘lake by two pastures’ is made up of a few farms, some isolated houses, a chapel and, critically, two inns. Loweswater is similar, a scattering of farms and houses form a community held together by the twin magnets of its church and next-door hostelry. These traditional villages owe their continued existence to the National Trust, which owns much of the land and applies strict preservation orders to it. The only way into the valley by car is from the north via Cockermouth or through the snaking passes over Honister and Newlands Hause.
The classic u-shaped valley and ribbon lakes were carved by huge glaciers during the Ice Age. It’s though Buttermere and Crummock Water were once a single lake, but fluvial deposits from
from Sour Milk Gill and Sail Beck silted up the central section and created the rich grazing pastures that first attracted human settlement into the area.
Ancient remains can be found at Lanthwaite Green and at the northern end of Melbreak. A pele tower once looked out over Crummock Water (its earthworks still visible on the ground), while the small medieval hamlet and chapel at Rannerdale has all but disappeared. This hidden valley was a bulwark of resistance against the invading Normans in the 11th century, but is now better known for its spectacular display of bluebells in the spring.
Historically, it was cows rather than sheep that dominated the pasturelands. Gatesgarth Farm, at the foot of Fleetwith Pike, was once a medieval ‘vaccary' or dairy farm. Nowadays, it is one of the largest sheep farms in the area, raising flocks of Herdwicks and Swaledales on the vast acres of common land. Barley, oats and corn were also grown in the valley, with a corn mill (now the Bridge Hotel, Buttermere) crushing the grain to make flour.
The discovery of bands of attractive green slate at Honister opened up a new source of income for the locals. And while there was some opencast mining, much of it was done from within the mountain – Fleetwith Pike is still honeycombed with old workings accessed at different levels and linked by vertical shafts. The Honister mine closed in 1986 but reopened in 1997. It has since become an award-winning tourist attraction, with guided tours into subterranean workings and an exhilarating Via Ferrata course following the old miners’ vertiginous route to work.
Loweswater
Loweswater is a small hamlet situated between Loweswater and Crummock waters. It is home to The Kirkstile Inn which has been providing food and shelter for some 400 hundred years, and now has it's very own brewery.
Ennerdale
The Ennerdale Valley offers incredible walking opportunities and is home to the elequant Ennerdale Water. It offers you amazing opportunities for walking and cycling to explore this surrounding area.
Did you know?
the western lakes has a rich history, brilliantly told
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Buttermere is ringed by the crags and peaks of Haystacks, Feetwith Pike and others. The 4 mile walk around the lake boasts impressive views.
Borrowdale, KESWICK
Have you ever walked on thin air? Get your heart racing while experiencing breathtaking scenery with our Infinity Bridge… so named because you are often unable to see the other end! Strung across a breathtaking gorge high up on the mountain, 2,000…
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1760 reviewsBorrowdale, Keswick
You’ve never experienced anything like this…
Take on the UK’s original classic Via Ferrata against the backdrop of the stunning Lake District mountains.
Climb up the massive Cargo net to one of the finest views of Lake District. Buttermere, Crummock…
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1760 reviewsPay & Display car park with 50 spaces.
The Buttermere National Trust car park lies a few hundred metres to the north of the village of Buttermere, which itself nestles between the two lakes of Buttermere (to the south) and Crummock (to the north).
KESWICK
Pay & Display Car park with 35 spaces. Public toilets adjacent to the car park.
KESWICK
Pay & Display car park with 40 spaces.
At 350m altitude, this is a good place to gain height before heading for the summits or to start a downhill walk and catch the bus back up.
The car park is off the B5289 at the summit of Honister Pass between…
Pay & Display car park with 32 spaces.
Public toilets adjacent to the car park.
COCKERMOUTH
Pay & Display car park with 30 spaces.
A half-mile level walk from Lanthwaite Wood car park is one of the most jaw-dropping beach-side views in the Lakes. The woodland (a haven for red squirrels) suddenly opens up with a view right down Crummock…
Cockermouth
This is a popular route (1.25km each way) for walkers leading to the shore of Crummock Water. The views over the lake to Mellbreak and surrounding fells are breathtaking.
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