Buttermere Lakeshore Walk
The classic 4.5-mile circuit of Buttermere, combining easy lakeside scenery, woodland, mountain views and the famous rock tunnel near Hassness.
About Buttermere Lakeshore Walk
The Buttermere lakeshore walk is one of the Lake District's best-known low-level circuits. The National Trust gives the full route as around 4.5 miles (7 km) and recommends allowing about three hours so there is time to enjoy the views.
The route is relatively level by Lake District standards but it is not uniformly accessible. Expect uneven and rocky ground, a very short road section and a small rock step where hands may be needed. The eastern side includes the distinctive nineteenth-century tunnel cut through the rock.
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Families are advised by the National Trust to consider walking anticlockwise, starting through the more sheltered woodland. A permissive path section on the north edge of the lake is normally closed from the beginning of April to the end of June to protect nesting sandpipers; follow the signed alternative route during the closure.
The Lake District National Park also publishes a Miles Without Stiles route from the village for visitors looking for a shorter and more accessible taste of the lakeshore.
Use the official Buttermere car parks and avoid roadside or verge parking. The valley is prone to severe congestion at peak times.
Our local note
One of the best effort-to-scenery walks in the Lakes: a manageable half-day circuit with huge views, woodland and a memorable rock tunnel.
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