Walking and Climbing

Try the road down into Buttermere from Newlands road. Just before the road from Honister to Buttermere and eastwards the Newlands road tees into this road and there is a decent sized, free layby just before the last really steep bit. Also further up there is another little layby / carpark near where there is a waterfall to the left (if heading from Braithwaite side). This should also be free for parking. I know people who have left a car there for a few nights safely.

Alternatively there are the odd places to park on the road to Honister along the side of Buttermere but I'd avoud these for anything other than day walks. Further along up the Honister road there are more laybys which some camper vans use overnight. Also ask at Gategarth if you can leave a car there, they might make a special overnight charge to do so.

Also park nearer Keswick and get the bus in. If you park in Borrowdale (many spots to do so) and get the bus to Buttermere or even Honister Hause for that high level start point.

Hope this helps.

Glad to be of help. Enjoy your trip its a nice area and as you can guess I know it well.

If you have a bad first night due to weather (unlikely this weekend) there is a camping barn in Buttermere which costs the same as the campsite. It is to the left as you come out of Buttermere on the Bridge Hotel corner and up the hill a few hundred meters tops. On the left of that road, a little farm building with a courtyard behind it. Walk up the hill and you will see a leaflet box fixed to a gate. Its there where there are some steps up thee outside of the building to some doors (not the entrance but easily recognised by these stairs).

I used to always camp a the site (something like £6.50 per night) but after a tent started to leak badly during an absolutely terrible night's weather me and my mate de-camped to the camping barn and it saved our trip. 5 minuts from the pub too!!