Our latest walking route is a viewpoint extravaganza from Butteremere in the Lakes. A great walk including no fewer than six Wainwrights and an option to knock off a further two if you're feeeling frisky.
Walking Route: Buttermere Circuit, Lake District
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Buttermere > Robinson >
Honister Hause > Achintree
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Distance: 12 miles (19.3
km)
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Height Gain: 5782ft
(1763m)
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Overview: A full circuit of
Buttermere, taking in six Wainwrights. The views from this
route are amongst the best in the Lake
District.
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Maps: Ordnance Survey: Expl OL4, LR
89/90
Online: Streetmap
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Strenuousness: 4
Technicality: 3
Photo Grade: 4
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Start Point: NY
176 170
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A full circuit of Buttermere, taking in six Wainwrights, with two
optional extra ones if you're feeling strong enough. The views from
this route are amongst the best in the Lake District, with all the
main Lakeland ranges visible.
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Buttermere,quintessentially
Lakeland by Ben Willmot from his
OM
album
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Section 1 - Buttermere to Robinson
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Distance: 1.7 miles (2.75km)
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Height Gain: 2098ft (639m)
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From Buttermere take the Newlands Road a few yards to the path
on your right. If you start early enough there's a small parking
place by the side of the road where the old sled road for bringing
peat down from Buttermere Moss starts.
The path is unrelenting as it climbs 1200 ft in the first 3/4 of a
mile towards the summit of High Snockrigg. As you approach the
cairn the ground ahead first levels out then becomes a large
depression, Buttermere
Moss. The next 1/2 mile is across the Moss, where as
Wainwright says "water cannot escape except by being carried away in
the boots of pedestrians".
As you approach 1700 feet the boggy ground finally gives way to a
well marked path as the angle increases once more. 700 feet of ascent
lie ahead to the summit of Robinson,
which was invisible on the early section of the route. The summit
itself is on the western of the two parallel outcrops, and is marked
by the main cairn.
Section 2 - Section 2 Robinson to Honister
Hause
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Distance: 3 miles (4.75km)
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Height Gain: 692ft (211m)
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From the summit cairn of Robinson turn right to head south for 350
yards to join the Dalegarth to Dale head path. Turn left at the
junction here, and follow the ridge ahead over Robinson Crag and onto
Littledale Edge.
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Robinson's flat summit
expanse by David P from his
OM
album
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A mile of easy ridge walking brings you to the turning for
Hindscarth, which provides an optional detour. From this junction
continue ahead on the well marked track and complete the 250ft climb
up to the top of
Dale
Head.
From here the path heads South on an easy descent to Honister
Hause. The 1300ft of descent takes you alongside the disused
Yewcrag Quarries, and care should be taken, particularly in bad
weather, to avoid going too far left.
Section 3 - Honister Hause to Hay
Stacks
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Distance: 4.4 miles
(3.8km)
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Height Gain: 1196ft
(365m)
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Honister Hause provides an ideal break point before heading
onto the steep climb up towards Haystacks. Start off up the
old tramway, which you can either follow through to Drum House and
Dubs Quarry or take the optional diversion off to the right up the
steep climb to Fleetwith
Pike.
Taking in Fleetwith Pike requires retracing your steps back as far
as Bell Crags then taking the obvious well-trodden track below Hopper
Quarry to rejoin the main route.
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Haystacks and Scarth Gap
by Martin Pounds from his
OM
album
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From Dubs Quarry the path rises again to traverse the back of Green
Crag before arriving at the picturesque Blackbeck and Innominate
Tarns. A final 200ft rise brings you to the summit ridge of
Haystacks.
Section 4 - Hay Stacks to
Buttermere
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Distance: 5 miles (8km)
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Height Gain: 1796ft
(548m)
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The final part of the walk starts with the descent to
Scarth Gap, where if you're tired or short of time, you can
turn off right onto Scarth Gap Pass for a quick descent to the
southern end of Buttermere.
A better option is the continuation of the ridge path north west,
despite the scree between Scarth Gap and Seat. From Seat the
angle of ascent increases dramatically for the 600ft climb to High
Crag where you join the high level ridge.
From High
Crag to High
Stile the path is unmistakable, with Combe Crag and Eagle
Crag to your right. From High Stile the path drops initially, passing
a standing stone, before climbing again along the line of posts as
you pass Chapel Crags on your right and make the final push to the
summit of Red
Pike.
From Red Pike turn North East to descend The Saddle to a
T-junction. Left here gives you a descent via Far Ruddy beck on a
meandering but well-trodden route back to Buttermere.
Right takes you first to Bleaberry Tarn then a descent down
Sourmilk Gill. Both routes make an ideal end to a superb day's
walking, but of the two the descent via Far Ruddy Beck is the obvious
choice in bad conditions - or on a Bank Holiday weekend when the
Bleaberry tarn route is often over-run with people.
