Buttermere is as close to heaven as most of us will ever see, and this circuit of the skyline surrounding the lake is a voyage filled with both variety and delight. There is sylvan loveliness on the climb alongside Sour Milk Ghyll, there are airy ridges, steep declivities tumbling into wild corries, and stunning views. Amidst all the natural beauty, the shattered desolation of Honister adds yet another dimension. And, talking of added dimensions, this horseshoe is unlike those of Fairfield and Kentmere in that you'll lose a lot of height halfway round. You'll have to summon the will to haul yourself back to summit level when you're already five Wainwrights deep. So ponder that total ascent statistic carefully: it is significantly more than a mile.
Detailed description
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Difficulty: SevereDistance: 14.23 miles (22.90 km)
Total ascent: 1,874m
Time: 9 hours (Walking)
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Summits
Red Pike (Buttermere) 755 mHigh Stile 806 m
High Crag 744 m
Seat 561 m
Haystacks 597 m
Green Crag 450 m
Fleetwith Pike 648 m
Black Star 634 m
Dale Head 753 m
Hindscarth 727 m
Robinson 737 m
High Snockrigg 503 m
Additional Information
Start Buttermere, NY175170; Finish , NY176170
Nearest town:
Keswick or Cockermouth
Terrain:
Lots of variety underfoot, from volunteer-made stony staircases, to rocky ridges, heather and turf. High Snockrigg is notoriously damp but you won't be so bothered about dry socks on the last descent.
Seasonal variations:
Most of these tops are over 700m, with High Stile nudging over 800m, so come prepared for proper winter conditions if there is snow about.
Weather and Hill Conditions: mwis: Lake District – Met Office: Lake District
Public transport:
During British Summer Time, Stagecoach 77 could get you to Buttermere from Keswick.
Guidebooks:
Wainwright books 6 (Northwestern) and 7 (Western Fells)
Maps:
OS Explorer OL4 (1:25,000), Harvey/BMC Lake District (1:40,000), OS Landranger 89 (1:50,000)
Directory Listings:
Find more Listings near this route
Tourist info:
Seatoller (017687 77294); Keswick (017687 72645); Cockermouth (01900 822 634)
Further Routes
by Norman Hadley
- Bannisdale Horseshoe 6 Apr
- Sallows and Sour Howes 20 Mar
- Kinder Downfall and the Reservoir Round 14 Feb
- Brock Crags and Angletarn Pikes 12 Dec, 2023
- The Kentmere Frog 27 Nov, 2023
- High Street North 15 Nov, 2023
- Sgùrr a' Chaorachain: a slice of Applecross 17 Sep, 2023
- Wolfhole Crag: A Journey to the Centre of the Earth 5 Sep, 2023
- Wansfell Pike 16 Aug, 2023
- Walla Crag, Bleaberry Fell and High Seat 4 Jul, 2023
Yer gunna need a serious choccy bar on the final quarter of that
Might be worth splashing out on two, PME