Buttermere Valley
Tranquil area of dramatic fells, farms and woodland, encompassing three lakes
Go wild this summer
Download a ‘50 Things’ wildtime trail map and put some adventure into your family walk this summer.
Buttermere Valley
Facilities and access
Buttermere Valley
Overview
Tranquil area of dramatic fells, farms and woodland, encompassing three lakes
Buttermere in Old English means 'the lake by the dairy pastures'. Large numbers of Vikings settled in Cumbria during the 9th and 10th centuries and many names in the area are of Norse origin.
One of the most famous residents is Mary Robinson (1778-1837). Known as the Maid of Buttermere and the subject of Melvyn Bragg's novel, she was the daughter of the landlord of the Fish Inn in Buttermere village.
The wider Buttermere valley covers Crummock Water and Loweswater village and lake. The location is ideal for relaxing holidays and exploring.
The walking can be tough if you head for the high fells, but much more gentle by the lake shores. It's nice to have the choice.
- Telephone
- +441768774649
- buttermere@nationaltrust.org.uk
Buttermere Valley
How to get here
- Address
- Buttermere, near Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 9UZ
- By cycle
- NCN71 (C2C) skirts Loweswater
- Cycle route information
- On foot
- rights of way link to the Coast to Coast long distance path
- By train
- Workington station (20 miles to the west) or Penrith station (28 miles to the east)
- By road
- For Buttermere and Crummock Water, take B5289 from Keswick or B5292 from Cockermouth, forking right onto the B5289 at Lorton. For Loweswater, turn off B5289 onto minor road at Brackenthwaite past Scale Hill
- Parking: at Honister Pass (CA12 5XJ), Buttermere village (CA13 9UZ), Rannerdale (CA13 9UZ), Cinderdale (CA13 9UY), Lanthwaite Green (CA13 9UY), Lanthwaite Wood (CA13 0RT) near Crummock Water and Maggies Bridge (CA13 0RU) at Loweswater
- SatNav:
- By bus
- Honister Rambler service 77 from Keswick to Buttermere (April to October)
Buttermere Valley
Prices
Admission free
What is Gift Aid?
Most of our places run the Gift Aid on Entry scheme at their admission points. Under this scheme, if you're not a member you have the choice of two entry tickets:
- Gift Aid Admission or
- Standard admission
If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you the Gift Aid Admission prices. But it's entirely up to you which ticket you choose. If you want the Standard Admission instead, just let us know when you come to pay.
Gift Aid Admission includes a 10 per cent or more voluntary donation. Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid* — an extra 25 per cent — potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
An extra £1 paid under the scheme can be worth over £3 to the National Trust as shown below: Payment of the additional percentage donation is entirely voluntary, so if you prefer to pay the standard admission please advise our reception staff at the till point.
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount paid by visitor | £11.00 | £10.00 |
| Tax refund from Government* | £2.75 | £0.00 |
| Total received by the National Trust | £13.75 | £10.00 |
*Gift Aid donations must be supported by a valid Gift Aid declaration and a Gift Aid declaration can only cover donations made by an individual for him/herself or for him/herself and members of his/her family.
Buttermere Valley