Tranquil area of dramatic fells, farms and woodland, encompassing three lakes
As Spring breathes new life into Buttermere Valley, there's wildlife hidden wherever you look. Find out how we look after nesting birds in the valley.
All three lakes in Buttermere Valley, and much of their surroundings, are cared for by the National Trust. The fells offer exhilarating and challenging ridgeline walks, and the lakes offer easy lakeshore walking with beautiful views.
Please note the National Trust car park for Buttermere lake and village is just outside the hamlet, 300 yards towards Cockermouth. From there you can walk to two of the lakes – Crummock Water or Buttermere itself.
A diversion is in place for the round the lake path at Buttermere, until the footbridge is replaced in summer 2019 by the Lake District National Park authority.
To launch your own canoe or boat onto any of the lakes, simply purchase a boating permit from the car park machine. To keep the lakes peaceful, a maximum of 10 boats are allowed on the water at the same time, and no powered craft are permitted. Please help keep these beautiful lakes free from invasive species by checking, cleaning and drying your boats, paddles and wetsuits.
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:
If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you a clear choice between the Gift Aid Admission prices and the Standard Admission prices at the admission point. It's entirely up to you which ticket you choose.
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:
| 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 Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
