Discover more at Buttermere Valley
Find out how to get to Buttermere Valley, where to park, the things to see and do and more.
Boating and fishing in the Buttermere Valley
Find out all the information you’ll need before your boating or fishing trip to the Buttermere valley, including information about where you can go boating, how to get fishing permits and where to fish for that elusive catch. Boating permits are currently suspended on Buttermere and Crummock water following advice from Natural England and are under review due to the protected status of the lakes and surrounding habitats.
Fishing
If you're planning on fishing in the waters of Buttermere Valley, you’ll need a permit before you head off. You can buy fishing permits for Buttermere, Crummock Water and Loweswater from the National Trust.
All anglers need to hold an Environment Agency Rod Licence which you can get from any Post Office or at gov.uk/fishing-licences.
The use of lead weights for fishing is banned on all National Trust waters. Live baiting, ground baiting and maggots are also not permitted.
Day Permits
Day permits are available to buy from the machines in the National Trust car parks in Buttermere (sat nav CA13 9UZ) and Crummock Water (CA13 0RT). Please note these machines only take coins.
If you don't often carry cash with you, you also have the option of purchasing your permit through the JustPark app. To do this, you must first download the app to your phone and enter the code 80531 for boating permits or the code 77710 for fishing permits when prompted. You can find more information and download the app here: JustPark
We recommend downloading the app and purchasing your permit before you head out in case connection is poor on location.
Annual Permits
You can purchase annual and pro-rata permits online by following this link. If you need any further information, you can email the North and West Lakes office at northandwestlakes@nationaltrust.org.uk.
Permit Prices
- £10 per day, payable at the car park machine or through the pay-by-phone app as described above.
- £100 per year for annual fishing permits (January to December or pro rata for rest of year)
Fishing Limits
Trout, char, pike, and perch can all be found in Buttermere with a bag limit of 15 char.
There are opportunities for trout, char, pike and perch fishing in Crummock Water with a bag limit of 15 char.
You can fish for brown trout on Loweswater with a bag limit of 3. There is also other coarse fishing with pike and perch in Loweswater.
Access to Loweswater
To help protect Loweswater and reduce incidents of antisocial behaviour, access to the lake from the car park via Holme Wood is restricted.
Visitors with a fishing permit or access needs can request the gate code by emailing northandwestlakes@nationaltrust.org.uk.
To help us keep this access available to those who need it, please do not share the code and make sure the gate is closed after use. If the code is shared or the gate is left open, access may be revoked for all users.
Boating
Historically, the National Trust has issued permits for boating on Buttermere and Crummock Water. However, permits are currently suspended following advice from Natural England and are under review due to the protected status of the lakes and surrounding habitats, including their designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
Until further guidance is received from Natural England, permits will not be issued for boating on Buttermere or Crummock Water. This approach helps to protect the area's sensitive habitats, wildlife, water quality and landscape, while balancing conservation and public access.
Boating on Loweswater
Boating on Loweswater is not encouraged. The lake is a small, tranquil waterbody with no formal launching facilities and is not suitable for regular recreational boating.
Motorised craft are not permitted under any circumstances.
We recognise that some visitors may still choose to launch small, non-motorised craft, such as canoes or paddleboards. If you do, please keep your activity low-key, minimise disturbance to wildlife and other visitors, and avoid busy periods where possible.
No public access for any vehicle is allowed past Maggies Bridge car park.
Before entering and after leaving the water, please always follow the Clean, Check, Dry guidance to help prevent the spread of invasive non-native species.
By respecting the quiet nature of Loweswater and using the lake responsibly, you can help protect this special place for both wildlife and other visitors.'
Clean, Check, Dry: help stop the spread of invasive non-native species
New Zealand pigmyweed is an invasive non-native plant that can spread easily between waterways. In some lakes, including Derwent Water, it has formed dense mats of vegetation that outcompete native plants and affect important freshwater habitats.
There is a risk that it could spread to Buttermere, Crummock Water and Loweswater, particularly as activities such as wild swimming and paddleboarding become more popular.
Whenever you swim, paddle, paddleboard, sail, or fish, please help care for these special places by following the 'Check, Clean, Dry' guidance. Taking a few simple steps before moving between lakes and other waterways can help prevent the spread of invasive non-native species.
Check, clean and dry your boat, paddleboard, canoe, wetsuit, swimming costume and any other equipment that comes into contact with the water. If your dog has been swimming, please rinse and dry them too.
For more information, visit West Cumbria Rivers Trust's Don't Pack a Pest.
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Things to do in Buttermere Valley
Explore the Lake District's Buttermere Valley and discover walks through rugged landscapes, panoramic views, thundering waterfalls and other forces of nature.
Wildlife in the Buttermere Valley
Discover the wildlife you can spot in the Buttermere Valley. Learn how otters have returned and how rangers care for swathes of bluebells to protect them for future generations.
Our work in the Buttermere Valley
From conservation projects and protecting archaeological features to improving the experience of visitors or laying hedgerows, our work at this special place is rich and varied.
Annual boating and fishing permits
If you like to get out on the water often, purchasing an annual boating or fishing permit is the way to go! These are priced at £65 per year for a boating permit or £100 for a fishing permit (January to December or pro rata for rest of year) Click here to get set up online.
