Discover 32 outstanding Lake District summits rising above the tranquil waters and dramatic valleys of Buttermere, Crummock Water, Loweswater, Lorton, and Newlands. This region is celebrated for its magnificent scenery, classic fellwalking, and timeless Lakeland character, from the iconic ridges of High Stile, Grasmoor, and Grisedale Pike to the peaceful slopes of Mellbreak and Rannerdale Knotts. With memorable heights like Haystacks and Causey Pike included, you’ll find a full spectrum of adventures, whether you’re looking for a gentle valley walk or an exhilarating high-level traverse.

Perfect for summit-baggers, seasoned hillwalkers, and those new to the fells, this trusted Cicerone guidebook offers complete fell-by-fell coverage of all 32 Buttermere summits. Every ascent, descent, and ridge route is described in detail, so you can create your own outings, link summits, or plan ambitious ridge traverses tailored to your ambitions.

• Full coverage of 32 Buttermere fells, with every possible route up and down, including ridge link-ups for longer days and greater variety.
• HARVEY mapping, hand-drawn topos, and panoramas for each summit make route-finding simple and the views even more rewarding.
• Practical advice on valley access, public transport, parking, accommodation, and services in Buttermere, Crummock, Loweswater, Lorton, and Newlands.
• Fell-friendly route options to help minimise your environmental impact as you explore.
• Tick lists so you can log every summit, with this volume forming part of a definitive eight-book series covering all 230 Lake District fells.

Written by lifelong fellwalker Mark Richards, inspired by the legendary Alfred Wainwright, this guide combines expert knowledge with a passion for the northwestern Lake District. With step-by-step route descriptions, the latest mapping, and unique insights, you’ll have everything you need to make every ascent memorable and every Buttermere visit special.

Buttermere is just one adventure: the Walking the Lake District Fells series unlocks a lifetime of Lakeland exploration, guiding you from first fell to final summit across eight comprehensive volumes.

Walking the Lake District Fells – Buttermere – Quick Facts

Series: Walking the Lake District Fells
Area: Buttermere, Crummock Water, Loweswater, Lorton, Newlands, Lake District, Cumbria, England
Designation: Lake District National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Summits covered: 32 fells
Valley bases: Buttermere, Crummock, Loweswater, Lorton, Newlands
Highlighted summits: High Stile, Grasmoor, Grisedale Pike, Haystacks, Mellbreak, Rannerdale Knotts, Causey Pike
Highest summit: Grasmoor (852m)
Route format: Fell-by-fell description, with multiple ascent, descent and ridge route options per summit
Navigation: Step-by-step route descriptions with HARVEY mapping and hand-drawn topos
Difficulty: Straightforward to challenging; navigational skills required; some routes require stamina and careful planning for higher-level traverses
Best season: Year-round, though winter walking on higher fells requires experience and appropriate equipment

Author Top Tip

“A perennial favourite with valley-bound tourists and mountaineers alike, the Buttermere valley somehow manages to combine soaring grandeur with serene sylvan beauty at the dale-floor level. The fells included here include all those that make up the skyline of the Crummock Water and Buttermere valley, along with the Loweswater fells and much of the fine fell territory approached from the Newlands and Coledale valleys. Everyone who loves mountains will relish climbing any number of these rugged heights, from Fleetwith Pike, Haystacks, High Stile, Hindscarth and Robinson to that dominant cluster of ridges packed about Grasmoor. This is fellwalking of the highest order.”

- Mark Richards, author of Walking the Lake District Fells - Buttermere and the complete Fellranger series

CONTENTS

Map key
Volumes in the series
Author preface
Starting points
INTRODUCTION
Valley bases
Fix the Fells
Using this guide
Safety and access
Additional online resources
FELLS
1 Ard Crags
2 Barrow
3 Blake Fell
4 Causey Pike
5 Crag Hill
6 Dale Head
7 Fellbarrow
8 Fleetwith Pike
9 Gavel Fell
10 Grasmoor
11 Great Borne
12 Grisedale Pike
13 Haystacks
14 Hen Comb
15 High Crag
16 High Stile
17 Hindscarth
18 Hopegill Head
19 Knock Murton
20 Knott Rigg
21 Low Fell
22 Mellbreak
23 Outerside
24 Rannerdale Knotts
25 Red Pike
26 Robinson
27 Sail
28 Scar Crags
29 Starling Dodd
30 Wandope
31 Whiteless Pike
32 Whiteside
RIDGE ROUTES
1 The Newlands Round
2 The Buttermere Round
3 The Grasmoor Fell-gather
4 The Coledale Horseshoe
 
More to explore
 
Appendix A Useful contacts
Appendix B A fellranger’s glossary
Appendix C Alphabetical list of fells in the Fellranger series

Seasons

Year-round walking. Winter walks, even on the lower fells, are not for the inexperienced or under-equipped.

Centres

Buttermere, Loweswater, Lorton, Lamplugh, Ennerdale, Black Sail Hut, Braithwaite, Keswick, Little Town (Newlands), Seatoller (Borrowdale)

Difficulty

Straightforward ascents on sometimes clear, sometimes faint paths, and occasionally pathless terrain, to be used as a basis for readers' own walks. Navigational skills are needed but no specialist equipment. Any scrambling is easy and non-scrambling alternatives are always provided.

Must See

A fresh perspective on classic summits in the Lakes including High Stile, Red Pike, Grasmoor, Grisedale Pike, Hopegill Head, Sail, Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks, and an inspiring introduction to lesser-known Lakeland fells such as Blake Fell and Knock Murton; superlative ridge walking including the iconic Coledale Horseshoe

We do not yet have any updates available for this book

We are always grateful to readers for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground. If you would like to send some information to us then please use our contact form. They will be published here following review by the author(s).

Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.