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Scale Force Waterfall – Red Pike (Buttermere) loop from Brackenthwaite

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Hiking trails & Routes

Scale Force Waterfall – Red Pike (Buttermere) loop from Brackenthwaite

Hard

hikers

Scale Force Waterfall – Red Pike (Buttermere) loop from Brackenthwaite

06:15

18.1km

720m

Hiking

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: April 19, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Lake District National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

1.10 km

Beach

3.88 km

Low Ling Crag, Crummock Water

Highlight • Natural Monument

The Ling Crags - low and high - are awesome rock formations next to Crummock Water. Enjoy them from this little 'beach' by the water.

Tip by

5.52 km

Scale Force Waterfall

Highlight • Viewpoint

Parking at National Trust- Buttermere car park.
If you want to spend a penny you’ll need to spend 49 more and the turnstile in the loo doesn’t accept £1 coins

Tip by

7.93 km

So called due to the red coloured soil and stone, do be careful going down Red Pike as the paths have all but eroded and its mainly loose stones. If you park at Buttermere village and make Red Pike your first climb, then you can more or less keep going all day. High Stile, High Crag, Haystacks, Fleetwith Pike, Honister, and Dale Head are all on a circular route if you have the energy and time.

Tip by

8.67 km

Bleaberry Tarn

Highlight • Viewpoint

When describing the High Stile range, Alfred Wainwright described Bleaberry Tarn as lying 'in the central recess like a jewel'. It's situation at the base of the hanging valley of Bleaberry Comb is magnificent, with the impressive peaks of Red Pike and High Stile high above. It also offers great views towards Grasmoor and the other high peaks of the North Western Fells.

The tarn is easily reached from the village of Buttermere and is often visited on an ascent of Red Pike, the shapely high summit on the northwestern end of the High Stile range. A visit to the subsidiary summit of Dodd is well worth it too, even if it isn't a Wainwright.

Tip by

9.14 km

View of Buttermere Lake

Highlight • Viewpoint

Parts of this hike along side Sour Gill are steep, I recommend having a hiking pole for the journey back down. The views are great, the stone path up through the forest was magical. I didn’t see a sole on the hike, probably not a popular trail. I was trying for Red Pike but the scree slope near the top of it put me off. I made do with the Dodd instead, a worthy compromise. I left Buttermere village in the morning and was back for lunch. Lots of Sun and temperature changes, have layers with you and sun protection just in case :)

Tip by

10.3 km

Sourmilk Gill Waterfall

Highlight • Waterfall

Sourmilk Gill starts life atop of the Saddle. As you can see, by the time it reaches Buttermere lake, it is an impressive sight.

Tip by

11.8 km

Buttermere Village

Highlight • Viewpoint

Buttermere is an achingly beautiful village in the western Lake District. Situated between Crummock Water and Buttermere and sitting in the shadow of many superb fells, the permutations for walks are many and varied. It caters for hikers very well, with two pubs, a couple of cafes, a youth hostel, a campsite and holiday cottages.

Its beauty is such that, despite its remote location, it is immensely popular with families, walkers and hikers. The roads around the village are notoriously narrow and bendy and jams are common. Try to avoid peak times and public holidays to get the most out of the place.

Tip by

14.0 km

Lakeside Road by Crummock Water

Highlight • Cycleway

Stunning view if you can park in small layby just before/after bridge.

Tip by

16.5 km

High Wood

Forest

18.1 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

9.80 km

2.96 km

2.67 km

2.47 km

123 m

117 m

Surfaces

5.02 km

3.71 km

3.29 km

3.02 km

2.99 km

106 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (720 m)

Lowest point (100 m)

Weather

Friday 10 July

27°C

16°C

49 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 12.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

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Scale Force Waterfall – Red Pike (Buttermere) loop from Brackenthwaite

Low Ling Crag, Crummock Water

Scale Force Waterfall

Red Pike (Buttermere)

Bleaberry Tarn

View of Buttermere Lake

Sourmilk Gill Waterfall

Buttermere Village

Lakeside Road by Crummock Water

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