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Buttermere – Innominate Tarn loop from Buttermere

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Buttermere – Innominate Tarn loop from Buttermere

Moderate

4.8

(60)

632

hikers

Buttermere – Innominate Tarn loop from Buttermere

04:40

13.7km

520m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: May 26, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Lake District National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

694 m

View of Fleetwith Pike from Buttermere

Highlight • Viewpoint

From the edge of Buttermere looking over to Fleetwith, Black Star, and Honister Quarry. Nice place to take a rest after coming down the stone steps from the Fells, be warned the bridge over the Gill is out of action (17.6 19) there is a half km diversion.

Tip by

1.31 km

Burtness Wood

Highlight • Forest

This peaceful woodland is a lovely part of the Buttermere circuit. With surreal light shining through the trees and the lake glistening in the background, it is a magical place to hike.

Tip by

1.92 km

Buttermere

Lake

2.41 km

Buttermere

Highlight • Viewpoint

Stunning views of Cromock Water

Tip by

3.74 km

Scarth Gap

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

Scarth Gap is a great, gradual ascent from Buttermere or Ennerdale. Turn left at the cairn that marks the top of the pass to ascend Haystacks or turn right to ascend Seat and on to High Crag

Tip by

4.82 km

Scarth Gap

Mountain Pass

5.92 km

Innominate Tarn

Highlight • Lake

Innominate Tarn on Haystacks is where Alfred Wainwrights ashes were scattered. These are his own words, taken from his Western Fells guidebook - "All I ask for, at the end, is a last long resting place by the side of Innominate Tarn, on Haystacks, where the water gently laps the gravelly shore and the heather blooms and Pillar and Gable keep unfailing watch. A quiet place, a lonely place. I shall go to it, for the last time, and be carried: someone who knew me in life will take me and empty me out of a little box and leave me there alone. And if you, dear reader, should get a bit of grit in your boot as you are crossing Haystacks in the years to come, please treat it with respect. It might be me."

Tip by

11.4 km

View of Haystacks and Buttermere

Highlight • Lake

Nice and easy walk and an epic view.

Tip by

11.9 km

Buttermere Tunnel

Highlight • Structure

This tunnel-like cave is on the footpath around Buttermere. It is about 50 feet (15 m) long. A torch is useful as there are deep puddles inside in the pitch-black cave.

Tip by

12.2 km

Beach

12.9 km

Buttermere Lake

Highlight • Trail

As one of the few lakes in the national park that you can walk all the way round, Buttermere is well worth a visit. At 4 miles (6 km), the easy-going circuit allows you to experience the awe-inspiring beauty of Buttermere, which lies at the foot of some spectacular fells, including Wainwright's favourite, Haystacks.

Tip by

13.7 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

6.70 km

3.77 km

2.46 km

736 m

Surfaces

8.35 km

1.77 km

1.43 km

1.26 km

833 m

< 100 m

Elevation

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

Highest point (570 m)

Lowest point (100 m)

Weather

Tuesday 18 August

16°C

10°C

88 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 17.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

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Buttermere – Innominate Tarn loop from Buttermere

View of Fleetwith Pike from Buttermere

Burtness Wood

Buttermere

Scarth Gap

Innominate Tarn

View of Haystacks and Buttermere

Buttermere Tunnel

Buttermere Lake

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