Campsites in Buttermere, Cumbria

37 bookable campsites within 15 miles of Buttermere Sorted by distance

Why visit Buttermere?

A top Lakeland location

Deep in the Cumbrian countryside, the Buttermere Valley is home to some of the most spectacular views in the Lake District. You have two lakes to explore here: Buttermere, one of the Lake District’s smaller bodies of water, which has unparalleled scenery and can be walked around in just a few hours, and Crummock Water on the other side of the village, a larger lake fed by several streams.

One of the watercourses flowing into Crummock Water is Scale Force, the tallest waterfall in the Lakes, which can be accessed in around 40 minutes from the village centre on foot via a traffic-free path. 

The hamlet of Buttermere is equally scenic, with amenities including two pubs and a tea rooms where you can sample home-made Cumbrian ice cream. While it feels remote, the village is within easy reach of larger Lake District towns like Keswick and Cockermouth (both 25 minutes’ drive) if you need to stock up on food or camping supplies

Spectacular summits

The Buttermere area is also surrounded by some of the prettiest peaks in Cumbria, so there’s plenty of scope for mountaineering and fell walking in this part of the world. Adventurous explorers might like to take on the Buttermere Round, a circular hike that takes in peaks like Red Pike, High Stile and High Crag. 

Looking for spectacular views without a strenuous 2,000-foot ascent? The Buttermere Valley is also home to smaller summits like Haystacks, where a few steep sections and scrambles are outnumbered by steady stretches along a relatively straightforward route. 

New to hill walking? Read the Lake District National Park’s page on how to stay safe when adventuring

National Trust land

The common land around Buttermere is all managed by the National Trust to make sure that this special area is preserved for future generations. The Trust also maintains a long list of waymarked trails and bike paths around the Buttermere and Ennerdale Estate, making this area very easy to access. 

A lot of careful conservation goes into making sure that Buttermere remains a diverse wildlife haven. The waters here are similar in temperature and purity to the Northern Ocean, making them the only place in England where you’ll find the Arctic charr, an ancient fish left over from the Ice Age. Thanks to habitat preservation and a wide range of fishy food, otters have also been on the rise here in recent years.

The best things to do in and around Buttermere

In the village  

  • Snap a few fab landscapes around the Lone Tree, a windswept-looking spot on the edge of Buttermere Lake. 

  • Stop for a picnic at Crummock South Beach and take in the views over the fells.

  • Launch your boat on either one of the lakes (just make sure to arrange a day permit online first) and soak up the peace and quiet of being out on the water. 

The best attractions within an hour’s drive of Buttermere

  • Discover ancient ruins and rituals at Castlerigg Stone Circle, just outside Keswick (30 minutes).

  • Wander through one of the Romantic poets’ most important haunts at Wordsworth House and Garden in Cockermouth (25 minutes). 

  • Meander around the old harbour and dine on fresh seafood in Whitehaven on the Cumbrian coast (45 minutes).

  • Visit National Trust properties like Wray Castle on the shores of Lake Windermere, the biggest body of water in England.

Delve deeper

History and heady heights at Honister 

The remote rural area around Honister (10 minutes’ drive from Buttermere) is a magnet for thrill-seekers. Just getting up here via the Honister Pass, a twisty road that snakes through the hills, can be an exhilarating experience in itself.

When you arrive, you can visit the brilliant Honister Slate Mine, where underground guided tours provide an excellent insight into the area’s industrial heritage.

Although the mine is still used to mine slate to this day (making it the last in operation in England), it’s also become a playground for climbers, who can take on two Via Ferrata courses along an old miners’ track. Visitors can choose between a family-friendly option (Via Ferrata Classic) and a more advanced challenge (Via Ferrata Xtreme), neither or which require any previous experience. 

Wainwright’s Buttermere

Alfred Wainwright, a local author who was probably one of the most experienced hill walkers in history, took a particular shine to the area around Buttermere – to such an extent, in fact, that nearby Haystacks became his favourite peak. 

Although his ashes were scattered at the top of the fell after he died in 1991, hiking fans using his guidebooks can visit a memorial to Wainwright in Buttermere’s village church. 

The Maid of Buttermere

In the final years of the 1700s and at the start of the 19th century, Buttermere was home to a girl so beautiful that a passing author listed her as a local tourist attraction. Mary Robinson was later exalted by local poet Williams Wordsworth and soon became known throughout the country.

Looking for some reading material while away from home? For something with a local connection, try The Maid of Buttermere, a novel inspired by the girl and her village by Cumbrian-born author and broadcaster Melvyn Bragg. 

Here’s how

Ready to pack your bags and head to Buttermere? Once you have an idea of what you’re looking for from a campsite, have a play with our tick-box filters to find a spot that’s right for you. And when we say ‘camping’, that doesn’t only mean pitching up in a tent – we have lodges, motorhome pitches, rental tents and static caravan parks to choose from too. 

Some of our most popular searches for Buttermere campsites include: 

No availability? Try expanding your search to take in all of Cumbria and the Lake District, or for similarly rural vibes check out the Forest of Bowland in Lancashire or Northumberland National Park

 

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