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Buttermere, North Lakes



Buttermere is a iconic Lake District area, but getting there on the narrow roads and parking can be challenging. The solution I believe is to park and ride into the area. Starting from the National Trust car park in Loweswater take the bridleway straight from the car park and go up through the woods. This brings you out on the main lane to Buttermere.





Once you get past Rannerdale Farm I would recommend staying on the road, this is narrow and you really need your wits about you as you go around the narrow bend, but it is I think better than going over the bridleway over Low Bank. We took this bridleway and now I have done it I am not sure if I would do it again, the view from the top is amazing, but to get there you need to get up some stone pitching and you need a horse that will wait and listen to you from the ground as this is very much a leading route and I would not recommend coming down it. When I have the time I will be going back on foot to investigate if we took the correct line of the bridleway as in hindsight I am not sure if we were on the correct route, but that is the trouble when there is lots of bracken and your horse is keen to get going!

The views from the top of Low Bank bridleway are amazing and it is very much is an adventure getting to the top of this very steep hummock!

At the top of the 'Hummock'








Once in Buttermere, I can recommend the café at Sykes Farm, who make their own ice cream with two Jersey cows! Here again we were told we don’t see many horses and were really pleased to see us. Once you leave the café follow the road past the Youth Hostel and down to Gatesgarth Farm. Here pick up the bridleway around Buttermere shore and then retrace your hoofs back to Loweswater.






Things to Note


Ride length - 12 Miles

This ride takes in bridleways and the main lane to Buttermere.

Parking –If your not able to ride into the area you can park at the National Trust car park at Scalehill Bridge, Loweswater (£8 per day). This is a very busy car park so if at the weekend you need to get there early. The other place you could park is on the common on the road to Buttermere. Could also just ride around Buttermere Water parking in the village or Gatesgarth. Parking may be available within the yard of Gategarth Farm, by phoning the farm in advance.
Many of the tracks are stoney so if your horse is barefoot you may like to use hoof boots. There are gates and you may need to get off to do some of them. I would recommend taking a long lead rope so you can give yourself extra space to manoeuvre through some of these gates or if your doing leading on steep ground. Please note my comments about the bridleway that cuts off the road corner south of Rannerdale Farm at Low Bank. The road to Buttermere can get busy so you need to be looking over your shoulder all the time for traffic and hi vis is a must.

A GPX file of this ride can be downloaded from Ride Cumbria Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/367414084781168





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