A range of mountains reflected whole in a lake lying completely still

Buttermere and Lorton

A hamlet between two lakes at the foot of the Newlands Pass, and a village split in two since 1158 — with the quietest valley in the district between them.

Buttermere

A lovely, peaceful village at the foot of the Newlands Pass, between the lakes of Buttermere and Crummock Water. It is very quiet: a few farms, a chapel and two pubs. The name may mean “the lake where butter is made”, from the dairy farming here.

It can be reached from Keswick by car along the A66 and down the Lorton valley, or over the Whinlatter Pass from Braithwaite. The shortest way is the Newlands Pass — a narrow road, and a breathtaking one.

The small stone church with its bellcote standing on a rocky knoll above the valley road
Green fields and farms of the Lorton valley with the high fells rising beyond

Lorton

Four miles from Cockermouth and eight from Keswick, Lorton is split in two. High Lorton has the village shop and the church; Low Lorton has the pub. They were separated in 1158, when High Lorton was given to the priory church of Carlisle — and the dividing line, Church Lane, is still there.

The village lies midway down the Lorton valley at the foot of the Whinlatter Pass, which climbs over to Braithwaite through Whinlatter Forest — England’s only true mountain forest, with a good choice of walking and mountain biking trails.

Lorton Vale is one of Lakeland’s most peaceful valleys and has no shortage to do: five lakes within six miles, and with them sailing, canoeing, fishing and lakeside walking. It is an excellent base for Crummock Water, Buttermere and Loweswater.

A shingle beach curving into the lake below steep bracken-covered fells

Walking here

High-level walking is everywhere: Red Pike, High Stile, Fleetwith Pike, Rannerdale Knotts and Haystacks. Walks from the Honister Pass take in the summit of Great Gable, and Melbreak, Grasmoor and Whiteside are all close. The Red Pike to High Stile ridge is there for anyone wanting something harder.

There are footpaths right round both Buttermere and Crummock Water, and to Scale Force — the highest waterfall in the Lake District. The circuit of Buttermere takes two to three hours through some of the finest scenery in the district; here is that walk, with the option of extending it to the falls.

For something level, the river Cocker runs the length of the valley with picturesque walking beside it, and the old Mosser Road over the fell to Loweswater is a good low-level crossing.

Getting here

Lorton and Buttermere are on the Honister Rambler, the 77 and 77A — but only in season, from Easter to October. It runs both clockwise and anticlockwise, taking in Portinscale, Catbells, Grange, Seatoller, Honister Slate Mine, the Honister Pass, Buttermere, Lorton, the Whinlatter Pass and Whinlatter Forest. Bus times and routes are on the getting here page.

Other villages nearby