Introduction
Buttermere is situated in an isolated corner of the Lake District that is too far to reach for a day trip based in Manchester. It is however an ideal location for a weekend visit such as the and there are many worthy summits that would otherwise be unreachable for the day. The amount of erosion between the summits of Red Pike and High Crag is certainly a lot less than in other lakeland areas. This is testimony to this place being quieter.

High Crag seen from Haystacks

Grasmoor with Buttermere Lake in the foreground

The long ridge from High Pike to Hay Stacks is a classic group of mountains that display a series of craggy corries. The direct routes of ascent to this ridge are generally steep with the exception of Snatch Gap Pass. The ascent via Bleaberry tarn to Red Pike is probably the most popular with a well worn path right up to the final steepening where the path degrades into loose and crumbly steep ground. In the traverse to High Crag via High Stile, the highest summit overlooks long drops towards Buttermere and affords fine views out across Ennerdale to Pillar, Kirk Fell and Great Gable. Hay Stacks provides many rocky steps to ascend and is the rockiest summit of the ridge. Numerous tarns on the plateau beyond provide many opportunities for lazy stops and swimming. Hay Stacks also provides the steepest crags to admire.

Robinson and Hindscarth seen from Hay Stacks

Fleetwith Pike seen from the Haystacks descent to Buttermere

A good summit to climb is Fleetwith Pike. This has the imposing ridge of Fleetwith Edge and provides a sometimes airy route up. The route isn't a scramble just a rough walk where the drops either side higher up can give an airy feel to those who are scared of heights.

Dale Head is described in more detail in the Borrowdale section but a reasonable route to do would be the Honister pass to Dale Head route and then a walk along the ridge to Hindscarth and Robinson before dropping down to Buttermere.

Grasmoor is the highest summit in the area. The summit is typically flat and stony with long steep and relentless slopes dropping all the way down to Crummock Water. The normal way up goes by way of Whiteless Pike and Whiteless Edge - a distinct but broad spur that goes up to the plateau between Grasmoor and Crag Hill. Lad Hows is another route up that is steeper than Whiteless Pike. The other peaks here are described in the Braithwaite section.

The choice of low level walks is limited to walks around the lakes of Buttermere and Crummock Water. Burtness wood and Lanthwaite Wood are both National Trust property and are especially scenic.