Start: After the bridge crossing Sail Beck on the B5289, Buttermere. Grid ref. NY 175 169
(S/E) Just after the bridge take the road on the right (between the Bridge hotel and Croft House Farm Café). Then pass the gate to take the footpath in the direction of Buttermere lake (leaving the Lake District National Car park on your right hand side). Continue on this path until reaching the shore of Buttermere lake (around 500m). Then take right (South-West), in the direction of the bridge crossing Buttermere Dubs river and Sourmilk Gill waterfall. Pass the gate on the left to enter Burtness Wood and arrive on the path following the shore of Butternere lake.
(1) Once on the large shore path, continue straight up to nearly the end of the lake (the lake should be on your left hand side) for around 2 Km.
(2) Before reaching the end of Buttermere lake and arriving at Peggy's bridge, take right on the path that goes up the summit. Follow Scarth Gap pass for around 2 Km, at the intersection of paths turn left to reach Hay Stacks summit. There is a bit of scrambling to reach the summit but nothing too hard.
(3) Continue straight from Hay Stacks summit on the main path, passing Innominate Tarn (on your right hand side) and then Blackbeck tarn (still on your right hand side). Continue straight until the path bends left.
(4) Take left in the direction of the Quarry and then directly right in the direction of Little Round How. Continue straight to cross the river and reach a bigger rocky path.
(5) Take left on that big path to go down the valley (keeping the river on your left hand side). Continue on this path until reaching Gatesgarth farm and the B5289 (Honister Pass) (Around 2.5 Km).
(6) Once on the main B5289 road, take left to go in the direction of Buttermere village. Continue on that main road for around 1 Km.
(7) Take left to leave the main road and take the path following the shore of the lake. Continue on this path until nearly the end of the lake (around 1.6 Km).
(8) At an intersection of paths, take right (North-West) in the direction of Buttermere village leaving the shore of the lake. Follow this path across the fields (following the arrows) until reaching Buttermere village and back where you parked. (S/E)
