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Voykit pocket guide · United Kingdom
Buttermere
Spend 1–2 days in Buttermere for lakeside walks and waterfalls; stay overnight in the village or nearby hostel.
Buttermere is a tiny lakeside village in the Lake District, sandwiched between Buttermere and Crummock Water and framed by Grasmoor and High Stile. The area is ideal for short hikes to Moss Force, Scale Force and surrounding fells. With a free bus to Cockermouth and easy road access, a single night lets you sample the scenery without a long drive.
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Feb (short daylight, possible snow)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- GBP
- Money
- Currency is the pound sterling (GBP, £). Cards and contactless work almost everywhere; some places are card-only.
- Daily spend
- Budget £45–£70 excl. bed · Mid £70–£120 excl. bed · High £120+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- EE, Vodafone (merged with Three in 2025) and O2 run the networks; prepaid SIMs sell in supermarkets, phone shops and airport vending machines, no registration needed.
- Emergency
- Police 999 · Ambulance / Fire 999 · Non‑emergency NHS 111
- Plugs
- Types G · 230 V · 50 Hz · Three-pin Type G only; European, US and Australian plugs need an adapter. Bathrooms have two-pin shaver sockets only.
- Tipping
- Restaurant with table service: 10–12.5% if no service charge is on the bill; check before adding more.; Pub or bar: Not expected; 'and one for yourself' offers the bartender a drink.; Taxi: Round up or 10%.; Hotel porter: £1–2 per bag.; Tour guide: £5–10 per person for a day tour; free walking tours expect £10–15.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere. Free refills are common; restaurants will bring tap water if you ask.
- Toilets
- Public toilets are scarce and some charge 50p–£1 or are card-only. Stations, museums, department stores and pubs (if you buy a drink) are the fallback.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee in a café | £2–£3 |
| Pub meal (pie and chips) | £8–£12 |
| Bottle of water (500 ml) | £1–£1.5 |
| Bus ticket Cockermouth–Buttermere | £0 (free service) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CAX · Carlisle Airport
- about 48 km (30 mi) north, shuttle or taxi needed (check schedules)about 30 mi (48 km) north, shuttle or taxi needed (check schedules)
Typical fares
- Free bus Cockermouth ↔ Buttermere
- about £0, 5 return services per day (check timetable)
- Taxi from Buttermere to Keswick
- ≈ £30–£40, 20 min (check availability)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Most attractions are within walking distance; a free bus runs five return trips daily between Buttermere and Cockermouth. Private car gives flexibility for farther fells.
See and do
Known for
- Moss Force waterfall
- Scale Force waterfall
- Grasmoor and High Stile fells
- Lake District walking
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Cockermouth | Free bus, about 15 min each way | ≈30 min round trip |
| Keswick | Bus to Cockermouth then local bus, total ≈45 min | ≈1 h 30 min |
| Borrowdale | Drive or local taxi, about 20 min via B5289 | ≈40 min |
Sleep
- Bridge Hotel
- Village inn, rooms and restaurant, good base for walks
- YHA Black Sail
- Hostel in Ennerdale, budget dorms, 5 km (3.1 mi) walk to ButtermereHostel in Ennerdale, budget dorms, 3.1 mi (5 km) walk to Buttermere
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Sorrysorry |
| Thank you | Thank youthank you |
| How much is it? | How much is it?how much is it? |
| Where is the toilet? | Where is the toilet?where is the toilet? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake at first meeting; 'hi' and first names quickly; avoid: Cheek kisses with strangers
- Conversation: Weather is a safe opener; understatement and self-deprecating humour; avoid: Asking about salary or class
- Queues: Join at the back; avoid: Pushing onto buses or trains before others get off
- Apologies: 'Sorry' is said constantly, even when not at fault; avoid: Taking it as an admission of blame
- Pubs: Buy rounds in a group; wait at the bar without waving money; avoid: Clicking fingers at staff
- Nations: Call Scots Scottish and Welsh Welsh; avoid: Calling the whole UK 'England'
Scams and watch-outs
- Bus service is limited to five return trips per day; plan around the timetable.
- Weather can change quickly on the fells; bring waterproof gear.
- Some paths (e.g., to the upper Moss Force) involve scrambling; assess ability.
The village is safe; main risks are wet paths and changing mountain weather – wear sturdy boots and check forecasts.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Buttermere yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Moss Force waterfall
- Scale Force waterfall
- Grasmoor and High Stile fells
- Lake District walking
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Cumbria tourism – Buttermere: www.cumbriatourism.org/places/buttermere
- Wikivoyage: Buttermere, revision 5287023 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5287023
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/buttermere). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.