Were Buttermere and Crummock Water once the same lake?

Yes. They formed one longer glacial lake before sediment from Sail Beck built an alluvial fan across the valley and divided the water into two basins.

Can you walk around Crummock Water?

A circuit can be made using mapped paths and crossings, but the western side beneath Mellbreak is rougher and the route is not continuously lakeside. Check current bridge, path and water conditions.

How long does it take to walk around Buttermere?

The usual circuit is about 7.5 kilometres and often takes two to three hours. Paths can be narrow, uneven, wet and busy, so allow extra time and use footwear suited to the conditions.

When is a Lake District Lake Not A Lake

Buttermere and Crummock: When One Lake Becomes Two

Buttermere and Crummock Water used to be one body of water until sediment from Sail Beck built a barrier between them. They're now separated by a few hundred metres of flat land and several thousand years of mud, still close enough to share a car park.

8 August 20269 min read