Crummock Water
Lake Lake in the Lake District surrounded by fells
A long lake in England’s Lake District, Crummock Water offers shoreline walks, fishing and fell routes up surrounding peaks like Mellbreak. Visitors combine quiet lakeside camping with hikes linking Buttermere and Loweswater.
Crummock Water is a freshwater lake in England’s Lake District National Park, occupying a valley basin bounded by steep fells. The lake is a popular destination for hillwalking, angling and lakeshore walking, with striking views of surrounding peaks.
Walkers commonly combine routes around the lake and onto nearby fells, and the western slopes at Rannerdale Knotts are a noted viewpoint and spring wildflower site. The shoreline and adjacent paths provide accessible low-level walks linking to the villages of Buttermere and Loweswater.
The lake was formed by glacial action in the last ice age and sits within the classic glacial scenery of the Lake District. Human use has long centred on farming, fishing and recreational hillwalking.
Geographically it lies in Cumbria within the Lake District National Park, between the lakes and valleys of the Buttermere area and is served by local roads connecting to nearby villages.
- Fells and hiking: The lake sits beneath fells such as Grasmoor and Mellbreak, offering short and longer hikes with clear lake-and-fell views that are popular year-round.
What to See #
- Rannerdale Knotts: Rannerdale Knotts slopes on the western side of the lake provide short walks and a well-known viewpoint, famous in spring for carpets of native bluebells.
- Lakeshore and walking routes: The lakeshore and adjacent fells form a compact walking area linking to the nearby village circuits around Buttermere and Loweswater.
How to Get to Crummock Water #
Drive: Crummock Water lies in the English Lake District beside the village of Buttermere. From Keswick it is roughly 15-20 km by road (via the B5289/B5292); from Cockermouth it is about 10-15 km. Approach via the A66 to Cockermouth and then take the B5289/B5292 into the Buttermere valley and park at the designated lay-bys and car parks near Buttermere/Crummock Water.
On foot/public transport: Local bus services run into the valley in season to Buttermere; from the nearest car parks and village centers expect walks of around 1-3 km to reach popular shoreline access points and trailheads.
Tips for Visiting Crummock Water #
- Park early in Buttermere village (parking is limited) and begin the lakeshore walk before mid-morning - early starts usually secure parking and offer calm water for classic reflections of the fells.
- Include the short climb to Rannerdale Knotts on the western shore: it's a compact viewpoint over Crummock Water that's especially rewarding in bluebell season (late spring) and is often overlooked by those sticking to the main lakeside path.
- Walk the lakeshore anti-clockwise if you want gentler gradients early in the route; many visitors mirror popular guide routes without checking which direction suits their fitness and daylight.
Best Time to Visit Crummock Water #
Late spring through early autumn gives the best walking conditions and scenery; expect busiest conditions in summer weekends and variable weather outside peak season.
Weather & Climate near Crummock Water #
Crummock Water's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with cool summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 0°C to 18°C. Abundant rainfall (1272 mm/year), wettest in October.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 5°C and lows of 0°C. Significant rainfall (136 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of 0°C. Regular rainfall (99 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 2°C. Significant rainfall (106 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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April
April is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (76 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 14°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (76 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (76 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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July
July is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 11°C. Regular rainfall (82 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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August
August is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 10°C. Regular rainfall (99 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 9°C. Significant rainfall (109 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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October
October is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 6°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (140 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 3°C. Significant rainfall (134 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of 1°C. Significant rainfall (139 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
