Crummock Water Lake

Hours: Open access

Admission: Free (open access)

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.

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.

• 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.