Crummock Water

Crummock Water is the larger lake in the Buttermere valley, about 4 kilometres long, lying between Buttermere village in the south and Lorton Vale to the north. It is overshadowed in fame by its smaller neighbour but is just as beautiful, and it is framed by big fells: Grasmoor and Whiteless Pike to the east, Mellbreak to the west and Red Pike above the south.

The B5289 runs along the eastern shore under Rannerdale Knotts, a small fell with one of the best views in the area, and Rannerdale itself is famous in spring for its carpets of bluebells. The western shore has no road, and a path runs along much of it towards Scale Force, one of the tallest waterfalls in the Lake District, reached from Buttermere village.

Most of the lake and its shores belong to the National Trust. It is good for swimming from the shingle beaches, and walks round the lake can be combined with Buttermere for a long day. Mellbreak, steep and isolated, gives a fine climb above the western shore, and Grasmoor is a big hill with a huge view. May, when the bluebells are out in Rannerdale, is the most famous time to come, but the lake is lovely in autumn too.

The road along the eastern shore is narrow and parking is limited to small car parks and lay bys, which fill early in summer, especially at bluebell time. The 77 and 77A buses from Keswick stop at Lanthwaite.