Sourmilk Gill Waterfall – Buttermere Village loop from Brackenthwaite

Hiking trails & Routes

Sourmilk Gill Waterfall – Buttermere Village loop from Brackenthwaite

Moderate

4.9

(62)

563

hikers

Sourmilk Gill Waterfall – Buttermere Village loop from Brackenthwaite

03:43

13.9km

150m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: September 26, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Lake District National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

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5.92 km

Hiking Trail to Scale Force Waterfall

Highlight • Trail

6.73 km

Sourmilk Gill Waterfall

Highlight • Waterfall

Sourmilk Gill starts life atop of the Saddle. As you can see, by the time it reaches Buttermere lake, it is an impressive sight.

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6.83 km

View of Fleetwith Pike from Buttermere

Highlight • Viewpoint

From the edge of Buttermere looking over to Fleetwith, Black Star, and Honister Quarry. Nice place to take a rest after coming down the stone steps from the Fells, be warned the bridge over the Gill is out of action (17.6 19) there is a half km diversion.

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7.01 km

View of Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks

Highlight • Viewpoint

Small snack bar at the farm nearby

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7.01 km

View of Buttermere and Fleetwith Pike

Highlight • Viewpoint

Buttermere and Crummock Water were once joined together, making it a much larger lake.

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7.16 km

Sour Milk Gill Waterfall

Highlight • Waterfall

This place is not far from Buttermere, the silver water of Sour Milk Gill cascades down from Bleaberry Tarn.

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7.65 km

Buttermere Village

Highlight • Viewpoint

Buttermere is an achingly beautiful village in the western Lake District. Situated between Crummock Water and Buttermere and sitting in the shadow of many superb fells, the permutations for walks are many and varied. It caters for hikers very well, with two pubs, a couple of cafes, a youth hostel, a campsite and holiday cottages.

Its beauty is such that, despite its remote location, it is immensely popular with families, walkers and hikers. The roads around the village are notoriously narrow and bendy and jams are common. Try to avoid peak times and public holidays to get the most out of the place.

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9.14 km

Beach

11.3 km

Crummock Water

Highlight • Lake

Buttermere is the highest up the valley or most easterly. Next is Crummock Water which is the longest of the three lakes in the Buttermere valley. It's managed by the National Trust. The road along the valley is lovely to ride running right along the banks for some sections.
Good pub and café in Buttermere village and lots of options for picnic or swimming spots all along this road.

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