Hotels in Buttermere

Hotel and inn accommodation in Buttermere itself is scarce by design, limited to a couple of historic coaching inns and a scattering of farmhouse bed and breakfasts scattered along the valley floor. What the village lacks in choice it makes up for in character and location, with rooms often looking straight out onto the fells that ring the lake. Because there are so few beds in the valley, and demand from walkers and photographers is high throughout the warmer months, booking well ahead is strongly advised, particularly for weekends between May and September when rooms can sell out weeks in advance. Many visitors instead choose to stay in Keswick, around ten miles away by road, which offers a far wider range of hotels, guest houses and self-catering properties along with more restaurants, shops and evening activity, while still allowing a straightforward day trip into Buttermere via the Honister Pass or around Derwentwater. Cockermouth, to the north-west, is another practical base with a good choice of accommodation and easier road access for those arriving from the Cumbrian coast or the M6. Wherever visitors choose to stay, the valley roads into Buttermere are narrow and can be slow, so it is worth allowing extra time for the journey, especially after dark or in poor weather. Whatever the choice of base, waking up within reach of Buttermere's lake and fells, whether in the valley itself or a short drive away, is one of the most rewarding accommodation experiences the Lake District has to offer for anyone who loves walking, quiet scenery and dramatic mountain views.