View of Crummock Water in autumn, Buttermere, Cumbria — Much of the wildlife in the valley hides beneath the lake's surface at Crummock Water, Cumbria | © National Trust Images/John Malley

Lake District

The valley of cinders walk

Explore this gently ambling route through Cinderdale in the Lake District with views of Crummock Water and the surrounding Cumbria countryside of Buttermere Valley, while also discovering important medieval archaeological sites.

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Total steps: 7

Start point

Cinderdale car park, grid ref: NY162194

Step 1

From the start point cross the road and walk uphill for approximately 20yd (18m) to the gate in the wall. Go through the gate and turn right along the path parallel to the wall.

Crummock Water

Take in the views of Crummock Water and Melbreak along the way. Crummock Water is located between the two lakes of Buttermere and Loweswater, with the fells of Grasmoor to the east and Melbreak to the west. The lake, looked after by the National Trust, is fed by Scale Force that is the highest waterfall in the Lake District. It is home to the rare fish known as the Arctic char, as well as a variety of other fish such as perch, pike and brown trout. Views of Crummock Water and Melbreak can be seen throughout the walk.

Step 2

Continue along the path as it rises and levels out.

Step 3

Continue along the path to a wall and gate.

Step 4

Continue until you approach another wall surrounding woodland. The route now drops steeply towards the lake shore. Care should be taken when wet as the ground may be slippery.

Step 5

At the bottom of the slope turn left and continue along the lakeshore track.

Step 6

Continue on the path for a short distance, where the path colour darkens to a blackish hue.

Medieval bloomery

A path with a blackish hue is a sign of being near the site of a bloomery, which is a type of furnace used for smelting iron from its oxides. Look to your right on the lake shore and there may be lumps of iron slag exposed. Cinderdale is pitted with numerous depressions in the ground, where iron ore was once smelted in bloomeries or primitive furnaces. These would have been in operation in the medieval period, from around 1066 to 1485. Large amounts of slag from the process can be found here.

Step 7

A short distance from here the path turns uphill alongside a wall. Follow this to the gate and return to the start point and car park.

End point

Cinderdale car park, grid ref: NY162194

Trail map

Autumn colours reflecting on Crummock Water looking out to Whitehouse Island

Trail

Lanthwaite Wood and Crummock Water walk

Explore the hills and woodlands on the eastern side of Crummock Water on this circular walk near Buttermere, Lake District.

View from the ridge of Rannerdale Knotts

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Corpse road and tumuli walk

See a traditional farm, walk along an ancient corpse road and discover evidence of human activity dating from the Bronze Age to the Second World War.

Buttermere, near Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 9UZ

01768774649

NorthandWestLakes@nationaltrust.org.uk

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