Round Buttermere

Four and three quarter miles, a shade over two hours, and only 60 metres of climb - the flattest complete lake circuit in the Lakes and the one to bring a tired dog to. Start from the National Trust car park in Buttermere village behind the Fish Inn; it is paid, holds about 90 cars and is full by nine on a fine morning, with the smaller Honister-side car park at Gatesgarth as the overflow. The shore path gives water access every few hundred metres and the beach at the Gatesgarth end is the best swim in the valley, but there are grazing sheep and cattle in the fields at both ends, a short rock-cut tunnel near Hassness that echoes and unsettles nervous dogs, and the last half mile on the village side is shared with the lane.