Hiking To Warnscale Bothy In The Lake District

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What if I told you this fabulous hike not only ended in one of the best scenic vistas, but also the best free accommodation in the Lake District? Sounds too good to be true, but it isn’t. Warnscale Bothy might not quite be a hidden gem, but it is isolated, and well worth the trek to get there. This is one Lake District hike you won’t forget in a hurry.

What is a bothy?

Bothy literally translates to “small hut, or cottage”. They are basic shelters found in the middle of nowhere, most commonly Northern England and Scotland. They will likely be a little run down and it’s expected you’ll only be staying one night as they aren’t for long stays. It’s important to know that you can’t book them so there’s always a chance someone made it there first.

Other than the occasional items people have left behind (non-perishable foods, the odd pot or pan) you won’t find much else in a bothy. There will be an area you can put your sleeping bag to sleep, and often a fireplace for keeping warm. No bedding or running water will be provided.

Note that the Lake District has a couple of bothies managed by the National Trust which are NOT free. These are Watendlath Bothy and Holme Wood Bothy. You can book a stay here.

What’s so good about Warnscale Bothy?

The Lake District has four main bothies which are free to use. While all are in such scenic areas, I think it’s safe to say Warnscale Bothy tops the list. In fact, the view to cost per night ration is unparalleled with anywhere in the Lake District. After all, what’s cheaper than free?

Even if you choose not to spend the night, you can’t beat the panoramic views including looking down over Buttermere. One of my favorite lakes, it’s especially pretty in the autumn when the colors are changing. Which, incidentally, might be a better time to visit Warnscale Bothy as it will be less busy than in the summer months.

Warnscale Bothy – The Basics

There is room for 2 people comfortably with space to lay out sleeping bags on the raised bench area. You might be able fit three people on here at a push, and one on the floor. Although that won’t be as comfortable as the slate tiles are rather uneven.

The bench area is good for seating when not sleeping on, and faces a large stove which will comfortably heat the hut on a cold night. There are a couple of small shelves to rest items on and some storage space under the benches.

When I was there someone had left a sleeping pad which would add some comfort to laying a sleeping bag on the hard wooden benches. There were also a couple of pots and pans hanging on the wall, and some clothes lines hung around the hut where you can drape clothes.

Some people had left a few condiments like ketchup and a couple of packets and cans of food. But you shouldn’t expect for anything to be there and pack accordingly.

The best time to do this hike

Since the bothy is small and popular, you may not be lucky enough to find it unoccupied. To increase your chances, set off earlier in the day. The day I did the hike we arrived at lunchtime, starting the hike just after 10am, and it was vacant. The later you leave it the more chance someone has already claimed it.

Planning a visit mid-week, or at less popular times of the year might also help. June through August will be very busy, the Lake District is always packed. April or May, September or October – they often still have nice weather and are not too cold, but less busy.

People hike around the Lake District all year long, however early spring and autumn are great times to visit. The weather can be rainy even in the summer (that’s why we have so many lakes), so visiting then won’t necessarily be rain free. There might be some snow in the winter between December and February so I would avoid this time – especially since Honister Pass is not a fun road to drive in winter weather conditions.

What happens if Warnscale Bothy is occupied when I arrive?

Unfortunately this might happen, especially if visiting in the summer months or on a weekend. There are three main options you have if this happens:

1. Talk to the people already staying there. If you’re on your own and they are too they might be willing to have you share the space. Since the bothy is small three or more would be cramped so it’s unlikely people would want to share such a small space.
2. Have a tent with you and camp outside nearby the bothy. Again, talk to those staying there who might share the stove, but there’s also usually a makeshift firepit where you can have a campfire.
3. Try the nearby bothy, Dubs Hut. Another free accommodation option, and one you most likely passed on your trek in. The view isn’t as good, but the hut is larger and also has a stove.

Of course, if none of those options are appealing, you might just have to give it up as bad luck and head back. Enjoy the view and the accomplishment of having made it to Warnscale Bothy, but head home or find somewhere in a nearby town like Keswick.

Parking for Warnscale Bothy

Unless you’re on an epic rambling holiday around the Lake District – which you very well might be – you’ll be looking to park close by to do the hike. The easiest place to start your hike is at Honister Slate Mine.

Located on the winding Honister Pass road, there is a National Trust car park behind Honister slate mine. Parking is free for National Trust members. Overnight parking is possible here – you really shouldn’t use the car park at the slate mine.

Next to the Honister Slate Mine is the YHA Honister Hause hostel. As long as they’re not full for the night, this is another back up plan you can have if the bothy is occupied.

How to get to Warnscale Bothy

There are two main routes to reach Warnscale Bothy. The first is from Buttermere itself. From the rear of the lake near Gatesgarth it’s approximately an hour of walking to the bothy. That’s just under 2 miles.

This route is flat enough for the majority of it, although you will need to ascend quite a bit to reach Warnscale Head, so you’ll be breathless towards the end. What a good reason to keep turning around for the impressive views.

The second, and most common way to reach Warnscale Bothy is to park near Honister Slate Mine and walk in from there. This route also takes about 45-minutes to an hour, and is around 1.5-miles.

That’s the route I took, so the one I’m going to talk about here. Neither route is particularly challenging, although there are some steeper sections which require a bit more effort at times.

Hiking from Honister Pass to Warnscale Bothy

Growing up in the Lake District, I love exploring the amazing beauty of England’s largest national park. I also love hiking, and as much as I will happily take on a challenge, sometimes the nicest routes are the more moderate trails. I’d recently visited Rydal Cave, another local walk, when my Dad suggested we hike to Warnscale Bothy.

From the Honister Slate Mine the trail starts with gravel trail leading to a steep stone-stair path. This is perhaps the most challenging part of the hike as it goes up for quite a while, and the natural stone steps are not always even. Good news is, if this is the start of the hike you’ll have the most energy now.

Looking back over Honister Pass as you climb higher and higher, this is easily one of the most dramatic views of the day. The slate mines on one side of the narrow mountain pass, remnants of which cascade down the hills below the road.

Leafy ferns and rocky grass verges line the path you take on the other side of the road. The occasional sheep graze nearby, too used to people to worry much about your presence.

At last, you will reach the top of the struggle. Take a moment, catch your breath, look back over the slate mine framed by mountains and hills as far as you can see. In front, the path levels out, but the scene is no less spectacular.

Dubs hut and paths of slate

The rocky path is easy to walk along, the grassy edges pushing up against it as it continuing to narrow the further you walk. Keep following it for about ten minutes until it becomes made less of rock and more of slate. You’ll pass through a narrow slate-walled area of the route, before it opens up to just make out a little hut on the right.

Dubs hut comes into view, mostly as you see the outline of the windows and door. Other than that, it blends more or less into its surroundings. The path, the hills, the hut, all made of local slate. Honister is England’s last working slate mine, and everything around you indicates they are making use of what they have.

If you’re planning on spending the night at Warnscale Bothy, you might want to check Dubs hut to see if it’s occupied. This might be a good back up plan.

The rocky road to the best view

You’ll see a very clear road curve around behind Dubs Hut. This is not the path you need to take. Instead, at Dubs Hut, you’ll be taking a path to the left. And by “path” I mean a grassy, rocky slope towards a stream. On the other side of the stream you can see the path continue. This is a good indication of where you need to get to.

Keep an eye out for wildlife – we found a frog, hiding in the grasses next to the path. Watch your step as you go, there are hidden rocks amongst the grass as you descend. Crossing the stream is relatively easy. There likely won’t be too much water in there, and there are enough large rocks to use as stepping stones to get across.

Climb the first part of the path away from the stream until it levels out a minute later. The main path appears to ascend straight ahead – this is not the direction you need to go. Instead you’ll see a smaller, thin gravel path bear off to the right. Take this one.

I’ll be honest, this is the point where I lost the path for a second which led me to momentarily carve my own path. I ended up a little higher than the path which then involved some climbing down. The path is thin and depending on the season can disappear at time. But if you keep heading in the same direction around the hill you will make it.

At last Warnscale Bothy came into view – along with Buttermere, and the path opposite that leads from it. It was a warm, sunny but cloudy day in June, and it was perfect.

Exploring Warnscale Bothy

Even if you’re here just on a day hike you’ll be interested in taking a closer look at the bothy. If you’re tall you might have to duck a bit to avoid clunking your head as you enter, but the sturdy looking hut was a sight to see.

You can scramble up the slate hill behind the bothy to look down over it – and the view below. This is a photographer’s dream position, framing Buttermere between the hut and the outer walls.

From the front of the bothy, it blends perfectly into the backdrop of slate. So much so that it’s almost impossible to pick it out if you didn’t know what you were looking for. A small window and a chimney the only clues as to the perfectly camouflaged hut.

A small slate-rimmed fire pit sits out front of the house near the edge. Sitting here on a summer evening, with the campfire going, and a sunset disappearing over the hills and lakes is magnificent.

The most remarkable feature, however, can be found indoors. The single solitary window that flawlessly frames an idyllic Lake District scene. Waking up to that view is something you will remember for a long time.

The return journey

This is an in-and-out trail, therefore you go back the same way you came. The other option of course is to take the other trail that descends towards Buttermere. If there are a few of you hiking this trail, you could park a vehicle at either trailhead and then drive back to the first one.

Even when hiking back along a trail you’ve already walked, the trial can look different. Time of day, fast-changing weather of the Lake District, all can make the views look brand new to you. That’s one of the things I love most about the Lake District.

When you do get back to Honister slate mine take time to look inside. There’s a café where you can grab some hot food and a drink – the best way to end a hike. Inside are nice, clean bathrooms too, and a gift shop selling locally made slate products.

Outside are some of the larger slate models and statues you can purchase. The most impactful of which is a permanent art piece flanking either side of Honister Pass.

The road runs right under what was a tramway bridge – now divided in two. Three figures of an artwork called “Loss” stand here. On one side a father and on the other a mother and child, representing the hard work of slate mining and its impact on the community.

Walk to Warnscale Bothy

Whichever route you take, this is an easy enough hike. You can complete the walk in around 3-hours, even allowing for time to explore the bothy and relaxing enjoying the view. As with any adventure it’s important to be prepared and take the hiking essentials.

If you don’t plan on spending the night in the hut you don’t need to rush to get there early. Although, in the busier months and on nicer days the car park may fill up quicker.

Take your time, enjoy the scenery, and don’t rush. The walk to Warnscale Bothy is interesting and varied and beautiful. But if you do stay there, you’ll wake up to the most amazing morning view.

If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. Would you like to stay at Warnscale Bothy? What do you think of that view?