Written on 20/07/16 by Paul Oldham

To and Around Some Tarns

We posted recently about some walks around lakes but the lakes are only part of the story when it comes to bodies of water in the Lake District and there are far more tarns tucked away among the fells.

Among our selection of walks for you to try we've got a lot of walks to or around tarns. Here's a few for you to consider.

Tarn Hows (and Yew Tree Tarn)

Tarn Hows is a very well known Lake District visitor attraction and is probably the most visited tarn. You can just park there and walk around but we also have two other walks which take slightly a different approach.

The first is Tarn Hows from Coniston (10km, 6.2miles) which is pretty much what it says on the tin and is especially well suited to anyone staying in the village. It takes you around the end of Coniston Water before diving into woods for a pleasant walk up to the tarn.

Tarn Hows
Tarn Hows

The second walk, Tarn Hows, Black Fell, Holme Fell, starts and ends at Tarn Hows. It is a little longer (13.1km, 8.1miles) and also has 562m of ascent but does also take you past Yew Tree Tarn as well as giving you some magnificent views across the fells and down to Coniston Water.

Yew Tree Tarn
Yew Tree Tarn

This walks also take in two Wainrights in Holme Fell and Black Fell if you want to get a bit of bagging in while you're at it.

Lily Tarn

A short distance from the bustling middle of Ambleside town centre is a fantastic viewpoint overlooking the northern end of Windermere. The view also includes the Fairfield Horseshoe, Red Screes, and westwards are the Coniston Fells. Peeking over Loughrigg Fell is the familiar form of the Langdale Pikes. The viewpoint is on the top of Gilbert Scar.

Windermere from Gilbert Scar, above Ambleside
Windermere from Gilbert Scar, above Ambleside

Just behind it lies an area of rich summer bracken dotted with rocky outcrops and small tarns, the largest of which is Lily Tarn.

Lily Tarn
Lily Tarn

Our walk Lily Tarn above Ambleside (5.4km, 3.3miles) takes you from Ambleside to the viewpoint and the tarn. After visiting the tarn the walk meanders a little to Todd Crag, and then joins the bridleway back to Ambleside. An excellent little walk, especially on a clear day.

Easedale Tarn and Codale Tarn

Easedale Tarn lies in the fells north west of Grasmere and is worth a visit in itself but beyond it is another little gem, Codale Tarn. It is set remote and high in the mountains, with enough effort required to keep most people from visiting it. A more beautiful mountain tarn really cannot be imagined.

Codale Tarn and Tarn Crag
Codale Tarn and Tarn Crag

To get there is a good challenge and getting back safely quite another. But visit you must, if you can handle a 'little bit scrambly', and keep an eye on the map and compass a fair weather excursion is comfortably achievable by most walkers.

Tarn Crag, Beehive Cairn
Tarn Crag, Beehive Cairn

Our walk Easedale Tarn, Codale Tarn, and Tarn Crag (13km, 8.1 miles, 510m ascent) starts and ends at Grasmere. It visits both the tarns and also takes you up to Tarn Crag (another Wainwright) with excellent views of the surrounding fells.


Anyway that's just three examples, there are many more in our collection, of all sorts of rating from one fell ("easy") to five fell ("challenging"), so hopefully you will find something to appeal to you.

Tagged: walks


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