Lanty's Tarn, Keldas, and Patterdale Circular
A short and pleasant circular stroll to Lanty's Tarn, and to the small knoll of Keldas for the views. Dropping down to Patterdale you return alongside the road on various permissive footpaths.
Lanty's Tarn was named in the 18th century after the owner Lancelot Dobson, Lanty being a lakeland diminutive of Lancelot. It was later owned by the Marshall family of Patterdale Hall, now an outdoor education centre, who enlarged the natural tarn by damming its outflow and used it for fishing. In winter ice was collected and stored in a nearby ice house for use in summer.
Situated half-way between Glenridding and Patterdale on the lower slopes of Birkhouse Moor before it falls finally into Ullswater, it is a beautiful tranquil spot. Even in the bleak midwinter it made for a charming spot sitting amongst the larches eating lunch.
There is parking in the centre of Glenridding in the Lake District National Park Authority pay and display car park and at the Ullswater Steamers car park, where cheap rates in the winter months may be preferable.
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Paul and Beth
Lanty's Tarn in winter
- Maps:
50K: 90
25K: OL5
- Start:
- NY386169 (get directions via Google Maps)
- Near to:
- Ambleside, Glenridding/Patterdale, Penrith, Ullswater
- Tags:
- circular, tarns
- Distance:
- 4.3km (2.6 miles)
- Ascent:
- 170m
- Min. time:
- 1 hrs 8 mins
- View in 3-D:
-
- Terrain:
- 2 - rough
- Bog Factor:
- 1 - none
- Tech Diff:
- 2 - basic map reading
- Dog issues:
- You may encounter cattle.
Includes stiles or other dog obstacles.
One field to cross which may have cows in the warmer months, alternative would be to return to the tarn and the outward route.
Purchases:
Buy walk in Adobe/PDF format to print or for your phone or tablet
Buy route for your GPS
Walk height profile
note that gradients are usually grossly exaggerated
Route Description
From the centre of the village, beside the bridge and Sharmans shop, take the road signposted "Mires Beck/Helvellyn", on the left bank of Glenridding Beck. Pass the Public Hall, and a number of cottages. The road turns into a track, passing more buildings.
At the end turn left and cross the beck via the wooden footbridge. A yellow public footpath marker confirms the proper route. Follow the stone pitch path initially up through trees.
Out of the trees bear right to go through bracken to the gate. Don't go through the gate in the wall but turn sharp left and continue climbing up the rough path to the small col on the skyline.
Cross the col, bearing right for the gate to the tarn.
Sharmans of Glenridding
Heron Pike and Glenridding Dodd across Glenridding
A permissive path on the left just before the gate goes over a stile and climbs the small knoll of Keldas. It's worth a look for the views of Ullswater on a clear day. Return to the gate.
Keldas, near Glenridding
Misty Ullswater from Keldas
Go through the gate and around the tarn. This is an obvious stopping point for a picnic lunch, or at least a snack.
Continue on the wide path around the tarn and past the dam. Drop down to the farm track and bear right.
In 30m (33 yards) bear left to the gate. The catch has an extension for horse riders to use without dismounting but there are no other signs it is a right of way. Bear left through the gate and drop down the field to the gate on the corner of the farm driveway. Go straight ahead, cross the stone bridge and up to the minor public road.
Lanty's Tarn from the dam
Turn left at the road and follow it down to the main road at Patterdale. Cross over the road and turn left.
After 100m (110 yards) a permissive path runs alongside the road through a thicket and trees and bushes.
At the end of the path cross the road again and continue on the permissive path the other side. Pass the war memorial. Again the road must be crossed to St Patrick's marina. You can go through the gate into the field opposite and then bear left on the path back to head back into Glenridding. Or follow the river delta to the end and the Ullswater Steamers pier. Return to Glenridding, and back to the bridge.
Grisedale Lane, Patterdale
Glenridding War Memorial
If you like this walk then why not try one of our other nearby walks:
Unless otherwise stated the text in this walk is the copyright of Hug Solutions Ltd trading as The Hug and the photographs are the copyright of Elizabeth Oldham. Hill data is derived from Database of British and Irish hills which is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. Maps contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2011 and paths © OpenStreetMap Contributors,CC-BY-SA, 2011