Harrop Tarn above Thirlmere
Harrop Tarn is a classic glacial tarn in a high corrie with the impressive Tarn Crags around its southwest shores. Its water comes from the Ullscarf catchment area above bringing with it much sediment which is gradually silting up the tarn as shown by the great swaths of sedge grass around its edge. At best it is only 4m (4 yards) deep. The outfall drops north west down Dob Gill to reach Thirlmere reservoir. Effort was obviously made many years ago to stone pitch the path alongside the gill to the tarn however it does not appear to have received much maintenance for many years.
The bridleway marked on the map on the other side of the gill that we use to get back to the parking place is a little tricky to find but once on it is short and sweet.
Park at the United Utilities Dobgill pay and display car park.
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Harrop Tarn
50K: 
- Terrain:
- 2 - rough
- Bog Factor:
- 3 - wet/boggy
- Tech Diff:
- 1 - easy
- Dog issues:
- Includes stiles or other dog obstacles.
Path is in close proximity to a waterfall and steep drops, some care required. Ladder stile at the beginning of the descent from the tarn has wide rungs, is quite lazy rather than steep, short, so few dogs should have a problem with it.
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Walk height profile
note that gradients are usually grossly exaggerated
Route Description
From the car park take the signposted path to the left of the toilet block and disabled parking area. Zigzag up the stone pitched path through the trees to the gateway in the deer fence.
Go through the gate and continue following the path round to the right of a rocky outcrop, after a while bear left heading for a ravine.
Deer Fence above Dobgill Car Park
Dob Gill Waterfall
The gradient eases after a while and the path becomes a gentle stroll through the trees. The tarn hoves into view, and the path joins the forest track.
Harrop Tarn
Harrop Tarn Outfall Bridge and Ford
Cross the wooden footbridge over the tarn outfall, and bear left into the vague depression of an ancient path through woodland, though it is now felling debris. Aim for the right hand corner of the trees left standing, or failing those for Combe Gill on the other side of Thirlmere at about 1oclock. A ladder stile over the fence will come into view within 30m (33 yards), that's where you are headed. A couple of sections of boardwalk get you over some boggy patches. Cross the stile and bear left to descend alongside the fence.
The path now resembles a river rather than a path suitable for horses or bicycles. It is however the intended path! What it lacks in finesse is made up for in effectiveness: it is mercifully short. Dive downwards through the juniper bushes, following the 'river'. Do not stray far from the fence as the gate out to the road is right beside it. Reaching the road turn left back to the car park.
Boardwalk on the bridleway below Harrop Tarn
Bridleway from Harrop Tarn to Thirlmere
If you like this walk then why not try one of our other nearby walks:
| Name | Rating | Starts |
|---|---|---|
| Birk Crag, Harrop Tarn and Blea Tarn | | 10m (11 yards) away |
| Harrop Forest Circular | | 20m (22 yards) away |
| Grisedale Tarn | | 2.7km (1.7 miles) away |
| Helvellyn round from Thirlmere | | 2.9km (1.8 miles) away |
| High Tove and Armboth Fell from Thirlmere | | 3.4km (2.1 miles) away |
| The Dodds and Clough Head, via Sticks Pass and St John's in the Vale | | 5.0km (3.1 miles) away |
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