Tarn Hows
The Lake District's most photographed tarn, on a level path that goes right round it.
- Distance
- 3 km
- Ascent
- 50 m
- Time
- 1 h
- Grade
- Easy
- Route
- Circular
- High point
- 219 m
Drag along the profile to see where you are on the map.
Offline navigation is coming in the TRXO app. Hear when it launches.
Route mapped on from OpenStreetMap paths, with heights from EU-DEM terrain data; not yet checked on the ground by TRXO. Added to TRXO on . For planning only: always navigate with an up-to-date map such as OS Explorer or Harvey. How we make our routes.
About this walk
Tarn Hows is an easy 3 km circular walk with 50 m of ascent, taking about 1 hours. It starts at Tarn Hows car park (grid reference SD 326 995).
Tarn Hows is a man-made lake, three small tarns joined by a Victorian landowner and planted with larch and spruce, and it has been the Lakes' favourite easy walk ever since. A surfaced path circles the water in an hour and a half, with the Langdale Pikes and Wetherlam in view across the trees.
It's one of the few Lakeland walks that works with a pushchair or a wheelchair, and it's busy in summer for exactly that reason. Go early, or in winter.
Route
-
1
Round the tarn
Follow the path all the way round the water.
Summit
Questions about this walk
- How long does Tarn Hows take?
- Most walkers take 1–1 hours for the 3 km route, which has 50 m of ascent. That allows for short stops; give yourself longer in winter, in poor weather or with a group.
- Where does the walk start, and where can I park?
- It starts at Tarn Hows car park (grid reference SD 326 995). National Trust car park (charge for non-members).
- Can I get there by public transport?
- Buses to Coniston or Hawkshead, then a 3 km walk. Check times on Traveline.
- How hard is it?
- It's graded easy. A surfaced, mostly level path.
- Can I take my dog?
- Yes, dogs are welcome on this walk. Keep them on a lead near livestock.
Walked this? Tell the next walker
No reviews, condition reports, walkers' photos or trip reports for this walk yet. Yours would be the first.
