A Circuit of Tarn Hows


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2nd November 2024

Overview

Ascent:	296 Feet - 90 Metres
Wainwrights:	N/A
Weather:	Feeling Mild in the Strong Sunshine. Highs of 13°C Lows of 10°C
Parking:	Tarn Hows Car Park
Area:	Southern
Miles:	1.9
Walking With:	Paula, David & Calva
Ordnance Survey:	OL6
Time Taken:	3 Hours
Route:	Tarn Hows Car Park - The Tarns - Rose Castle Plantation - Tom Heights Plantation - Tarn Hows Car Park

Parking Details and Map

Nearest Post Code:	LA21 8AG
Grid Reference:	SD 325 799
Notes:	The National Trust car park found close to Tarn Hows is perfectly positioned for a walk around one of Lakelands most famous tarns. There are no height restrictions and overnight parking is welcome. Parking is free for Trust members but charges apply to non members.

Map and Photo Gallery

Where's Dad gone 10:30am 10°C

It had been a while since Paula and I last walked around Tarn Hows, so with a promising forecast for the morning, we arranged to meet David and Calva and make the most of the dry weather before the rain arrived.

In this photo, Calva pauses on the path and looks back, wondering where David has got to. He had returned to the car after realising he'd forgotten the poo bags.

Tarn Hows.

With rain forecast later in the day, we'd chosen to park as close to Tarn Hows as possible to maximise our time in the sunshine. If you've never visited before, the car park is just over my left shoulder.

Glorious autumnal sunshine as we start the walk.

Opting to walk the route in a anti-clockwise direction.

Looking back on Wetherlam...

...and Steel Edge on Wetherlam.

Wetherlam from Tarn Hows.

Talk about picking the perfect walk to enjoy the autumnal colours.

Wetherlam from Tarn Hows.

It was so picturesque it was difficult to put the camera down.

Reflective islands.

Its hard to believe that the forecast is about to change in the next few hours.

Coniston Old Man, Brim Fell and Wetherlam from Tarn Hows.

Brim Fell and Wetherlam from Tarn Hows.

That's Wethelam Edge seen sloping off to the far right.

Coniston Old Man, Brim Fell and Wetherlam from Tarn Hows.

I think David and Paula are getting fed up of me stopping to look back on the stunning views but you can hardly blme me.

Rose Castle Plantation.

We made our way through Rose Castle Plantation at the north-eastern corner of Tarn Hows and stopped for a few minutes to put the world to rights. Looking back, I was rewarded with a marvellous view of sunlight filtering through the trees, illuminating the woodland and providing the perfect opportunity for a photograph.

Looking back on Tarn Hows.

Brew with a view.

There are plenty of benches dotted around the tarn, though most were already occupied by people chatting and enjoying the morning. We eventually found a spot to take the weight off our feet and simply enjoy the view for a few minutes.

On the outward as we begin to walk back on western shore path.

Between the trees gaps would open up.

Revealing views over the tarn.

The money tree.

The things you see when you forget your pliers!

Almost back at the car park...

...when we noticed cloud arriving.

Tarn Hows.

Tarn Hows.

Tarn Hows.

David's car is just around the corner but mine is parked back at Clappersgate so off we went.

Lunch with a view.

Not only had it clouded over but the temperature had taken a nosedive too, still we enjoyed our sandwiches at the side of the River Brathey at Clappersgate.

The River Brathey, Clappersgate.

A591 Thirlmere.

We decided to take the long way home and headed north towards Grasmere and Dunmail Raise. The cloud had caught up with us south of Dunmail, but to the north it was still bathed in bright sunshine, revealing the beautiful colours of autumn along the forestry track at Wythburn.

Browncove Crags from Swirls.

We stopped at Swirls to take in the views over Thirlmere which just starting to cloud over but Browncove Crags and Helvellyn were still bathed in sunshine.

Heading through St Johns-in-the-Vale.

We left the A591 and turned right with views of High Rigg seen left and Castle Rock over on the right. It was time to head home now but first we'd enjoy the views of Blencathra from St Johns-in-the-Vale befoe the cloud caught up with us.