---
title: "Tarns | Visit Keswick, Lake District"
url: https://visitkeswick.com/explore/lakes/tarns
description: "What a tarn is, and nine worth walking to — from Wainwright’s resting place on Haystacks to the one you can reach from Castlerigg Stone Circle."
---

## What a tarn is

Scattered across the fells of the northern Lake District, these small bodies of water are well worth seeking out on your walks around Keswick. A tarn is a permanent area of standing water. While the main lakes are the obvious attraction, a little extra exploration will find some of the hundreds of tarns dotted all over the uplands. They vary enormously in size, from almost small lakes to very large puddles.

Often off the beaten track, their usually shallow margins make a peaceful haven for plants, insects and birds.

## Nine to walk to

Tarn with mountain background

### [Innominate Tarn](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/fells/haystacks)

Near the summit of Haystacks above Buttermere, and where the ashes of Alfred Wainwright are scattered. The name means the tarn with no name.

Haystacks

[Read more](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/fells/haystacks)

A rocky outcrop beside a mountain tarn on the open fell

### [Blackbeck Tarn](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/fells/haystacks)

A second tarn on Haystacks, and lesser known than Innominate.

A tarn lying in green hedged fields with the fells rising beyond

### [Tewet Tarn](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/valleys/st-johns-in-the-vale)

In St John’s in the Vale below High Rigg, with a fantastic backdrop of Blencathra. There is a lovely circular walk from Castlerigg Stone Circle.

From Castlerigg

[Read more](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/valleys/st-johns-in-the-vale)

Watendlath Tarn lying among walled fields high in the fells foxglove in the foreground

### [Watendlath Tarn](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/valleys/watendlath)

A beautiful, tranquil spot popular for fishing and a lovely place for a picnic, in the hamlet of the same name.

Half a day

[Read more](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/valleys/watendlath)

swimmer in a tarn

### [Harrop Tarn](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/lakes/thirlmere)

A glacial tarn above Thirlmere. There is a 2.5-mile circular loop from Dobgill car park, which also takes in the Dobgill waterfall.

Above Thirlmere

[Read more](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/lakes/thirlmere)

A quiet upland tarn with a single tree on its shore

### [Bowscale Tarn](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/neighbouring-villages/mosedale-and-mungrisdale)

An isolated tarn above Mosedale, with a lovely walk up to it returning by the valley.

Isolated

[Read more](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/neighbouring-villages/mosedale-and-mungrisdale)

A boulder field on a high ridge in the central fells

### [Sprinkling Tarn and Styhead Tarn](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/valleys/borrowdale)

Two upland tarns in rugged mountain terrain, flanked by the masses of Great End and Great Gable. A circular walk from Seathwaite at the head of Borrowdale takes in both, going up past Stockley Bridge by Grains Gill.

A full day

[Read more](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/valleys/borrowdale)

The view down from a high ridge in the Helvellyn range

### [Red Tarn](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/fells/helvellyn)

Lies between Striding Edge and Swirral Edge on the east side of Helvellyn.

Under Helvellyn

[Read more](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/fells/helvellyn)

Watendlath Tarn lying among walled fields high in the fells

## Why bother walking to one

Because almost nobody else does. The [lakes](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/lakes) have car parks, cafes and a launch; the tarns have a path and whatever weather is passing. Several of the ones above are half an hour off a route you were walking anyway.

[Find somewhere to stay](https://visitkeswick.com/stay)

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