Tarn Crag – Lake District Walks
April 13, 2021
A walk to Tarn Crag has the great advantage of starting out with the path along Sour Milk Gill to the beautiful Easedale Tarn. Â The walk to the tarn from Grasmere is a popular one, Â along old roman roads and stoned steps right by Sour Milk Gill and its waterfalls. Â On the day we went we were treated to very forceful waterfalls as we had “enjoyed” a few days of heavy rain.
Grasmere to Tarn Crag Circular
From Grasmere we chose to walk up Sour Milk Gill so we could enjoy the river and waterfalls all the way to Easedale Tarn; an easy stepped path with flat sections and short uphills. Â The winter colours were still abundant even though spring was well on its way, giving the valley a comforting warm glow.
After enjoying the calm at Easdale tarn we crossed the gill and found the path up the east ridge to Tarn Crag. Â This is a straightforward path which passes some impressive rocky crags; Greathead and Deer Bield standing out amongst the smoother surroundings.
A Bield – a place affording shelter (Scottish origin)
Dale – a valley
Our route back took us down Stythwaite Steps. Â This down goes by so quickly purely from the joy of hopping and skipping across stepping stones; placed there to help the walker navigate some boggy ground. Â
No chance of getting lost with great signs like this:
The summit
The main summit cairn gave us views towards the mountains above Ambleside and out to Helvellyn, always a pleasure and a learning experience as we try to identify the mountains. Â But the best views were from the western cairn, looking down to Easedale tarn and the valley to Grasmere.
Join us on our hike to Tarn Crag
Don't miss on a Tarn Crag circular
- Walking up via Sour Milk Gill – walking up waterfalls is infinitely better than walking down them. Â I can say no more.
- A time-out at Easedale tarn – this is the perfect picnic spot/foot-dip spot/photography spot.
- The secondary cairn on Tarn Crag for amazing views of Easedale Tarn and down the valley to Grasmere.
Name that sheep – we spotted this young lady and from the markings decided to call it a badger sheep. Â It turns out the name is actually the Welsh Mountain Badger Face Torrdu. Â Close enough. Â - Stepping stone practice at Easedale Tarn and Stythwaite steps. Â Although some of us took the new bridge instead….no sense of adventure.
