Easedale Tarn
Getting there, parking, where to stay and the fells you can walk straight from Easedale Tarn.
Easedale Tarn at a glance
Easedale Tarn is the goal of one of Grasmere's best-loved walks — a fine mountain tarn set in a glacial bowl beneath Tarn Crag and Sergeant Man, reached by climbing alongside the white cascade of Sourmilk Gill. It was a Victorian honeypot — there was once a refreshment hut by the shore, now a low ruin — and it remains a classic half-day from the village.
Quick facts
| What it is | A corrie tarn in a glacial bowl above Grasmere |
| The walk | A steady ~4.5-mile (7 km) there-and-back from Grasmere, climbing beside Sourmilk Gill |
| Can you swim? | Yes — a popular wild swim; deep, clear and very cold |
| Dogs | Welcome on leads (open fell and grazing stock) |
| Pushchair / family | No pushchairs (rocky, steep upper path); good for fit, sure-footed children |
| Getting there | On foot only from Grasmere village (Easedale Road) |
| Best time | After rain/snowmelt for the falls in spate; summer for swimming; weekdays for quiet |
| The fell above | Tarn Crag (Easedale) & Sergeant Man |
Where is Easedale Tarn?
Easedale Tarn near Grasmere, in the Lake District. Zoom and pan to explore — or see all the Lake District lakes & waters on one map.
The walk up
From Grasmere village, the lane and path lead up Easedale to the foot of Sourmilk Gill, which tumbles down the fellside in a series of white falls — the walk climbs beside it, steepening over rougher, rockier ground, before levelling out at the tarn in its hollow. It's a there-and-back of about 4.5 miles (7 km) with a steady climb; allow a good 2½–3 hours with stops. Good boots help — the upper path is rocky and often wet. From the tarn you can extend onto the fells, or continue up to little Codale Tarn just above.
Wild swimming
Easedale is one of the classic Grasmere wild swims — a proper mountain tarn, deep and clear, in a wild bowl with the crags reflected. The shore gives reasonable entries, and the depth means it's a real swim rather than a paddle. It's also very cold, all year: get in slowly, never jump in, and watch for the gasp of cold-water shock in the first minute. There's no help nearby and the walk out is long, so swim well within yourself, keep an early-season dip short, and have warm layers ready. Follow Leave No Trace on this much-loved, busy path.
When to go
Time it for the water: after heavy rain or spring snowmelt, Sourmilk Gill is in full spate and the climb beside the thundering falls is the best part of the day. Summer brings the swimming and the long evenings; autumn turns the valley gold and thins the crowds. It's a popular walk, so a weekday or an early start gives you the tarn far more to yourself than a fine summer weekend will.
The setting & wildlife
The tarn fills a classic glacial corrie — a deep, ice-scooped bowl ringed by the crags of Tarn Crag and the long ridge of Blea Rigg, draining out over the lip as Sourmilk Gill. It's wild, open fell: cropped grass, rock and bog, with upland birds overhead and the constant sound of falling water below. The low ruin by the shore is all that remains of the Victorian refreshment hut, a reminder of how long people have made this exact walk.
The name & its story
"Tarn" is the Old Norse tjörn, a small mountain lake. The falls below carry the better-known name: Sourmilk Gill, for the way the white, frothing water churns down the rock "like sour milk" — a name repeated at other tumbling Lakeland becks. The walk has been trodden for centuries from Grasmere: it was a favourite of Dorothy and William Wordsworth, whose home at Dove Cottage sat just down the valley, and a Victorian tourist objective complete with that lakeside hut.
Family, dogs & accessibility
This is a real fell walk, not a stroll: 4.5 miles there and back with a steady climb and a rocky, wet upper path, and no facilities at the tarn. It's a fine objective for fit, sure-footed children used to hills, but it's not suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs. Dogs enjoy it, but it crosses open grazing fell, so keep them on a lead around stock — and remember the only water is the gill and the tarn.
The fells above
The tarn sits beneath Tarn Crag (Easedale), with Sergeant Man and the long ridge of Blea Rigg rising beyond — a natural continuation for a bigger day, looping back over the tops to Grasmere.
Fells & walks near Easedale Tarn
Straight-line distances from the centre of Easedale Tarn — the nearest summits with a full guide on this site.
All walks from Easedale Tarn → — every route and fell within about 5 km, ranked, with today’s conditions.
Getting there & parking
Start from Grasmere village (Easedale Road): use the village car parks, which fill early at weekends, and walk out past the green to the open valley. There's no parking at the tarn — it's walk-in only. Grasmere is well served by bus (the 555 and the open-top 599 in season), so it's an easy day without a car.
Events & festivals
Planning a trip around a show or festival? See our Lake District events & festivals guide for what's on near Easedale Tarn — traditional Lakeland sports, agricultural shows and seasonal events, month by month.
Frequently asked questions about Easedale Tarn
Can you swim in Easedale Tarn?
Yes — Easedale is one of the classic Grasmere wild swims: a proper mountain tarn, deep and clear, in a wild glacial bowl with the crags reflected. The depth makes it a real swim rather than a paddle. It's also very cold all year, with no help nearby and a long walk out, so get in slowly, beware cold-water shock in the first minute, swim well within yourself, keep an early-season dip short, and warm up straight afterwards.
How long is the walk to Easedale Tarn from Grasmere?
It's about a 4.5-mile (7 km) there-and-back from Grasmere village, climbing steadily beside Sourmilk Gill. Allow roughly 2½–3 hours with stops. The upper path is rocky and often wet, so good boots help; you can extend onto the fells or up to little Codale Tarn above.
Where do you park for Easedale Tarn?
Start from Grasmere village (Easedale Road) and use the village car parks, which fill early at weekends. There's no parking at the tarn — it's walk-in only. Grasmere is well served by bus (the 555, and the open-top 599 in season), so it's an easy car-free day.
Is the walk to Easedale Tarn hard?
It's a steady but real fell walk — not a stroll. The lower valley is gentle, but the climb beside Sourmilk Gill steepens onto rough, rocky, often wet ground before the tarn. Anyone reasonably fit and sure-footed in proper boots will manage it; it's not for pushchairs or wheelchairs.
Is Easedale Tarn dog-friendly?
Yes — dogs enjoy it. The route crosses open grazing fell, though, so keep them on a lead around stock, and note the only water along the way is the gill and the tarn.
What is Sourmilk Gill?
It's the white cascade you climb beside on the way up — the tarn's outflow, tumbling down the fellside in a series of falls. The name describes the churning, frothing white water, said to look "like sour milk"; it's a name repeated at other tumbling Lakeland becks (there's another Sourmilk Gill at Buttermere).
📚 Maps & guidebooks for Easedale Tarn
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