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9.52 km · ~237 m ascent · ~2–3 h · loop

Home / Routes / Grasmere to Easdale Tarn
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Grasmere to Easdale Tarn

9.52 km
Distance
~2–3 h
Typical time
~237 m
Ascent
Download GPX →Maps & guidebooks

Key facts

Distance 9.52 km
Ascent ~237 m
Descent ~237 m
Time ~2–3 h
Best season Year-round. The valley paths and the ground by the tarn get wet and boggy after rain — boots, not trainers.
Type Loop
One of Lakeland’s loveliest short valley walks — from Grasmere village up the green trough of Easdale to its hidden tarn, ringed by crags with Sourmilk Gill tumbling down beside the path. Gentle underfoot with just enough climb to feel earned, and a firm favourite with dogs.

✎️ A there-and-back-plus-loop to a classic tarn; no summits, all about the valley and the water.

✎️ Planned route — drawn but not personally walked or checked yet. A planned line is a suggestion, not a guarantee — conditions change. Navigate independently and carry a map & compass.

🧭 The automated detail on this page — distance, climb, pacing and a first-pass difficulty read — is live. Hand-written field notes are being added.

Difficulty profile

LengthModerate9.52 km round.
SteepnessModerateSteepest sustained pull about 21% around the 6.6 km mark.
TerrainModerateGood paths and lanes; muddy in places.
NavigationEasyClear, well-used paths; hard to go far wrong.
ExposureEasyLow-level throughout; no real exposure.

Five independent axes, not one score — all field-checked on the ground here, with nothing left as a desk estimate.

Access & barriers

Can a dog, a buggy or dodgy knees manage this route? A quick read from the gates and stiles mapped along the way.

Dog
Gates only
Buggy
Not buggy-able
Knees
Gentle descent
  • Dog: Gates and kissing gates only — a dog can do the whole route.
  • Buggy: Not a pushchair route.
  • Knees: No sustained steep descent — kind on the knees.

On the line: 18 gates · 6 kissing gates

These are mapped barriers, from OpenStreetMap — coverage in the Lakes is good but not guaranteed complete. Spotted a stile or gate we’ve missed? Tell us and we’ll fix it. Barrier data as of 2026-07-09. Access data © OpenStreetMap contributors (via Overpass).

☀️ Daylight & turnaround

Daylight is short from October to February — check today’s sunrise and sunset before you set off, and carry a head-torch and spare batteries. On short days, decide your turn-back time before you start.

Why this matters: 78% of Mountain Rescue call-outs come after midday — the day runs out on the way home, not on the way up. See also walking in bad weather and today’s conditions.

OpenTopoMap
Elevation profile
Elevation profile Rises from about 67 m to 294 m over 9.5 km, with the summits marked in order. 294 m 67 m 0 km 9.5 km
~237 m
Total ascent
294 m
High point
67 m
Start height

Free mapping: OpenTopoMap / OpenStreetMap (switch layers top-right).

This walk covers about 9.52 km with around 237 m of ascent. The map above shows the line; the elevation profile and stage notes are below.

Pacing

SummitCumulativeAscentTime (fast–steady)
Finish9.5 km237 m2:18–3:03

Naismith-based estimate — a fast/steady range. Your pace will vary.

The walk, stage by stage

Start → Finish (9.5 km, 237 m)

Climb of about 237 m over 9.5 km (around 2% average).

Stage-by-stage field notes coming soon.

Summits bagged (0)

    🅿️ Getting there & parking

    Grasmere village (paid) — 0.3 km from the start (straight line)
    For Helm Crag, Silver How, the Easedale fells and the Far Easedale round.
    Directions
    White Moss (paid) — 1.3 km from the start (straight line)
    Between Rydal and Grasmere — Loughrigg, Silver How, Heron Pike.
    Directions

    Positions are approximate. Lakeland car parks fill before 9am on fine weekends.

    💧 Water, shelter & getting away

    🛖 map (43 m)🚌 Stock Lane at School (83 m)🚌 School (134 m)🚌 map (228 m)🚌 Daffodil House for Dove Cottage (285 m)

    On-route facilities © OpenStreetMap contributors — an absent marker does not mean the facility isn’t there.

    🚌 Buses

    Stagecoach 555
    Kendal – Staveley – Windermere – Ambleside – Rydal – Grasmere – Thirlmere (Wythburn & Swirls) – Keswick
    Catch it from: Windermere · Ambleside
    Year-round, roughly hourly. The backbone bus of the A591 — ideal for Helvellyn (Wythburn/Swirls), Fairfield, the Central fells and anything around Grasmere/Rydal. From Penrith, take the X4/X5 to Keswick and change.

    Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com or Traveline before travelling.

    ⚠️ Safety & conditions

    • Sourmilk Gill and the side becks rise fast in spate — take care at crossings.
    • Boggy, rougher ground around the tarn.
    • Working farmland — keep dogs under close control near sheep.

    Check live conditions in the “From the fells” panel, on MWIS and the Met Office mountain forecast before you set off.

    Make it easier or harder

    Easier and harder options coming soon.

    ⬇️ Download

    Download GPX

    GPX track for your GPS or phone.

    Appears in these collections
    Dog-friendly walksEasy walks