Easedale Tarn - Thursday 27 February 2025
Route
Grasmere - Easedale Road - Goody Bridge - New Bridge - Sourmilk Gill - Easedale Tarn - Stythwaite Steps - Lancrigg - Goody Bridge - Easedale Road - Grasmere
Parking
Plenty of parking in Grasmere - mostly Pay & Display
Mileage
6.5 miles
Terrain
Good mountain & lake shore paths throughout
Weather
Perfect conditions although cold at times. Visibility was excellent.
Time Taken
3hrs 15mins
Total Ascent
1522ft (464m)
Map
OL7 - The English Lakes (South Eastern Area)
Walkers
Dave & Angie
Grasmere - Easedale Road - Goody Bridge - New Bridge - Sourmilk Gill - Easedale Tarn - Stythwaite Steps - Lancrigg - Goody Bridge - Easedale Road - Grasmere
Parking
Plenty of parking in Grasmere - mostly Pay & Display
Mileage
6.5 miles
Terrain
Good mountain & lake shore paths throughout
Weather
Perfect conditions although cold at times. Visibility was excellent.
Time Taken
3hrs 15mins
Total Ascent
1522ft (464m)
Map
OL7 - The English Lakes (South Eastern Area)
Walkers
Dave & Angie
GPX Files
From 1 March 2025 GPX files will not be available directly from the walk page as there is difficulty in using a downloadable version from the website. To that end, if you require a GPX File please get in touch via the Contact Form below and we will gladly forward it to you - thank you.
From 1 March 2025 GPX files will not be available directly from the walk page as there is difficulty in using a downloadable version from the website. To that end, if you require a GPX File please get in touch via the Contact Form below and we will gladly forward it to you - thank you.
Route Map
We were having a 2 day break in Grasmere therefore dropped our bags off early doors at The Inn and headed out on a nice walk prior to checking in later
From The Inn at Grasmere we headed out of the village up Broadgate turning left at the sign for Easedale Tarn
Along Easedale Road a gate on the left gives access to a path that gets the walker off the road for a few hundred yards
Didn't buy any but they are a lot cheaper than those on sale in Grasmere
At the first bend in the road near the turn off for Lancrigg a path on the left crosses a footbridge over Easedale Beck
Once the bridge is crossed the route enters Easedale
Looking across to Helm Crag as the path emerges from the woodland
The route crosses fields heading towards New Bridge. Tarn Crag above Sourmilk Gill is in the centre of shot with Calf Crag over to the right.
Lancrigg can be seen through the trees to the left with Fairfield, Great Rigg, Stone Arthur & Heron Pike in view
The route passes to the left of New Bridge - rebuilt in 1997
Helm Crag from New Bridge
Once past New Bridge the route continues over farmland into Lower Easedale
Looking across to Brimmer Head Farm below Helm Crag
Looking back towards Grasmere to Helm Crag, Heron Pike & Nab Scar
An Easedale selfie - it was nice to be out today
After passing through the farmland our route up to the tarn began to climb - the gradient is never steep, just gradual
Approaching the waterfalls of Sourmilk Gill with Brinhowe Crag over to the left
A little further on the path turns to the left and climbs to the falls beneath Brinhowe Crag
The middle and lower falls of Sourmilk Gill (Click Play to view)
Looking back to Lower Easedale & Grasmere from the base of the waterfalls
The upper waterfall of Sourmilk Gill & Ecton Crag (Click Play to view)
Sourmilk Gill falls in slow mo (Click Play to view)
The upper fall of Sourmilk Gill
Short walk today therefore for Angie this was a "no rucksack day" - always a bonus
The many lumps & bumps of Tarn Crag from near Easedale Tarn
Zooming in on Fairfield over the col between Gibson Knott & Helm Crag
Looking across the upper section of Sourmilk Gill to Greathead Crag
Easedale Tarn with Tarn Crag proving a fantastic backdrop
The large stone boulder at the top of Sour Milk Gill that marks the site of the old refreshment hut that used to be here many years ago. The boulder actually formed part of one of the walls of the hut. Sadly the hut decayed over time, particularly in the 1930s and during the 1960s was vandalised resulting in the materials being removed from the site. For many years the hut was run by Mr "Swanny" Wilson, at one time the proprietor of the Swan Hotel, who provided "sumptuous teas at a shilling a head"
The hut circa 1908 with the large boulder forming part of the outer east wall - the bearded chap standing is Mr Wilson
The interior of the hut and the east wall boulder circa 1908 with Mr Wilson in the doorway
A panoramic view of Easedale Tarn
Looking back to Easedale Tarn from the southern path - we were walking around the tarn today and our return path can just about be seen on the left
At Grid Reference NY 30342 08458 we branched off to the right in order to complete a circuit of the tarn. The original path on the left continues on up Easedale and can be used to access Sergeant Man, High Raise & the Langdale Pikes. The pointed fell in the distance is Belles Knott.
The route crosses a grassy depression and heads towards the western end of Easedale Tarn
Easy does it as Angie crosses the gill via the almost submerged stepping stones
Looking down Easedale Tarn from above the western shoreline
It was now time to contour around the northern shoreline of Easedale Tarn - this path would take us back to the outflow of the tarn at the top of Sourmilk Gill
Looking across Easedale Tarn to Blea Rigg
Approaching the outflow of Easedale Tarn at the top of Sourmilk Gill
The path leaves the shoreline for a short distance at its north eastern end to contour around a grassy depression
The crossing point of the outflow of Easedale Tarn. If you wish to return to Grasmere via the outward route then this is the place to cross. After a lot of rain this crossing can be quite precarious. We would be heading to Stythwaite Steps via the path to the left.
An Easedale Tarn selfie with Tarn Crag to the rear
Just off the path to the right are these two interesting features which Wainwright noted as "interesting boulders" (Tarn Crag 6).
The larger of the two boulders is sporting a badly fitting heather wig whilst the other has a small tree growing out of a large crack in the rock.
The larger of the two boulders is sporting a badly fitting heather wig whilst the other has a small tree growing out of a large crack in the rock.
Looking up Far Easedale to Calf Crag as we approach Stythwaite Steps
Dropping down to Far Easedale Gill and the footbridge at Stythwaite Steps
Crossing the bridge over Far Easedale Gill at Stythwaite Steps. The crossing takes its name from the stepping stones that are just out of view on the other side of the bridge.
From Stythwaite Steps the route heads back to Grasmere via the Coast to Coast path
At Grid Reference NY 32687 08556 we would leave the Coast to Coast path and turn towards Helm Crag. After approximately 100 yards we would then turn right through a gate to make our way via the woodland to Lancrigg.
The Dorothy Wordsworth Memorial
The grounds of Lancrigg are said to be the place where Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy created much of his famous work. The grounds inspired his poetry and is home to this memorial which marks the spot where she would sit and write the words her brother William Wordsworth was reciting to her while he walked. The transcription on the stone is in Latin and reads:
"Hoc in supercilic sedebat Dorothea Wordsworth dum ex ore fratis prope inambulantis carmina descrebit"
(Translated reads - Dorothea Wordsworth used to sit at this spot writing down the poems that her brother dictated as he walked nearby)
The grounds of Lancrigg are said to be the place where Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy created much of his famous work. The grounds inspired his poetry and is home to this memorial which marks the spot where she would sit and write the words her brother William Wordsworth was reciting to her while he walked. The transcription on the stone is in Latin and reads:
"Hoc in supercilic sedebat Dorothea Wordsworth dum ex ore fratis prope inambulantis carmina descrebit"
(Translated reads - Dorothea Wordsworth used to sit at this spot writing down the poems that her brother dictated as he walked nearby)
Arriving at Lancrigg - primarily a wedding venue, there is a cafe here (to the left) and is one we have stopped at many times. Lancrigg was the former home of the Arctic Explorer Sir John Richardson (1787 - 1865) - looks like they were having a bit of work done.
Extortionate for this lot but hey ho, that's the Lake District for you
Steel Fell, Dunmail Raise & the slopes of Seat Sandal from the approach to Grasmere
The view from our room at The Inn at Grasmere looking over the village to Stone Arthur