Located in the Lake District National Park, Tarn Hows is a man-made charming tarn (an old Norse word for ‘small mountain lake‘). It is one of the top scenic destinations in the North West of England attracting over 500,000 visitors each year.
Tarn Hows located in the low-level hills between the villages of Hawkshead and Coniston is ideal for a walk or cycle trip from either village. It’s a favourite with both regular and first-time visitors and is popular with artists and photographers who love the setting and the views.
While it is a very well known, and consequently a busy Lake District visitor attraction, what is less well known is that the tarn used to be three smaller ones called High, Middle, and Low Tarn. In 1862 James Marshall gained the land and set about building a dam to raise the level, and with other landscaping largely created the Tarn Hows we see today. Later he sold it to Beatrice Heelis, better known as Beatrix Potter, who passed it eventually to the National Trust for safekeeping.
The recommended starting point for any hike or a stroll will be from the car park opposite the entrance to the Tarn (2, Mylngarth Gardens, 2 Oak St, Windermere LA23 1EN).
I have produced a video that captures the majestic Tarn and its surroundings, and have uploaded it to YouTube for everyone to enjoy. View it in HD (1080p) if possible. Please check out my Instagram and Facebook accounts for more photos which I took during my visit to Tarn Hows. Enjoy!
