Blelham Tarn
OS Grid ref:-
Picturesque Blelham Tarn occupies a quiet and secluded spot, west of Lake Windermere and is situated by the Lakeland hamlets of High and Low Wray. Highly attractive when clad in Autumn colours it boasts a magnificent mountain backdrop to the north.
Blelham Tarn & Bog are a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) . The tarn covers around 25 acres in area and is up to 47 feet deep in places. Blelham Tarn is attractively fringed with reed beds, which make access to its western shore difficult.
Roach, perch, pike, eels, and brown trout inhabit the tarn. The large amount of blue-green algae on the tarn's surface in the summer months is an indicator of a lack of oxygen in its depths.
A Walk from Hawkshead to Blelham Tarn
Distance - 4.5 miles
*Commencing at the public car park at Hawkshead, proceed down the main street to the gable end of the Red Lion pub. Continue down the alleyway on the right. Cross the road and continue on by a high wall along a track and path to a foot-bridge.
*Turn left after the bridge tand continue along the bank of the stream for a short distance, then incline right to a wicket gate in a corner.
*After crossing a bridge, continue across the field to a stile via a bridge over a ditch. Turn left and to another stile and continue straight ahead for another onto a lane. Turn left.
* After around fifty yards proceed through the wicket gate on right. Follow the fence, passing through a gate to a track towards the farm. Go right of the buildings and yard and go through the gate onto a lane. Turn left.
*Immediately after the farmhouse on the right pass through a gate, continue along the lane. Do not fork left with the track but continue on by a line of trees to gate-posts. Go on, on the same line, to stile, deviating slightly at the end to cross the ditch by the fence. In the next field bear left and make for the higher part of field.
*A corner can then be sighted ahead where two lines of trees meet. Make for this, Blelham Tarn will now come into view. Continue through the gate in the corner of the wall. Take the ridge to its left, pass over a stile and turn right to the road. Turn left through the farmyard and through the gate beyond. Pass an ash tree to the track.