Sour Milk Gill Falls
OS Grid Reference: NY235122
Sour Milk Ghyll, which derives its curious name from its white, swirling waters, is situated near Grasmere. The water flows out of the tarn and descends through a series of impressive waterfalls. The cascades were once known as Churn Milk Force, and Dorothy Wordsworth likened them 'to a broad stream of snow'.
Easdale Tarn fills a vast hollow, gouged out by glacial action, it drains water from the surrounding hills and releasing it at its narrow mouth into Sourmilk Ghyll. Around the lake lie grassy hillocks, piles of glacial debris left by the retreating ice as it melted some 20,000 years ago.
A walk to Sour Milk Gill Falls and Easedale Tarn from Grasmere
Distance- around 4.4 miles
Ascent - around 200 metres
*Parking for this walk can be found at Grasmere Village.
*From St. Oswald's Church in the village, proceed up the road to the Wordsworth Hotel. Just after passing the hotel, turn right into College Street.
*Pass the Methodist church on the left and continue to the crossroads at the bookshop, go straight across and continue along the road signposted to Easedale Tarn.
*Walk up the road, passing housing, for about half a mile until reaching a track which leads off the road via a bridge across Easdale Beck, the track is signposted Easedale Tarn.
* Beyond, the track follows the course of the stream, passing through meadows, the waterfalls on SourMilk Ghyll are clearly visible ahead.
*The path begins to rise steeply by the side of the waterfall, simply follow the path up to Easedale Tarn, retracing your steps to return to Grasmere Village.