Glenridding to Lanty’s Tarn

This is a short, tranquil walk that takes you away from the crowds around Ullswater up to a hidden tarn. Lanty’s Tarn is named after Lancelot Dobson, a local landowner in the 18th century. The tarn might lack the dramatic backdrop of Red Tarn by Helvellyn, or the natural beauty of Tarn Hows by Coniston Water, but it does offer a sense of peace and quiet, being largely ignored by visiting walkers in the area.

This walk offers plenty of opportunity for dogs to be let off the lead, with one short stretch through a field of livestock. In May, part of the walk is dominated by bluebells. In Glenridding, you will find plenty of dog friendly establishments, including the Inn on the Lake, which has a dedicated bar for ramblers that welcomes muddy boots, dogs, and children.

The Start of the Walk

The car park in Glenridding is very easy to find. If you are approaching from the direction of Penrith and Pooley Bridge, it is just off the A592, half way through the town on your right (left if you came from the Kirkstone Pass). It is very clearly signposted.

You will find a visitor centre for the Lake District National Park Authority here that has been refurbished since the floods and is also known as the Helvellyn Base Camp. To start the walk, exit the car park via the way you drove in, and turn right to cross the bridge over the Glenridding Beck. Immediately after the bridge, turn right again to join the road that leads up the opposite side of the beck, signposted for Helvellyn.

The Way to Lanty’s Tarn

Follow the track past the shops, and out of the village. It gradually ascends past some houses, and follows the beck. Eventually you will come to a turning on the right, with a signpost. Continue past this turning (signposted for Helvellyn) and continue along the main track. This track is used by vehicles, albeit rarely, and this is worth considering when deciding whether or not to let your dog off the lead.

Entering the Woodland

The track ends at a pretty stone cottage. Just before the cottage there is a turning on the left onto a footpath, signposted for Lanty’s Tarn and Helvellyn. Take this turning and you will come to a gate, with a small wooden bridge just in front of it, crossing over a very small stream. Go through the gate and you will be in a small woodland. Your dog can roam freely here.

Through the Woods

Once you have gone through the gate turn right. You will now be on a clear path that leads up the fell side through a woodland. The path is steep at times, and has a few stepped sections. It turns sharply on a few occasions, but is clear throughout and easy to follow. There are some great rock formations in this woodland for children to explore. The path ends at another gate.

The Ascent Up Keldas

Go through the gate, and turn right (you can turn left for a quicker, steeper route up but turning right offers more rewarding views). You are now on Keldas, a small fell with open scrubland, and your dog can roam freely here. The path leads up the fell. In May, this side of the fell is covered in bluebells. As you ascend you will be able to see across into the Glenridding Beck valley, with its abandoned mine buildings. Behind you, Ullswater slowly comes into view.

View from the Top

The path leads to a farm wall with a gate. Do not go through the gate, but continue along the path as it turns sharply left, up the fell. At the top, there is a bench marking the viewpoint where you will be able to see Glenridding and Ullswater stretched in front of you.

Lanty’s Tarn

Continue past the bench, and the path now begins to descend. In front of you there are two gates. You will need to take the right hand gate, and this will take you to the tarn that lies just the other side. (NB: When the accompanying picture was taken, Cumbria had experienced less than half the average rainfall, and like all other bodies of water in the area, the tarn had shrunk considerably). The path leads alongside the tarn to the opposite end, where there is a small damn. This is a very quiet spot, and ideal for a peaceful picnic.

Descending from the Tarn

Continue to follow the path that runs alongside the tarn, and beyond. Once past the damn the path begins to descend the fell. You will now see Grisedale Beck valley in front of you, with Birks fell towering overhead. You will see a turning on the left onto a track. Ignore this and continue down to where the path forks. Take the left hand fork.

The Farm Field

The left hand fork leads to a gate. You need to put your dog on a lead at this point. Go through the gate and you will now be in a farm field, and you are very likely to encounter livestock. The path goes straight through the field to a gate at the other end. Go through this gate and you will now be on a narrow road. Do not turn left, but instead go straight on. Cross over a bridge, and at the end of the road, turn left onto another narrow road. Both roads are very quiet and traffic is rare and slow moving.

Return to Glenridding and Ullswater

The narrow road follows Grisedale Beck down to the A592. You can turn right here to visit the small village of Patterdale, where you will find pubs and a shop, as well as the Crookabeck Farm Shop that sells wool and mohair products produced on the farm from its flocks of Angora goats and Herdwick sheep. To return to Glenridding, turn left, crossing the A592 at times to access the footpath.

When you reach St Patricks Boat Landing on the right hand side, there is a footpath that leads from the side of the snack bar down to the lakeshore, with benches along the way. Continue along the footpath until its end at the Ullswater Steamer launch point. Turn left here to return to Glenridding.