Lake District

Monk Coniston and Tarn Hows walk

Tarn Hows Cumbria | © ©National Trust Images Annapurna Mellor

Walk from the head of Coniston Water to Tarn Hows via this picturesque circular route created by 19th-century industrialist J. G. Marshall to wow guests at his country estate. Pass through farmland and woodland, as well as the Walled Garden and tree collection of Monk Coniston Hall. Look out for an abundance of wildlife along the way while enjoying some of the Lake District's best views.

Near to

Tarn Hows and Coniston

Start point

Monk Coniston car park, grid ref: SD316978

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 5 (km: 8)

Short trail

DistanceMiles: 3.5 (km: 5.6)

Duration2 hours to 3 hours

Dog friendly***

*Several short sections are steep. For further details, please see Terrain section.
**Option to do a circuit of Tarn Hows lake, which is very accessible. For further details, please see section marked Access.
***Dogs are welcome but must be kept on leads. For further details, please see section marked Facilities.

Address
Coniston, Cumbria
Directions via Google Maps
By ferry
Catch the National Trust’s Steam Yacht Gondola from the pier in Coniston village to Monk Coniston Jetty (April to October).
See Steam Yacht Gondola for more information.
By bus
Coniston Rambler (505) runs from Windermere, Ambleside and Hawkshead. X12 runs from Ulverston Monday to Saturday, connecting with X35 from Kendal and Barrow.
By road
A593 from Ambleside. Pier is at end of Lake Road, turn immediately left after petrol station if travelling south from centre of Coniston village. Car parks at Monk Coniston, Coniston village and Tarn Hows.
Option to do circuit of Tarn Hows lake, which is very accessible and has high-grade paths. It can be reached from a car park near point 4 on the map.
Tarn Hows access statement
Accessible toilet
There are accessible toilets at the back of the main car park at Tarn Hows.
Accessible route and/or map
The route around Tarn Hows is accessible. For more details please see our Access Statement.
Powered mobility vehicle
Tramper mobility scooters are available to hire at Tarn Hows.
Total stages: 6
Total stages: 6
Start point
Monk Coniston car park, grid ref: SD316978
Stage 1
Leaving Monk Coniston car park, take the path into the field opposite. Walk up the field to the black gates at the entrance to Monk Coniston grounds.
Stage 2
Entering the grounds walk up through the woods and into the Walled Garden which is currently being renovated. Look out for the small stone Gazebo which has information panels inside.
Stage 3
Leaving Monk Coniston grounds, take care crossing the road, as you enter the woodland. You'll soon cross a narrow bridge. As you walk through the woods many forestry tracks and paths adjoin but ignore these and stick to the main path, following signposts towards Tarn Hows car park.
Stage 4
Arriving at Tarn Hows you can walk around the Tarn on a circular loop where there's a good path with seats. The 19th-century landowner, James Garth Marshall, created the Tarn and planted the many trees that shape this landscape.
Stage 5
Return to the main Tarn Hows car park and follow the one-way exit road towards Coniston. Take the first footpath on your right to Tarn Hows Cottage. Before you reach the cottage, take the first footpath on the left, this winds down the hill through fields to Boon Crag Farm. Enjoy the views out over Coniston Water as you go.
Native breeds
Look out for Herdwick sheep (lambs have dark brown bodies and white faces, becoming greyer in colour as they get older), roe deer and hares. Red squirrel are in danger of local extinction but make their home here, as do otter. Common lizards and adders live on the heathland, while adders spend more time basking in the sun than most snakes, so you may see one, especially in early spring when they emerge from hibernation. They have a distinctive dark zig-zag pattern on their backs.
Stage 6
When you reach the farm track at the bottom of the hill, turn left and continue past the farm and sawmill. At the road, turn right to join an off-road footpath which leads you back to Coniston Water. When you get to the lake, cross the road and walk left back to the car park.
Steam Yacht Gondola on Coniston Water in the Lake District | © National Trust Images/Tiree Dawson
End point
Monk Coniston car park, grid ref: SD316978
Trail map
Monk Coniston and Tarn Hows trail map | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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View of Tarn Hows and the surrounding mountainous landscape

Trail

Tarn Hows circular walk

Take in stunning views of the Lake District fells as you follow this easy, accessible route around a tree-lined tarn, with a Tramper mobility scooter available to borrow.