Follow the waterfalls to Easedale Tarn
You can see the white ribbon of Sourmilk Gill from the valley floor long before you reach the falls. The tarn itself is harder to spot. Even above the last cascade, a low fold in the fell keeps the water out of sight. A few more steps and the whole tarn opens up beneath Tarn Crag.
This half-day walk begins at The Grand at Grasmere. There’s time to pick up something for a picnic in the village, follow the beck up through the fields and spend a while by the water before walking home.
Easedale Tarn at a glance
Detailed Information
- Highest Point – Easedale Tarn shore, approximately 280m (920ft) above sea level
- Distance – Approximately 7.6km (4.7 miles) out and back
- Duration – 3–4 hours for the return walk
- Difficulty – Moderate, with a steeper climb beside Sourmilk Gill
- Wainwright Fells – None. The route turns back at the tarn
- Starting Point – The Grand at Grasmere car park, Red Bank Road
- Parking – Complimentary guest parking at The Grand at Grasmere
- Dog Friendly – Yes, for dogs comfortable on rocky steps. Keep dogs on a lead around livestock
- Suitable For – Walkers and families comfortable with a half-day walk and uneven stone steps
- Terrain – Village lanes and field paths, followed by rocky steps beside the falls and an uneven fell path to the tarn
- Navigation – Take OS Explorer OL7 and a compass. Download the route before setting off if using a phone
- Walking Boots – Walking boots or trail shoes with good grip are recommended for the rocky climb and descent
Why walk to Easedale Tarn?
The falls are worth the walk in their own right. From the fields below, you can trace the stream down the fell in a single white line. Up close, it breaks into a series of cascades, and you can hear the water long after the path has carried you above it.
At the tarn, the pleasure is in putting down your rucksack for a while. Tarn Crag rises across the water, and on a still day its reflection reaches well out from the far shore.
Route description
1. From The Grand to Easedale Road
Leave the hotel car park and follow Red Bank Road towards the village. Turn left onto Langdale Road. Opposite The Inn at Grasmere, take the lane towards Allan Bank. Just beyond the cattle grid, take the footpath on the right signed for Goody Bridge. It runs through fields before bringing you out onto Easedale Road. Turn left along the lane.
2. Across the beck and into the valley
Where the road bends right, look for the sign to Easedale Tarn and take the footbridge on the left. The path passes through a small patch of woodland, then opens into fields. Follow the track with the dry-stone wall on your left and Easedale Beck on your right. At the fork beyond the flat stone bridge, take the left-hand bridleway towards the falls.
3. Up beside Sourmilk Gill
The gradient changes here. The path climbs in rocky steps beside the cascades, with some uneven footing as you gain height. Pause on the path and look back down the valley. From here you can trace the walls of the fields you’ve just crossed, with the beck threading between them.
Above the falls, the gradient eases. Follow the path over the low rise for your first view of Easedale Tarn. The mapped route continues a short way along the near side of the tarn, with the water on your right.
4. Back to Grasmere
Retrace your steps past the tarn outlet and down beside Sourmilk Gill. Take your time on the stone steps, particularly when they’re wet. Once the ground levels out, follow the field path with the beck on your left. Cross back to Easedale Road and return by the Goody Bridge path and Langdale Road to the hotel.
What to bring
Wear walking boots or trail shoes with good grip for the stony section beside Sourmilk Gill. Pack a waterproof, a warm layer, water and something to eat at the tarn. Take OS Explorer OL7 and a compass, carry a charged phone and check the Lake District mountain forecast before you leave. After heavy rain, the stone steps beside the falls can be particularly slippery.
Back at The Grand at Grasmere
There’s a place for muddy boots on the heated racks in our boot room. Once you’ve changed, settle into the lounge with a drink or join us for dinner at Café Grand. If you’re planning another walk for the morning, our Silver How route guide takes you above the village for a different view of Grasmere.
Plan Your Walk
Fancy a morning by the waterfalls? Set aside 3–4 hours for the walk from The Grand at Grasmere to Easedale Tarn and back, with a little extra if you’d like to stop for a picnic by the water.
Before you lace up your boots, check the mountain forecast and download an offline map. The stone steps beside Sourmilk Gill can be slippery after rain, so take your time on the way back down.
Explore the Easedale Tarn route on our interactive map
Happy walking!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Start from the hotel car park on Red Bank Road and walk through the village to pick up the path towards Goody Bridge. Guests can leave their car at the hotel for the whole walk.
Allow around 3–4 hours for the 7.6 km return walk. Leave a little longer if you're bringing a picnic or walking with children.
It suits walkers who are comfortable spending a few hours on their feet and climbing uneven stone steps. Children who already enjoy countryside walks may particularly like the bridges and waterfalls. The rocky upper path is unsuitable for pushchairs.
This guide follows the same path out and back. Your turning point is beside Easedale Tarn, so you can complete the walk without crossing the tarn outlet or making a circuit of the shore.
Yes. The route crosses grazing land. Keep your dog on a lead around livestock, follow signs on the ground and close gates behind you.
A clear spring or autumn day gives you a good view of the crags, while summer's longer evenings leave more time for a picnic. Choose a day with good visibility and check for ice in colder weather, particularly on the stepped path beside the falls.
