Alcock Tarn from Grasmere
A short, steep climb from Grasmere to a quiet fellside tarn, with one of the best views of the vale on the way down past Dove Cottage.
- Distance
- 5.4 km
- 3.4 miles
- Ascent
- 312 m
- High point 370 m
- Time
- 1 hour 30 minutes
- Walking time, no stops
- Grade
- Moderate
- Circular
Take this walk with you
Google Maps does not know most fell paths, so use it to get to the start, then follow the GPX in an app like OS Maps, Komoot or AllTrails. To see the line in Google Maps, open Google My Maps, create a map, choose Import and pick the KML file. It then appears in the Google Maps app under Saved, Maps.
Weather on this walk
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Alcock Tarn is the walk to do when you want a real taste of the fells from Grasmere without committing a whole day. The climb is short and sharp, up beside Greenhead Gill and then on a zig-zag path, and suddenly you are on a shelf of open fell with a reedy tarn and the village laid out below.
The descent is the best part. A rocky path drops towards Dove Cottage with Grasmere, Rydal Water and Loughrigg in front of you the whole way, and you finish on the old lanes at Town End where Wordsworth lived.
It suits fit families and anyone with a couple of spare hours in Grasmere. Proper boots help: the path is rocky in places and wet on the top.
The route
- 1
Grasmere to Greenhead Gill
From the car park walk out to the A591 and cross with care. Take the lane beside the Swan Hotel and follow it for about half a mile, then turn right where it is signed for Greenhead Gill and Alcock Tarn, with the stream on your right.
- 2
Up to the tarn
Cross the bridge at the top of the lane and follow the path that bears right and then left alongside a wall to a bench with a big view over the vale. From here a zig-zag path, rocky in places, climbs to an outcrop, then flatter, wetter ground leads through a metal gate to the tarn.
- 3
Over the gap
Walk along the tarn and leave through the gap in the wall at the far end. A short rocky descent opens up the whole view south over Grasmere, Rydal Water and Loughrigg Fell.
- 4
Down through the woods
The path steepens down to a gate and a bench, passes an old pond that was once part of a woodland garden, then turns left through a metal gate and down through trees to a lane.
- 5
Back past Dove Cottage
Turn right and follow the lane downhill, then right again on the minor road past Dove Cottage to the A591. Cross at the roundabout and follow the signs back into the village.
Questions people ask
How long does it take to walk to Alcock Tarn?
Allow two to three hours for the round trip from Grasmere, longer with children or a picnic at the tarn.
Where do you park for Alcock Tarn?
Use one of the pay and display car parks in Grasmere village, such as Stock Lane, and walk out past the Swan Hotel to the start of the climb.
Is Alcock Tarn a hard walk?
It is short but steep, with a rocky zig-zag path. Most reasonably fit walkers manage it comfortably; it is not suitable for pushchairs.
More walks nearby
Silver How from Grasmere
Moderate, 5.8 km, 370 m up, about 2 hours
Grasmere's own little fell: a short circuit to a rocky summit with one of the finest views of the vale, the lake and the Langdale Pikes.
Easedale Tarn from Grasmere
Moderate, 8.6 km, 227 m up, about 2 hours
Grasmere's classic tarn walk: up beside the white cascades of Sourmilk Gill to a big mountain tarn, back by Far Easedale.
Helm Crag from Grasmere
Moderate, 6.6 km, 326 m up, about 2 hours
Grasmere's own fell: a short, steep climb from Easedale to the rocky crest known as the Lion and the Lamb, with an exposed summit block for those who want it.
Food, drink and beds near the start
The Wordsworth Hotel
Luxury Hotel, Grasmere, £££, dogs welcome
A much-loved hotel in the heart of Grasmere village, now part of The Inn Collection Group and reopening after a major refurbishment with dog-friendly rooms and a relaxed pub-style dining offer.
Wordsworth Grasmere
Heritage, Grasmere, ££
Dove Cottage and the museum tell the story of England's greatest Romantic poet in the landscape that inspired him.
Tweedies Bar & Lodge
Modern British, Grasmere, ££, dogs welcome
A relaxed Grasmere bar and lodge with a big beer garden looking out to the fells, a strong line of craft beers and ales, hearty seasonal food and live bands at weekends.
The Daffodil Hotel & Spa
Contemporary British, Grasmere, £££
A luxurious lakeside retreat offering panoramic views of Grasmere Lake. Features an award-winning spa and elegant dining rooms serving locally sourced cuisine.
The Jumble Room
Eclectic, Grasmere, ££
A gloriously eclectic Grasmere institution where world flavours collide on a menu that refuses to be pigeonholed.
Forest Side
Tasting Menu, Grasmere, ££££, dogs welcome
A Michelin-starred restaurant in a Gothic Victorian mansion overlooking Grasmere, with much of the produce foraged from the surrounding fells. The tasting menu is a masterclass in terroir-driven cooking.