Grasmere via Easedale Tarn up Tarn Crag: route map, distance and time
549 m · Lake District C&W · OS grid NY303093
Tarn Crag is the rocky fell that rises above Easedale Tarn near Grasmere, a Wainwright with a steep crag face and a quiet, knolly top.
The well-used path climbs beside Sourmilk Gill to Easedale Tarn, then a steeper, rougher path rises up the shoulder east of the crags.
Grasmere via Easedale Tarn at a glance
| Distance | 4.9 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 473 m |
| Time up | 1h 45m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 2h 45m, down the same way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Grasmere village |
| Start grid reference | NY 336 075 |
| Summit grid reference | NY303093 |
Grasmere via Easedale Tarn map
The start (green) and the summit (blue). Peakify has no GPX track for this route yet, so follow the description and your map.
Height profile and getting to the start
Near the start
- 1769 Bar & Restaurant0.1 km
- Tweedies Bar0.2 km
- The Distiller’s Arms0.2 km
- Baldry's0.0 km
- Freda And Ray Cafe0.0 km
- Harleys Bistro Cafe Bar0.0 km
- Public toilets0.0 km
- Public toilets0.3 km
- Public toilets0.7 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
How long Grasmere via Easedale Tarn takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 25m | 2h 15m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 45m | 2h 45m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 10m | 3h 25m |
Times leave out stops. Coming down the same way, the table counts the ascent once; steep descents on rough ground can be as slow as the climb.
- Today: sunrise 07:46, sunset 18:07. Start by 14:22 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 45m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:05. Start by 14:20 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 45m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Tarn Crag summit weather for this route
-
Good Today Sunday 18 October
Partly cloudy, up to 7°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -3°C, summit wind 10 mph gusting 18 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:46, sunset 18:07.
-
Good Tomorrow Monday 19 October
Light drizzle, up to 9°C at the summit, feeling as cold as 0°C, summit wind 22 mph gusting 27 mph, 47% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:05.
Best day of the next seven for Grasmere via Easedale Tarn: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 18 mph and a 0% chance of rain.
Hour-by-hour Tarn Crag forecast
Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
What to take today
- An insulated jacket, hat and warm gloves: it feels like -3°C on top.
- A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
- Microspikes for icy paths. In snow, an ice axe and crampons and the skills to use them.
- Map and compass, and the skills to use them. A phone is a backup, not a plan.
- A head torch, food, water, a charged phone and a small first aid kit.
About Tarn Crag
Tarn Crag is the rocky fell that rises above Easedale Tarn near Grasmere, a Wainwright with a steep crag face and a quiet, knolly top. More about Tarn Crag, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Calf Crag (537 m), 1.1 km north
- Codale Head (732 m), 1.5 km west
- Blea Rigg (542 m), 1.5 km south
- Gibson Knott (420 m), 1.5 km north-east
- Sergeant Man (736 m), 1.8 km west
- High Raise (763 m), 2.3 km west
Challenges that include Tarn Crag
More walks from Grasmere village
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Grasmere via Easedale Tarn up Blea Rigg
- Grasmere via Helm Crag and Gibson Knott up Calf Crag
- Grasmere via Far Easedale up Calf Crag
- Grasmere via Stone Arthur up Fairfield
- Grasmere over Helm Crag up Gibson Knott
- Grasmere via Stone Arthur up Great Rigg
- Grasmere via Easedale Road up Helm Crag
- Grasmere via Alcock Tarn up Heron Pike
- Grasmere via Easedale Tarn up High Raise
- Grasmere via Easedale Tarn up Sergeant Man
- Greenburn horseshoe from Grasmere up Steel Fell
- Grasmere via Greenhead Gill up Stone Arthur
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 336 075, the summit at NY303093), what happened and how many are in your group. If you have no signal for a call, a text to 999 works once you have registered your phone with emergencySMS: text "register" to 999 before you go.
Grasmere via Easedale Tarn: questions and answers
How far is Grasmere via Easedale Tarn?
Grasmere via Easedale Tarn is 4.9 km one way to the summit of Tarn Crag, with 473 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 9.8 km.
How long does Grasmere via Easedale Tarn take?
About 1h 45m to the summit of Tarn Crag and 2h 45m there and back by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops. A relaxed group takes nearer 3h 25m for the round trip.
Where do you park for Grasmere via Easedale Tarn?
Grasmere via Easedale Tarn starts from Grasmere village. The grid reference is NY 336 075.
Is Grasmere via Easedale Tarn suitable for beginners?
Yes, for fit walkers on a clear day. Peakify grades it Moderate: a long climb on a made path, but the top is high, exposed and colder than the start. Turn back if the cloud comes down and you can't navigate.
What time should I start Grasmere via Easedale Tarn today?
By 14:22 at the latest. Sunset on Tarn Crag today is 18:07, Grasmere via Easedale Tarn takes about 2h 45m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Grasmere via Easedale Tarn?
Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).