The Best Tarns for Wild Swimming in the Lake District

As the summer nights draw in and autumn approaches, September is still a great time of year for taking a dip in one of the many bodies of water in the Lake District. We’ve already told you where our favourite spots to swim are in Lake Windermere here, but now we want to share with you the best tarns to explore and leave you feeling revitalised!

Loughrigg Tarn

A gorgeous natural, small tarn which is found just north of Skelwith Bridge at the foot of Loughrigg Fell, a popular Wainwright walk which can act as a warm up before taking a dip in the tarn. There is a wonderful campsite nearby if you’re wanting to stay the night so you can take advantage of doing a sunrise or sunset swim.

Blea Tarn

Located in the valley of Little Langdale, Blea Tarn has been described as the jewel in the crown of swimming spots in the Lake District. You can incorporate a swim here with one of the larger fells nearby or simply a walk around the tarn then plunge into the clear waters. Conveniently there is National Trust parking just opposite the entrance with room for 16 cars.

Beacon Tarn

Probably one of the lesser known tarns to swim in, but definitely no less beautiful. It’s located just below Beacon Fell and is a short walk from Water Yeat village which offers a stunning view of the surrounding fells as you hike. When swimming, you have an amazing backdrop of Dow Crag and Coniston Old Man giving you a truly serene wild swimming experience.

Please wash your swimwear in between swims to avoid the cross contamination of algaes and help to keep the Lake District safe and clean. Never swim alone unless confident and tell someone where you are going. Most of all, enjoy your swim!

For more information on Wild Swimming in the Lake District why not grab our new Lap Map here.