Blind Tarn, Coniston

Consiton, Lake District

This lovely little tarn is possess all the qualities needed for a year-round wild camping spot near Coniston. Parking, navigation and access are all straightforward, even in inclement weather and the view over Coniston Water is more than worth the modest climb to 550m.

Torver has all the right attributes for a perfect wild camping parking location – busy enough but quiet enough. Your vehicle won’t be exposed and isolated over night(as it would if you parked at the Walna Scar car park) and the nearby pub means that you can grab a drink at the beginning or end of your trip.

The hike up to the tarn is worth the walk in itself, as it passes through a number of abandoned quarry works. The picturesque waterfall at Banishead Quarry makes a perfect rest stop on your climb up the hill. The waterfall itself only flows when the stream water level is high enough. The rest of the time the stream simply bypasses the quarry, heading straight down the mountain.

After the waterfall the path meets the Walna Scar road, a historic route linking the central lake district with the Duddon valley and Barrow-in-Furness

OS Map and Route

Download file for GPS

Details

• Start: SD 283 941
• Finish: SD 262 966
• Distance: 4.8km
• Ascent: 501m
• Time: 1hr 45mins
• Camp Altitude: 570m

Features

• Reliable year-round water source nearby
• Shelter from prevailing westerly wind
• Scenic hike up via disused quarry works and stream
• Easy to access path any time of year.

Views

• Consiton Old Man
• Coniston Water
• Grizedale

Parking

• Safer parking is available at Torver, not at the isolated Walna Scar car park.

Gallery

Optional Route / Return 15km route via Old Man & Consiton Water

Here is an much longer but more scenic route that takes in the major nearby fells as well as adding a bit of lake side walking.

Download file for GPS