Tarn Hows

Tarn Hows near Coniston looks like a natural mountain lake, but it is largely man-made: James Garth Marshall, who acquired the Monk Coniston estate in the 1860s, had three small tarns joined into one body of water to feed his sawmill in Coniston. He planted broadleaf trees, along with larch and spruce as temporary shelter for the young saplings. Because Marshall died before his plan was completed, the conifers were never removed and still shape the view today. In 1930 the National Trust bought large parts of the estate; Beatrix Potter and her husband William Heelis also bought land, and Potter left the remainder to the Trust.

The circular path is about 3.2 km (2 miles) long, and the circuit takes around an hour. It is a wide, firm gravel path with gentle slopes and a few short, steeper sections; the main path is suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. There is a pay-and-display car park, and dogs are welcome on leads.