Eel Tarn from Boot

• A picturesque Lakeland tarn
• Great views of unspoilt Eskdale
• Boot is a pretty little village

Eel Tarn is one for artists, people with imagination and dreams. I was there on a summer’s evening in complete silence; the first time I had come across complete silence during my summer of walking. There was no wind, the sun was hazy but the tarn idyllic. It is not necessarily a place for children as there are no pebbly beaches but it is easily accessible and has some wonderful rocky outcrops amongst the bracken making it a perfect place to spend some time. The route from Boot passes some delightful falls on Whilfan Beck (which leads to the rarely visited but much larger Burnmoor Tarn) before climbing through the bracken for the first view of the tarn. The descent is steeper but offers a beeline to the Woolpack Inn and its excellent beer garden. Here Eskdale can be fully appreciated, the road is not busy with cars and the scenery is fantastic. When I was there last there were more cyclists than cars which reflects the type of people who discover Eskdale and make it all the better as a result.

Recommend: For those who want to explore a little further, Stony Tarn is 3/4 a mile to the north east and has a very similar appeal to Eel Tarn.

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© Crown copyright 2010 Ordnance Survey. Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.

OS Map:	1/25,000. OL6 The English Lakes South western area
Start Point:	173007. Boot is small with no real parking, there is a large parking area at the train terminus. Walk throughBoot nd take the track to the right before crossing the bridge
Terrain:	Easy tracks through the bracken. If going to Stony Tarn it is best to return the same way to Eel Tarn.
Eating & Drinking:	For a sunny day the Woolpack Inn is the place to stop but when the beer garden is not tempting the Boot Inn is a good little pub
Similar Walks Nearby:	Discover the Upper Esk A walk along Muncaster Fell Craggy frolics from Eskdale
Places to Stay:	Bridge End Cottages, Eskdale Eskdale Camping & Caravanning Club