Ravenglass
Muncaster Castle Coachmans Quarters
Self-catering · Ravenglass / Muncaster — Private rooms with shared kitchen, dining and lounge spaces at Muncaster Castle.
The Lakes / Burnmoor Tarn
BURNMOOR TARN · ESKDALE WALKS & REMOTE MOORLAND
Burnmoor Tarn
Burnmoor Tarn lies among open moorland between Eskdale and Wasdale. It is a rewarding destination for a properly planned walk, with broad water views, a remote setting and the western fells rising beyond.
Last updated: 24 October 2026
A remote tarn between Eskdale and Wasdale
The UK Upland Waters Monitoring Network records Burnmoor Tarn at 253 metres above sea level, covering 23.9 hectares with a maximum depth of 13 metres. Its setting is a moraine hollow in the uplands between Eskdale and Wastwater.
Come prepared for a fell-country walk rather than a roadside stop. The landscape is open and exposed, and your route, ground conditions and the weather will shape the day.
Things to do: plan an Eskdale approach
Boot in Eskdale is a base for walks towards Burnmoor Tarn. The National Trust’s Eskdale Campsite guide identifies the tarn as one of the mountain lakes reached on foot from the valley.
Choose a mapped route suited to your group, and calculate the full distance, ascent and return time from your actual starting point. A return along your outward route and a longer circular walk have different demands.
Do not navigate solely from a short online description. Carry a map, know how to use it and allow extra time for rough or wet sections.
Pause to enjoy the view from established paths and suitable resting places. Keep dogs under close control around grazing animals, leave gates as you find them and take all litter home.
Stone circles and separate mountain days
The moorland above Boot also contains the Burnmoor stone circles. Cumbria Tourism describes five circles, including Brat’s Hill, which can be approached from the path from Boot. Plan any detour with a map and leave the stones undisturbed.
Explore the Burnmoor stone circles guide →
Routes towards Scafell or Scafell Pike are substantial mountain outings requiring separate planning, equipment and navigation. Do not treat a walk to the tarn as an automatic starting point for continuing to a summit.
Access, Burnmoor Lodge and water activities
Checked 24 October 2026: Burnmoor Lodge Club describes an approach involving 2–3 miles of walking, mostly across rough moorland paths or bridleways. This gives a useful indication of the terrain; it is not a distance for every route to the tarn.
The lodge is the club’s hut. Only members can book it, with other visitors staying as invited guests on a member’s trip. Arrange any visit through the club; do not rely on it as an open bothy, public shelter or visitor facility.
Read the Burnmoor Lodge Club’s visitor information →
For fishing, swimming or bringing a craft, confirm current permission, access and any permits with the landowner or rights holder before travelling. Do not assume permits are sold at the lodge. Remote water activities also require a plan for cold conditions and the return walk.
Getting here and preparing for the walk
Travel to your chosen valley starting point, then continue on foot along your planned route. There is no public driving route to the tarn’s shore.
Use designated parking in the valley and check its current terms. If combining the walk with a train journey to Dalegarth or other public transport, check operating dates and the return timetable before setting out.
Arrange food and toilet stops before leaving the valley. Carry sturdy footwear, waterproofs, warm layers, drinking water, food, a torch and navigation equipment. Check the mountain forecast and choose a turning time that leaves enough daylight.
The moorland approach is not a surfaced, level accessible circuit. Anyone needing a wheelchair or pushchair route should choose an outing with a published access description suited to their needs.
Where is Burnmoor Tarn?
Places to stay for an Eskdale walking break
The Coachman’s Quarters at Muncaster and The Pennington Hotel in Ravenglass are western Lake District bases to compare. Both require a journey to the start of an Eskdale walk; neither is accommodation beside Burnmoor Tarn.
The Daffodil Hotel and Spa is a separate Grasmere option for a wider Lake District holiday, with a substantially longer journey to Eskdale. Check routes, travel times and each property’s facilities before booking.
Grasmere
The Daffodil Hotel and Spa
Hotel · Grasmere — Lakeside setting, contemporary rooms and spa facilities.
Ravenglass
The Pennington Hotel
Hotel · Ravenglass — En-suite rooms and dining in a coastal village near Muncaster Castle.
Make more of a western Lakes stay
Allow separate time for Eskdale’s valley attractions, Muncaster Castle and the surrounding countryside. Keeping a flexible itinerary helps you choose a suitable walking day around the forecast.
Our existing Lakes Hotel & Spa guide offers a Bowness alternative for a wider holiday. It involves a separate journey to Eskdale rather than a nearby base for this walk.
A look around Burnmoor Tarn
Places to visit nearby
Plan separate visits to Stanley Ghyll Force, Muncaster Castle and Hardknott Roman Fort. Check current access, opening times and the road journey for each destination before setting out.
