Walking Forum

Regions - Trip reports, destination advice, recommended routes, etc. => Lake District => Topic started by: richardh1905 on 17:58:45, 29/01/20

Title: Two less frequented tarns in the South Lakes
Post by: richardh1905 on 17:58:45, 29/01/20
A few photos from this morning's short walk with the dog, taking in Otter Tarn and Bigland Tarn, in the low hills to the south of Newby Bridge. After parking by some woods on the minor road between Cartmel and Backbarrow, I took a public footpath to Otter Tarn. Buzzards were calling in the woods.

(https://i.ibb.co/s3mhG0m/01-Otter-Tarn-Tess.jpg)
Tess on the approach to Otter Tarn. Delightfully rough country with bracken, young trees and heathery knolls.

(https://i.ibb.co/zxdBBdM/02-Otter-Tarn.jpg)
Otter Tarn - some rather exclusive holiday lets in the woods opposite.

(https://i.ibb.co/mTqKZ6L/03-Otter-Tarn.jpg)
Another view of Otter Tarn, this time from the NE.

The path then skirted the slopes to the north of the tarn, and rejoined the road. I took the path opposite through rhodedendron infested woods to Bigland Hall.

(https://i.ibb.co/0j2QLx0/04-Bigland-Tarn.jpg)
Bigland Tarn - Bigland Hall Estate have an obsession with Keep Out signs.

(https://i.ibb.co/x7G6LcS/05-Bigland-Tarn-Reeds.jpg)
Bigland Tarn reedy shore

(https://i.ibb.co/JzB9S2V/06-Flooded-Boathouse.jpg)
An unusual stone boathouse - difficult not to get your feet wet!

(https://i.ibb.co/fr66gxq/07-Ulverston-Channel.jpg)
The Levens Estuary from Bigland Heights. You can just make out the Hoad Monument.

(https://i.ibb.co/3dHGCrb/08-High-Stribers-Wood.jpg)
The path contours nicely through High Stribens Wood.

(https://i.ibb.co/kmBC53X/09-Natures-Bounty.jpg)
A pleasant mile or so back to the car - nature's bounty by the roadside.

Route on Viewranger HERE (https://my.viewranger.com/route/details/MjgzNDgyMw==?ref=54.23130923239273)
Title: Re: Two less frequented tarns in the South Lakes
Post by: April on 20:05:44, 29/01/20
Thanks Richard, some lovely photos of an area I don't know at all  O0

Otter Tarn is lovely, we must go and see it for ourselves  :)
Title: Re: Two less frequented tarns in the South Lakes
Post by: richardh1905 on 20:32:19, 29/01/20
Thanks April - I'm discovering lots of lovely secluded spots in the South Lakes. It is very intimate, complex and varied country - you never know what is around the next corner.
Title: Re: Two less frequented tarns in the South Lakes
Post by: vghikers on 20:49:40, 29/01/20
Good local walk and photos  O0

Otter Tarn?. Judging by the picture, is that Back Reddings Allotment Tarn as referenced in the literature?.
Title: Re: Two less frequented tarns in the South Lakes
Post by: Ridge on 21:03:16, 29/01/20
Lovely pics Richard, not sure if I can make out the Hoad or I just need to clean my screen.
Title: Re: Two less frequented tarns in the South Lakes
Post by: richardh1905 on 21:05:54, 29/01/20
Good local walk and photos  O0

Otter Tarn?. Judging by the picture, is that Back Reddings Allotment Tarn as referenced in the literature?.

Thanks for the feedback - and the correction.
I was wondering about the name of the tarn. I couldn't see a name on the OS map, or find any reference to a name on the internet - other than Otter Tarn, as used by the development of posh holiday homes on the NW shore. I suppose Otter Tarn is more marketable than Back Reddings Allotment Tarn.
Title: Re: Two less frequented tarns in the South Lakes
Post by: richardh1905 on 21:13:56, 29/01/20
Lovely pics Richard, not sure if I can make out the Hoad or I just need to clean my screen.

Thanks Ridge. I can just see a few pixels on top of the hill. Also visible are the rooves of the GlaxoSmithKline factory!
Title: Re: Two less frequented tarns in the South Lakes
Post by: Mel on 21:20:17, 29/01/20
Lovely pics Richard.  I'm glad you're enjoying exploring your new area.


Keep up with the mini trip reports and pictures - it's always nice to see new and unexplored places  O0
Title: Re: Two less frequented tarns in the South Lakes
Post by: Dovegirl on 21:35:51, 29/01/20
Very nice photos, Richard.  Tess looks as if she was enjoying the walk    :)
Title: Re: Two less frequented tarns in the South Lakes
Post by: richardh1905 on 21:41:00, 29/01/20
Nice aerial shot of Otter Tarn / Back Reddings Allotment Tarn (delete as appropriate) HERE (http://images.cottage-search.com/before_resize/929182/sc_14482929417365_929182_19.jpg)
Title: Re: Two less frequented tarns in the South Lakes
Post by: richardh1905 on 21:42:05, 29/01/20
Thanks Mel - will do!


Thanks Dovegirl - Tess always enjoys getting muddy!
Title: Re: Two less frequented tarns in the South Lakes
Post by: karl h on 21:49:19, 29/01/20
Another lovely little tramp around your local area Richard O0
That is a very nice tarn whatever it's called
Title: Re: Two less frequented tarns in the South Lakes
Post by: richardh1905 on 21:51:40, 29/01/20
Good local walk and photos  O0

Otter Tarn?. Judging by the picture, is that Back Reddings Allotment Tarn as referenced in the literature?.

Interestingly, the tarn is not marked on the 1 inch to the mile OS maps published 1955-1961. The dam must have been built relatively recently.

LINK TO OLD MAP (https://www.archiuk.com/cgi-bin/build_nls_historic_map.pl?search_location=LA12%208EY,%20LA128EY%20in%20Ulverston,%20Cumbria,%20England&os_series=7&latitude=54.238948&longitude=-2.980119&postcode=LA12%208EY)

I'm going to stick with Otter Tarn, as that is what it is now known as.
Title: Re: Two less frequented tarns in the South Lakes
Post by: richardh1905 on 21:56:25, 29/01/20
Another lovely little tramp around your local area Richard O0
That is a very nice tarn whatever it's called


Thank Karl - it is indeed.
Title: Re: Two less frequented tarns in the South Lakes
Post by: Slowcoach on 09:41:25, 30/01/20
Some years ago I walked from Haverthwaite Station in a 13 mile loop to Newby Bridge and that route took in Bigland Tarn and the tarn at Back Reddings allotment.  The allotments were quite hard going as I recall.
I alsi did a shorter version from Haverthwaite to Newby Bridge again taking in both tarns a reduced distance of 6 miles.
Title: Re: Two less frequented tarns in the South Lakes
Post by: sunnydale on 07:04:35, 31/01/20
Really nice photos Richard, Tess is a lovely looking dog too! O0
Title: Re: Two less frequented tarns in the South Lakes
Post by: richardh1905 on 20:08:59, 31/01/20
Really nice photos Richard, Tess is a lovely looking dog too! O0

Thanks Tracey. Tess visited the grooming parlour yesterday whilst I was working, and looks like a different dog!
Title: Re: Two less frequented tarns in the South Lakes
Post by: richardh1905 on 21:18:30, 31/01/20
Some years ago I walked from Haverthwaite Station in a 13 mile loop to Newby Bridge and that route took in Bigland Tarn and the tarn at Back Reddings allotment.  The allotments were quite hard going as I recall.
I alsi did a shorter version from Haverthwaite to Newby Bridge again taking in both tarns a reduced distance of 6 miles.

I didn't have too much trouble - the path in was reasonable, and there is a well trodden path along the shore. I did have to cross some dead bracken to pick up the path climbing away from the tarn - this obviously was not much bother in winter, but could be tiresome in July!