Blea Tarn walk (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Blea Tarn walk

5:40pm Friday 15th July 2011

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I recently looked at my diary dated July 7, 1955, when a friend of mine had just bought an old motorbike and a new camera. We set off not knowing where we would end up but finished up strolling around Blea Tarn in glorious sunshine. Things hereabouts have changed very little since and the place is still very beautiful.

How to get there:

Blea Tarn is around 10 miles to the west of Ambleside and there are two routes, one along the Little Langdale valley and the other along the Great Langdale valley. There is a car park at Blea Tarn and the narrow roads leading to it are easy to negotiate with care.

Map: OS OL7

Grid reference for car park: 295 044

Distance: Around 2 miles

Terrain: On the whole this is easy and has glorious views of the Langdales and the tarn. I usually extend the walk by climbing up to Side Pike and those who wish to do that should wear ‘proper’ walking boots and take special care if there has been any rain.

Refreshments: Obviously such a remote area does not have refreshments but there are excellent places in which to enjoy a picnic. Apart from a very few busy days during weekends in summer this is one of the quietest areas to enjoy scenery and a feast of wildlife.

Route:

1 From the car park turn left and on the opposite side of the road find a gate and follow this through a level path. Approach a little footbridge over a stream leading out of the tarn and turn right.

2 This leads in to a conifer plantation and there are also stands of rhododendron, which provide cover for lots of wildlife. I soon saw a family of jays - but perhaps I should say I heard them.

There are few more strident calls in the bird world than a family of young jays being fed. Before I set off I looked at my diary entry for 1955 and noted that I had seen red squirrels in the area.

At that time the red squirrel was common but as is well known the species is struggling to survive. I did spent some time exploring this area looking for signs of reds but without luck.

3 This area provides spectacular views of the Langdales. Although the track is rough in places it is easy and eventually reaches first a cattle grid reached via a gentle slope.

4 Cross the narrow road linking Great Langdale and Little Langdale and then bear slightly left and then sharp right towards Side Pike. Here is a stile and then a sharp climb along a well marked path to reach the pike.

5 It is worth the steep climb but the view is well worth the effort as here is a panorama consisting of Bowfell, Crinkle Crags and the Langdale Pikes. As I sat down on a boulder to have a rest I had a splendid view of a ring ouzel which is also known as the ‘mountain blackbird.’ It does indeed look like a blackbird but has a prominent white ring around the breast area. I have not seen a ring ouzel for many years and what a joy it was to see it especially as it was feeding young. Return to the narrow track which reaches a very narrow area well named the Squeeze Flake. This reminded me that I need to pay more attention to my diet and I was glad that I had already enjoyed my substantial picnic. Cross a stile over a fence and descend a very steep path to reach the road.

6 Follow the road passing the very pretty Bleatarn House on the left. This stretch should not be rushed as there are splendid views of Blea Tarn down to the right. Just before reaching the car park look out for a boulder on the right called the Echo Stone. I wondered why it was so named and as I was on my own except for my labrador, I tried to shout at the stone and even tapped it with my empty picnic box but the breeze was building up and there was no echo. I’m glad nobody saw me because even my dog looked at me as if I was mad for shouting at a stone! Return to the starting point on the left.

NB: Restrictions on space mean that this article provides a general summary of the route. It is advisable for anyone who plans to follow the walk to take a copy of the relevant Ordnance Survey map.