Tarn Hows: A Scenic Dog-Friendly Walk in the Lake District
Location: Coniston, Lake District
Distance: approx. 1.6 miles / 2.6 km
Time: around 1 hour
Dog friendly: Yes
Difficulty: Easy
Parking: Tarn Hows National Trust car park
Perfect for: A scenic walk followed by tea, cake and exploring the surrounding Lake District
If you’re planning a dog-friendly trip to the Lake District, Tarn Hows is definitely worth adding to your itinerary..
The route we followed on Alltrails was lovely, but it may not be the best for wet weather as there was a small section in the first few miles that was a little steep going down some craggy rocks, but there's alos a different circular walk around Tarn Hows seperatley which is approximately 1.6 miles, making it a really manageable option if you’re looking for a shorter walk.
The route we did was very nice for dry weather, with beautiful views across the water and towards the surrounding fells. There are plenty of places to stop along the way, so you can take your time rather than feeling like you need to rush around the route.
It’s a lovely mix of woodland and open landscape, and the scenery changes as you make your way around the tarn.
It’s also a great option if you’re visiting the Lake District with dogs because there’s plenty for them to sniff and explore along the way.
As always in the Lake District, it’s important to keep dogs under control around livestock and wildlife and follow any local signage.
And if your dog is anything like ours, I’d recommend taking a towel. There’s a very good chance they’ll discover the water and decide they’re absolutely desperate for a swim.
How long does the Tarn Hows walk take?
The route we followed took a few hours, the basic circular route is around 1.6 miles, and you can comfortably walk it in around an hour.
However, I’d allow longer if you’re visiting with dogs because there are plenty of reasons to stop - whether that’s letting the dogs have a good sniff, taking photos or simply stopping to admire the views.
It’s the sort of walk that works really well as part of a bigger day exploring the Lake District rather than being the only thing you do that day.
Iced tea and cake afterwards
And obviously, we couldn’t finish a scenic Lake District walk without rewarding ourselves afterwards.
One of the things I love about Tarn Hows is that you can turn it into a really lovely little day out - walk around the tarn, take in the scenery and then find somewhere nearby for a drink and cake.
We finished our walk with iced tea and cake at Joey's Tarn, which honestly felt like the perfect ending. Because let’s be honest, sometimes the promise of cake is the motivation you need to get everyone out for a walk.
Our verdict
Tarn Hows is definitely one I’d recommend if you’re looking for a relatively easy and scenic dog-friendly walk in the Lake District.
It’s not a huge hike, but you still get those beautiful views you’d expect from a day in the Lakes. It’s also easy to fit into an itinerary if you’re exploring the area or visiting for a short break.
For us, it was the perfect combination of a pretty walk, happy dogs and cake afterwards - which is basically our ideal kind of day.