Tarn Hows | A Lake District Photography Guide
Why Tarn Hows Should Be on Your Lake District Photography List
Tarn Hows is one of the Lake District’s most accessible and beautiful photography spots. With a flat loop track around the tarn, it’s easy for everyone to enjoy, even if you’re walking with a pram or pushing a wheelchair. The National Trust car park is just a short stroll from the tarn, making it super convenient. Surrounded by woodlands and offering views of the Coniston Fells and Langdale Pikes, it’s a location packed with variety. This is truly a place I love to visit all year round, and there’s always something new to capture with your camera.
Tarn Hows really is an absolute classic Lake District photography location. One of the best vantage points is up by the National Trust commemoration rock, which is just off the main path and requires a bit of extra effort, but the views are worth it. Facing west, it overlooks the tarn and offers stunning views back towards the Langdale Valley, Pike o’ Blisco, and the Coniston Fells. This spot is perfect for capturing sunset colours and evening light. I’d recommend using a telephoto lens here to pick out the distant trees along the ridges around Tarn Hows, especially in autumn when the deciduous trees bring loads of colour. Thanks to the water in this area, there’s often a good chance of morning mist, making it a fantastic spot for year-round shooting and with it being so high up (and so accessible by car) it means no early morning uphill slogs!
A morning sunstar captured through the trees at Tom Gill | Nikon Z7 | Nikon 14-30mm | Nisi 6-stop ND
Zooming in on some of the beck’s smaller cascades | Nikon Z7 | Nikon 24-200mm | Nisi 6-stop ND
If you’re up for a bit more of a challenge, Tom Gill offers a change of scenery from the open tarn. The woodland trail has plenty of waterfalls and cascades to work with—an ND filter and a polarising filter are great tools to have here. For another perspective, Tom Heights takes you above Tarn Hows to the west and offers amazing views back towards Holme Fell and down to Coniston Water, with scattered silver birch trees adding plenty of interest for your shots.
Snowy silver birch trees on Tom Heights | Nikon Z7 | Nikon 24-200mm
Some golden evening light looking to Coniston Water | OM System OM-5 | Olympus 7-14mm
Tarn Hows is located between Coniston and Ambleside in the Lake District, and it’s easy to reach by car. Click HERE for a link to Google Maps. This ‘pin’ will show you where to park.
How to Get to Tarn Hows
Enjoying this guide? Want even more? Check out my Lake District Photography Locations eBook! It’s packed with 48 epic spots, easy-to-follow tips, and exact GPS coordinates—so you’ll always know where to go (and where to park). Grab it below and make your next trip even better!
