Holme Fell, Black Fell and Tarn Hows Waterfalls | 7 Miles
This walk visits two of the smallest Wainwrights – Holme Fell and Black Fell. Whilst smaller in height, they do pack a punch when it comes to views. This 7 mile walk also visits the spectacular Tarn Hows waterfalls, hidden away in the woods.
Black Fell trig point
Holme Fell might be one of the smaller Wainwrights at 316m, but it packs in plenty of charm. Tucked between Coniston Water and Little Langdale, it offers surprisingly wide views for such a modest climb – perfect for a shorter walk with big rewards.
Black Fell at 323m is another low-level gem, sitting between Tarn Hows and Skelwith Bridge. It’s an easy-going walk with a mix of woodland and open fell, and the summit offers cracking views towards the Langdales and Windermere on a clear day.
This one has been on our to-walk list for a while! We had previously attempted to climb Holme Fell but an unfortunate navigation mishap meant we ended up on the summit of Ivy Crag, thinking it was Holme Fell, and not realising until it was far too late to return.. We were idiots.
This time, our walk started in the Glen Mary car park and we set off along the road for a short distance until we reached the very pretty Yew Tree Tarn. Skirting the west of the tarn, the route starts to climb up the hillside through Harry Guards Wood before reaching Uskdale Gap. At the cairn, we took a left to follow the path which winds its way through the overgrowth to the south-west, over the undulating terrain. This area is beautiful – it’s like walking in Jurassic Park (without the dinosaurs).
Yew Tree Tarn
Uskdale Gap
Views from near the summit of Holme Fell
There is a small scramble section to climb up onto the summit of Holme Fell, marked by a small cairn. Annoyingly I didn’t get a good photo of the summit, but it’s just your average Lakeland cairn!
We retraced our steps back to Uskdale Gap (where we saw a beautiful deer!) and set out north-east, following the faint path on the ground to reach the fence line. We followed the fence line to reach a viewpoint, then crossed the fence and headed down to the north-west of Man Crag.
Climb over the fence
The route continues and meets Smithy Brow, which we followed down to the A593. Here the path runs along the roadside on the other side of a wall, and is part of the Cumbria Way. We followed this until it rejoined the road at a small parking layby and the junction of High Oxen Fell Road. Here we crossed the road and followed the track up Hollin Bank.
The path initially drops a little then climbs up the hill, passing through a wooden gate and a wooden signpost marking Skelwith Bridge, Little Langdale and Iron Keld. The track passes Low Arnside Farm and continues to climb the hillside, passing another wooden gate and then getting steeper as you get nearer to Black Fell.
Just after the path turns a corner, there’s a grassy path up to the left which will take you up to Black Fell summit.
There is a stone trig point with a National Trust plaque naming it Black Crag near the summit, but the actual spot height summit is over a ladder stile and isn’t marked by anything. We nipped over the stile and back, then set off south-west down the hillside.
The route passes through a small wooden gate and then down through the Iron Keld Plantation on a well-maintained track, through the woods all the way to a junction with another gravel path where we turned right.
Passing through a larger wooden gate, we followed a gravel track down through the woodland. After about half a mile, we picked up a path heading south which runs through an area which has been subject to some forestry works recently, and then joins the path running around Tarn Hows.
Down the track…
Through the gate…
Tarn Hows, with a very moody sky!
This picturesque spot was originally three natural tarns, flooded in the Victorian era as part of a landscape design, and is in the ownership of the National Trust who purchased the former Monk Coniston Estate. It is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a popular spot for a lakeside wander as you can walk all the way around it.
Our route follows the path running to the east of the tarn until we reached a stone bridge/weir. There’s a footpath running to the west down through the woodland, running alongside Tom Gill Beck. This fast-flowing stream runs through the wooded Glen Mary ravine. There are a couple of stunning waterfalls, one of which drops 30 feet (9m) and has has been an attraction to visitors for much of the 20th century. You’ll hear them before you see them!
The rocky path at the start of the trail
The route heads down the ravine, crosses a wooden bridge and then you’re back in the car park!
Walk Map (Opens in OS Maps): Holme Fell, Black Fell and Tarn Hows Waterfalls Walk
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