S7 · Southern
Tarn Hows - Black Fell & Holme Fell
10.3 km · 523 m · OS time 03:37 h · with dogs 4-5 h · Moderate Amber
This trip: 0/2 · Overall: 0 of 214
Route map
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Car park
Tarn Hows NT car park
LA22 0PW · SD326995 · 54.38683, -3.03898
NT pay & display, 68 spaces, members free. Toilets.
➤ NavigateRoute sketch
Sketch only — straight lines between summits. Follow the OS Maps route on the hill.
Fells
Route
From Tarn Hows car park along the east side of the tarn and north on the lanes and tracks to Black Fell (Black Crag). West down to Oxen Fell High Cross, cross the A593 and follow the ridge path south-west to Holme Fell. Down past Yew Tree Tarn and up through Tom Gill to Tarn Hows.
Dog hazards
Black Fell's final stretch is steep but walkable. HOLME FELL'S TRUE SUMMIT is a rocky dome reached from the north by a short rock step / crack that needs hands - dogs found this frightening, especially coming down. Easiest option: stop at Ivy Crag (the big cairn just north of the summit, no hands needed) or leave the dogs on the grassy strip between the two tops while you go up. Busy, lots of other dogs.
Scrambles
Short rock step to Holme Fell's true summit (both up and down). No rock-free line to the top exists - stop at Ivy Crag with the dogs.
Water
Tarn Hows, Yew Tree Tarn.
Livestock
Belted Galloway cattle graze around Tarn Hows - leads on and give them space.
Walkers’ reports
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