Angle Tarn is one of the Lake District’s most charming bodies of water. On a windswept plateau nearly 500 metres above Ullswater, this humble lake is a popular destination for walkers seeking a short but rewarding hike from Patterdale.
The murky waters of Angle Tarn are a feature of the fell known as Angletarn Pikes. Listed in Alfred Wainwright’s famous guides to the Lakeland Fells, Angletarn Pikes form part of a greater ridge that towers above Ullswater and Hartsop.
To the north, Place Fell is a popular hike and a worthy addition to a walk up to Angle Tarn. To the south, Brock Crags offers a sense of remoteness and fine views over to Brothers Water and High Hartsop Dodd.
Despite being surrounded by Wainwrights, many people complete the walk to Angle Tarn without summiting one of the nearby fells. On a warm summer’s day, it makes for an energetic but relatively short hike – a perfect route for a morning or afternoon.
Although you can start the walk to Angle Tarn from a small car park in Hartsop, our favourite route begins at Patterdale. Matt hiked this route in June 2023 and instantly fell in love with the views. Based on his experience, here’s how to walk from Patterdale to Angle Tarn.
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Patterdale to Angle Tarn: A summary
Distance: The walk from Patterdale to Angle Tarn is approximately 7 kilometres ( around 4.3 miles) there and back.
Ascent: There are roughly 415 metres of ascent on this route from Patterdale to Angle Tarn.
Height: Angle Tarn sits at a height of 479 metres above sea level.
Walking time from Patterdale: At a decent pace, the whole walk (there and back) to Angle Tarn from Patterdale should take between 2.5 and 3 hours.
Views: This hike offers superb views on the ascent from Patterdale. Angle Tarn itself provides a fine vista across the boggy moorland.
The walk to Angle Tarn from Patterdale: How to do it
1: Patterdale car park to the trailhead
Summary: Cross Goldrill Beck and walk through a small hamlet to the trailhead leading to Boredale Hause.
Our favourite route to Angle Tarn starts at Patterdale. Drivers can park their cars at the small pay and display car park opposite the Patterdale Hotel.
To get from Patterdale to Angle Tarn, you will start by walking south along the A592 road. The road continues to Hartsop Pass. As you walk along the A592, Ullswater, England’s second-largest lake, should be behind you.
After a minute or two of walking along the road, turn left. Take the small vehicular bridge over the meandering waters of Goldrill Beck. The route brings you through a tiny hamlet with traditional Lakeland stone houses.
You will pass a couple of self-catering cottages on your left. Ignore the route to your right and follow the road as it curves to the left.
You will walk along the single-track road for a minute or two. Along the way, you will be flanked by traditional dry stone walls, trees and lush vegetation. Eventually, you reach the end of the road, with a wooden gate on the right. A signpost points the way. Walk through the gate – this marks the start of the footpath to Bordale Hause and Angle Tarn.
2: The trailhead to Boredale Hause
Summary: Follow the steep path until you reach the beautiful mountain pass of Boredale Hause.
To reach Angle Tarn from Patterdale, you must first hike up to Boredale Hause. Linking Patterdale and Boredale, the hause is a classic Lake District mountain pass on which several well-trodden paths converge. It’s a great place to meet other hikers and swap stories and plans for your adventures in Lakeland.
The rocky path to Boredale Hause climbs steeply up through thick bracken. A green bench, its paint flaking, sits among the bracken. A sign reads ‘VR 1897’ – a Victorian-era bench from the late nineteenth century.
As the path climbs, the views swiftly become spellbinding. Looking west, the impressive summits of Fairfield and St Sunday Crag start to poke their heads into view.
Drystone walls crisscross the perfectly flat valleys. Below the path, the A592 leads to Kirkstone Pass. Kirkstone is one of the Lake District’s infamous mountain passes and the highest in the National Park. When I visited, the road was closed for renovations, and the valley was pleasantly quiet.
During my climb up to Boredale Hause, I spotted a couple had stopped for a break. The pair sat on a small rock that jutted out from the side of the path. They huddled together quietly, enjoying a sandwich and admiring the view. Below them, a few lone sheep made their way along the hillside, looking for scraps of foliage to nibble.
Eventually, with your heart pumping after a steep climb, you will reach Boredale Hause. You’ll know when you’ve arrived – at the top of the path from Patterdale, the route reaches a crossroads.
Google maps route: Click here for a Google map of the route from the car park in Patterdale to Boredale Hause.
3: Boredale Hause to Angle Tarn
Summary: Turn right at Boredale Hause and follow the path to Angle Tarn.
To the left is the summit of Place Fell. This is another of the 214 famous Wainwright Fells, just under a mile away. You will likely spot a few hikers going to the summit, zigzagging up the steep path to the top.
The views from Place Fell are marvellous. At the top, with ample opportunity to gaze down at the kayaks, canoes and boats on Ullswater far below.
To reach Angle Tarn from Boredale Hause, however, you should take the path to the right. This leads past a few undulating mounds, climbing up and down and winding around. After a final left turn, with Angletarn Pikes looming above you, the waters of Angle Tarn come into view.
It makes for a stunning sight. A smattering of tiny islands sit in the murky, dark waters. A few lone trees grow from mossy crags. On a moody day, the tarn is foreboding and wild, with small waves racing over the surface as the Lake District gales howl. On a hot summer’s day, however, the tarn is an inviting place to refresh and recharge before starting your return journey to Patterdale.
When I was there, the rain had just begun to fall. On the far shore, a small group of hikers made their way along a narrow path. They fumbled in their rucksacks for brightly-coloured rainjackets before disappearing into the distance.
4: Return from Angle Tarn to Patterdale
Summary: Return the way you came – head to Boredale Hause before descending back to Patterdale.
Once you’ve reached Angle Tarn, you can spend as long or as little as you’d like. There is a loose footpath that skirts around the eastern shore of the tarn, which is perfect if you want to get a different perspective on the water. You can also wander right up to the water’s edge to dip your toe – or take a full plunge – into the icy waters.
When you’re ready to depart Angle Tarn, the easiest way to return to Patterdale is to retrace your steps. Head back to Boredale Hause before wandering back down to Patterdale, where a well-deserved refreshment awaits at the Patterdale Hotel or the White Lion Inn.
More information about Angle Tarn and the surrounding area
From wild camping to extending your hike, here’s all the extra information you should know about Angle Tarn.
Extending your walk from Angle Tarn
If you want to extend your walk, there are a couple of options:
- Angletarn Pikes: Directly above Angle Tarn, the craggy summit of Angletarn Pikes makes for an excellent – and quick – addition to your walk to the tarn.
- Place Fell: As you return to Boredale Hause, continue straight ahead to the summit of Place Fell. The views across Ullswater are worth the extra effort.
- Brock Crags: A few hundred metres further south from Angle Tarn, the secluded Brock Crags offer splendid views across to Hartop, Brothers Water and the northern edges of Hayeswater Reservoir. It’s as close to wilderness as you can get in the often-busy Eastern lakes.
Extending your walk to Brock Crags also offers the opportunity to complete a longer loop without returning to Boredale Hause.
You can descend from the crags towards the quiet farm track that leads from Hartsop to Hayeswater. Once you reach the track, you can follow the road back to Patterdale.
Note that there is no path on which to descend the slope from Brock Crags, and the descent is steep. I would only recommend this route if you are an experienced hillwalker and are completing this route in good conditions. Otherwise, the best option is to retrace your steps and return to Patterdale via Angle Tarn and Boredale Hause.
If you do decide to descend from Brock Crags, make sure you watch your step. There are the remains of an old dry stone wall which runs down the slope – you can use this as a rough way marker.
Top tip: Keep an eye out for buzzards. There is often a nest nearby, and they can be quite territorial – I was dive-bombed by an angry buzzard when walking down the slope.
Wild Camping at Angle Tarn
Whilst wild camping in the Lake District is not strictly permitted, Angle Tarn is a popular spot for those looking to spend a night under the stars. There are plenty of secluded, flat patches on which to pitch a small tent, both beside the water and on the crags above the tarn.
As always, if you choose to wild camp at Angle Tarn, please stick to the rules. Leave no trace and take care when using flames – particularly during a hot summer spell.
The weather at Angle Tarn
Being a remote lake at nearly 500 metres above sea level, the weather at Angle Tarn – like the rest of the Lake District – can be changeable. Even if it’s a pleasant, dry day down in Patterdale or at Ullswater, there is no guarantee that conditions up at the tarn will be the same.
When I visited, it had been 25 degrees and sunny on the beaches of Ullswater at Glenridding the day before. Up at Angle Tarn the next day, however, the wind knocked several degrees off the temperature, and there were intermittent periods of rain and drizzle.
Make sure to pack a waterproof and an extra layer. Check the weather forecast before you go – we recommend using the Mountain Weather Information Service (MWIS) for the most reliable mountain forecast.
Read next: Hiking to the summit of Yr Wyddfa in North Wales at night.
Angle Tarn from Patterdale: How to do it
From reaching Patterdale to accommodation options, here are all the practicalities you need to know about the route up Angle Tarn.
Getting to Patterdale for the start of the walk
By car: Most people will choose to drive to Patterdale. The best car park in Patterdale is the small pay and display opposite the Patterdale Hotel. It’s worth noting that parking in this area can fill up very quickly during the peak season, so it is worth arriving as early as possible. If parking in Patterdale is full, you can park in the much larger car park in Glenridding and walk or catch the bus to Patterdale.
By bus: Catching the bus in the Lake District is a marvellous way to reduce the pressures on the region’s tiny and overcrowded roads. The Stagecoach 508 service is ideal for exploring the Ullswater region by bus. The 508 runs between Penrith train station and the Patterdale hotel, with stops along the way including Glenridding and Pooley Bridge. Tickets cost just £2 for a single journey.
A note on bus travel in the Lake District: Travelling by bus also offers you the flexibility to enjoy a point-to-point walk in the area. We love exploring the Lake District by bus – the 555 from Windermere to Keswick is a particular favourite. Click here to read more about our favourite car-free walks in the Lake District from the 555 bus.
Food and drink in Patterdale after the hike
There are only a handful of places to eat and drink in Patterdale. The Patterdale Hotel and the White Lion Inn both serve food and the usual array of hot and cold drinks.
The YHA Patterdale also has a surprisingly well-stocked bar and a small courtyard with tables. Next to the YHA, the outside bar at Old Water View has an equally good selection of drinks and an even better riverside setting.
For more options, we recommend walking or catching the bus to Glenridding where there is a greater selection of cafes and pubs. You will also find a couple of small convenience stores – the Glenridding Mini Market is the pick of the bunch.
Read next: Enjoying the best view in the Peak District.
Accommodation in Patterdale
For those looking to extend their time in Patterdale and explore more of the area, there are a few options. Accommodation in Patterdale mainly comprises a couple of hotels, guest houses and a smattering of self-catering cottages.
A central hotel: The Patterdale Hotel is the largest hotel in the village, offering a perfect setting for embarking on walks up to Angle Tarn or Arnison Crag and Birks. The hotel offers cosy, comfortable rooms and a guaranteed lively atmosphere in the downstairs public areas during busy weekends, when hikers and holidaymakers alike descend on the bar. Rooms from £94 a night, including breakfast.
A cosy and friendly Bed & Breakfast: Old Water View is a charming Bed and Breakfast located on the edge of Patterdale. With friendly hosts and a fabulous cooked breakfast, this is the perfect option for those seeking a homely welcome in Lakeland. They even include a small library of books about the local area and a well-stocked honesty bar for evening drinks. Rooms from £120, including breakfast.
A former hunting lodge: For those travelling with a family or big group, Daweswood is a self-catering holiday home that sleeps up to 10 guests. With three acres of lush gardens and a host of original features, this Edwardian-era stone house used to be a hunting lodge before welcoming visitors. It’s not cheap, but it oozes character and could make for a wonderful base to explore the area. From £643 a night, self-catering.