Angle Tarn Walk from Patterdale: Route Map, Parking & What to Expect

It’s a steep trail, but incredibly rewarding in terms of views and the feeling of being high up in the fells. You’ll also get to Angletarn Pikes on this walk with a mini diversion, which lets you cover this Wainwright, if that’s something you’re interested in.

Whilst Angle Tarn is the main event here, the whole walk itself to Angle Tarn and Angletarn Pikes offers so much. The views change from dense woodland, ferns in the summer months and iconic Lake District farmland to high, rugged landscapes with far reaching views that are completely different on one side of the trail to the other.

Below, you’ll find everything you need to know for the Angle Tarn walk route from Patterdale. Like all our guides, it’s written from the firsthand experience of doing this walk multiple times, as someone who lives in, and has significant experience in the Lake District fells.

Angle Tarn Walk from Patterdale: Quick Stats

Distance: 7.7km/ 4.8 miles
Elevation Gain: 480m/ 1,574ft. ascent
Approx Time Needed: The Angle Tarn walk time is roughly4-5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate (very steep ascent to Angle Tarn from Patterdale. Rough and rocky.
Start Point: Patterdale. Public parking across at the White Lion Inn. All day parking is roughly £5. You can either pay by cash at the machine, or to pay by card, go into the pub across the road as instructed on the sign to pay.
Route Type: Patterdale to Angle Tarn is out and back with a short loop to take in Angletarn Pikes.
Wainwrights on this walk: Angletarn Pikes (reached just before Angle Tarn).

Our Angle Tarn Downloadable Route Map

The Angle Tarn walk route map I’ve included is through our embedded AllTrails widget. There are a number of ways you can save the Angle Tarn map to use yourself.  

The easiest is if you have your own AllTrails account. If you do, just save the Angle Tarn route to your own profile, then download it for offline use within the AllTrails app on your phone.

To get a paper copy of the Angle Tarn walk map, you can save it within AllTrails as a pdf then print it out. For a copy of the Angle Tarn GPX file, you can get hold of that too and use with whichever mapping software you prefer. There’s also a Garmin compatible version of the Angle Tarn from Patterdale map in there too.

Angle Tarn Walk from Patterdale: What to Expect

The Angle Tarn walk starts by crossing over the pretty Goldrill Beck. The scenery feels quite low level and pastoral here with high peaks all around you. The uphill here feels gradual until you take a sharp right which is where the ascent starts to feel a little more full on.

This section is truly beautiful, and you’ll really want to savour it, as walking up the steep stone staircase will make you want to stop and take a breather. In one direction, the views open out to Ullswater. As you ascend further, you’ll see the Kirkstone Pass open up more and more as well as the fells out to your right like Helvellyn and the Striding Edge ridge route.

Your first ‘crest’, or where things start to feel a little less full on in terms of the steep ascent to Angle Tarn, is Boredale Hause. There are various connecting routes here (like Place Fell) but for this walk, you’ll keep straight on. The trail isn’t free from ascent at this point, but after the initial climb up from Patterdale, this section up to Angle Tarn feels much better.

I think the views out to the right and straight ahead on this section up to Angle Tarn are some of the best on the whole walk. It feels dramatic. The peaks all around you seem to become more lifelike now you’re higher up. I feel like you can just trace all the different ridges and mountain lines with your eyes and never get bored.

Just before you reach Angle Tarn itself, I’d recommend taking the short detour up to Angletarn Pikes where you can also cover a Wainwright (if that’s of interest). The view isn’t ‘that’ much different from up here, but you do get a nice overview of Angle Tarn from above.

The trail is like a mini circuit here and you can come down onto the lake shore at the top end of Angle Tarn. I think the best views of Angle Tarn are from where I’ve marked the ‘end’ of the route on the map above. This area is just stunning; you have views out over the peaks and the water just adds to the drama. This is also a good spot to swim from (more on that below).

You can keep walking along the trail and just take in and enjoy the views or take a short detour to Buck Crag for a different perspective by keeping on this trail a bit further as it climbs uphill.

From Angle Tarn, you can take the same trail back downhill and retrace your steps to Patterdale. I think the views are particularly beautiful from the Stony Rigg area, and make this linear route feel like it has a lot to offer.

Key Highlights of the Angle Tarn Walk

Places to Swim

If you love getting into crystal clear water, then swimming in Angle Tarn is well worth it. On a sunny, warm day, there’s nothing nicer than dipping in the tarn to cool off after the steep ascent.

The views in and around the tarn are also sensational and I think swimming in Angle Tarn is something you won’t forget in a hurry.

You first approach the tarn from the top end on my route. I think some of the best, and easiest entry swim spots are on the west side of the tarn, where I’ve marked the walk route to finish at.

From where the route ends, you can walk off the main path to the shore and there are various easy entry points that should be pretty obvious to you. It’s grassy and then turns rockier as the grass and water meet.

There are a few spots along here for wild swimming in Angle Tarn, so there’s plenty of space if there are a few people around.

If you head up to Angle Tarn in summer, you’ll likely see people swimming from spots all around the tarn. The location I’ve recommended is my personal favourite: I think you have some of the most iconic views of the tarn with the surrounding mountains from here too.

Like many Lake District tarns, the water becomes deep quite quickly, so you’ll be unable to stand up within not too long. Depending on how familiar you are with swimming outdoors, you may want to stay close to the shoreline so you can get out easily if needed.

Due to its depth and position in the mountains, Angle Tarn can stay cooler than you might expect, especially if it’s windy at all. So being able to get out quickly and easily, even in summer is important. Keep an extra layer in your bag for after too.

Best Views & Photo Spots

Of course, Angle Tarn is one of the most iconic bodies of water in the Lake District. Its high location means it looks out dramatically toward some of the most well-known and highest peaks in the Lakes like Helvellyn, Nethermost Pike, Dollywagon Pike and Raise.

I think some of the best Angle Tarn photo spots are from where the route I’ve included above ends. From here, you’ve got that iconic view out (the photo I’ve included in the swimming info above is roughly what you’ll be looking at).

I also think there are a few other Angle Tarn views that a lot of people miss where you can often get some interesting things going on with the weather and scenery. One of my favourite spots is from the first place you’ll come out at on the lake.

Photography at Angle Tarn can be about more than just that one view, so I’d recommend wandering around and seeing what the weather is doing that day.

There are so, so many walks in the Lake District that are focused on one place, but some of the best views come along the way. I think the Angle Tarn and Angletarn Pikes walk from Patterdale is no different here.

I think some of the most stunning views out (in all directions) are from just after where you continue on toward Stony Rigg with Place Fell behind you. The last time we did this hike, there had just been a thunderstorm, and the clouds started to open up over Helvellyn and the surrounding mountains.

I think there’s so much more to experience on this walk than the tarn alone, and you’ll find lots of spots you’ll want to stop and photograph. You’ll have some of the most stunning views out over the whole area on this walk.

Seasonal Differences

This is such a beautiful walk to enjoy year-round, and the colours, scenery and general feel of the whole area can change so much throughout it. You’ll see the flowers change, the grasses change, and you might even get to experience things like frogs on the trail at certain points too.

In summer, you’re probably going to have the best experience on the walk from Patterdale to Angle Tarn. The trail is likely to be drier, so there’s less chance of slips. Navigation is easy in summer too. However, when it’s hot, the first section of the ascent is in complete sun, and it can feel pretty brutal.

There are also a lot of long ferns in summer, which can spill out onto the trail. Ticks are known to be found easily in ferns, so if your brush against them, just check any areas of bare skin for ticks every now and again whilst walking.

The landscape around Angle Tarn can be pretty different in winter to what it is in summer. Autumn and spring very much depend on the exact conditions were having that year.

The Angle Tarn walk from Patterdale is in a relatively remove area, and in winter, you may find that the roads to even get there are much harder to reach. The roads around here aren’t always completely gritted and can become subject to black ice which is extremely hazardous to drive on.

If you come to Patterdale from Ambleside or Troutbeck, you’ll also need to cross the Kirkstone Pass, which is a mountain pass that does become treacherous at certain point of the year.

The section from Ambleside to the Kirkstone Pass in is referred to as ‘The Struggle’ which does put some people off. Really, it’s just a steep section of road where you need to drive up confidently in a low gear.

The actual trail in winter can be very icy and slippery, so I’d suggest snow spikes or ice spikes depending on the weather. It can also get very windy in this area with cold blasts that will mean you’ll want to wrap up warm.

However, the trail is pretty visible (apart from in heavier snow, which doesn’t usually happen quite this low down) so even on foggy days, you’d still be able to head up to Angle Tarn pretty confidently.

Angle Tarn Walk from Patterdale: Difficulty Breakdown

Technical difficulty

In most parts of the year except particularly challenging winter conditions, this is very much a moderate walk. It is steep and the steps up are rocky and uneven, but there are no scrambling sections.

In winter, I think getting to the trailhead needs to be seen as part of the entire hike as well. After snow or in very cold conditions, you can expect that ice may play a part in whether you’ll even be able to reach the trail or not!

Exposure

The trail does cut along the ‘edge’ of the hillside from Rooking to Boredale Hause. This is steep, but the trail is also wide. There is never a significant drop off to the right-hand side.

The area to the right of Stony Rigg and Angletarn Pikes on the ascent may feel like it has a steep drop off, but there is a very wide trail and plenty of space around you. So, you should never feel like you’re on an ‘edge’.

Navigation

The trail is distinct for the entire route. The only time trail finding may be harder is in heavy snow. However, this area doesn’t usually get a particularly deep, long-lasting cover of snow, and the trail will usually be made visible quite shortly after it’s snowed by other people.

Though, there are always exceptions to this! If you’re planning to do this trail in winter conditions, you do need a confident understanding of winter mountain travel.

Steepness

The trail to Angle Tarn is steep, there’s no denying that. This is one where it’s best to pace yourself and start off a bit slower. This just gives you a bit more steam to get into the main ascent and enjoy it rather than enduring it.

What I Like About the Angle Tarn Walk

This is obviously a stunning mountain walk to an amazing, iconic tarn and that does have its draw. Though what I love, and what I often find, is that I’m left thinking about the views and experience along the way just as much as the ‘payoff’ when you reach the end point.

There’s something about being high up in the Lake District that lets you get a breath of fresh air. This area often has pretty dramatic weather and this makes for utterly incredible conditions.

I’ve never been disappointed with the views, and always feel like there’s something different I notice and fall in love with every time I do the Angle Tarn walk from Patterdale.

Angle Tarn Walk: Parking & Transport

Parking

The most direct route to Angle Tarn is from Patterdale. There is actually very little information about Patterdale parking (especially considering there are so many iconic routes around here). When you look on the map, there seem to just be a few hotels and pubs with parking, but it isn’t clear if it’s public or not.

Angle Tarn parking can seem a bit tricky, however there is public parking in Patterdale at the White Lion Inn. When you get into Patterdale, just head for this map location (save it offline first as signal there is not perfect).

There is space for a decent number of cars here. You can pay at the machine in the car park with cash, or head into the Inn across the road to pay by card. The last time I was there, the parking cost £5 and was for all day.

If this is full, the next nearest parking is Glenridding, where there is a fairly big pay and display. However, this does add about 4km to the walk in total, but is mostly flat if you do have to do it.

Public Transport

There are several bus routes that allow you to get to the start of the Angle Tarn trail in Patterdale. You can pay with contactless, Apple Pay and similar on all buses.

Here are a couple of the main bus route options from various starting points:

• 508 service from Penrith to Windermere Bus and Train Station (and vice versa)
• 509 service from Keswick to Patterdale (including Aira Force, Pooley Bridge, Penrith – and vice versa)

These buses actually cover a wide range of areas and stops within their service that allow you to connect up with other buses in places like Ambleside, for example.

These bus routes have different schedules through the year, with more services available in summer.

Angle Tarn Walk from Patterdale: Route Extensions & Other Walks in the Area

There are so many walks near Patterdale, Glenridding and all around the Kirkstone Pass and into the eastern and central fells. Way too many to name in a list here.

My walk map also includes Angletarn Pikes which is probably one of the first options a lot of people would look at for a route extension. The extra distance and elevation gain you need to cover to get up to them is minimal, which is why I’ve added them. They also allow you to cover a Wainwright too (if that’s something of interest to you).

If you wanted to make this route longer, you could continue along the trail after Angle Tarn and head up to Buck Crag and Brock Crags, which, after the elevation gain you’ve just covered from Patterdale, doesn’t add a lot of extra effort.

You’d then head down to Hartsop and either walk back along Hause Gate to Patterdale (classed in part as the Boredale Hause walk), or if you caught the bus, pick this back up from around Bridgend or Hartsop which would make it a bit shorter.

I’ve included our downloadable map of this version here. You could alternatively do the Angle Tarn walk from Hartsop and complete the route in reverse, but I think the version from Patterdale is nicer.

Another option is the Place Fell walk, which takes the same initial trail up, but then would take a left to cover this Wainwright. The views from the top of Place Fell are stunning.

I’d recommend doing them on separate days as they do offer quite different experiences, but if you did want more of a challenge, you could include both Angle Tarn and Place Fell on one walk, which I’ve included a downloadable map for here.

Some of the most iconic peaks in the Lake District like Helvellyn, Raise, Nethermost Pike and Dollywagon Pike are in this area. Then just a little further you’ve also got places like Grisedale Tarn via Raise Beck and The Great Tongue on the Coast to Coast route.

If you love the look of the Angle Tarn walk, I’d also recommend the Alcock Tarn walk from Grasmere for something a tiny bit easier. The Old Man of Coniston is also an iconic route and covers another Wainwright. It’s one of my favourites and has the beautiful Low Water to dip in either on the ascent or descent.

What to Bring on the Angle Tarn Walk

What classes a walk as ‘moderate’ does cover a bit of a broad spectrum. The Angle Tarn walk from Patterdale is certainly moderate, and is very steep on the ascent from Patterdale.

The steps on the way up the hillside on the main ascent and descent can be extremely slippery in rainy or cold weather. The trail is also in a remote (ish) location, and takes you to a high, exposed spot so it can also be windy and cold.

Here is a very short list of gear that I’d recommend bringing with you for this walk, depending on the time of year you do it:

• Waterproof jacket (and waterproof pants depending on just how much rain is forecast)
• Waterproof hiking shoes or boots with very good grip. If you plan to walk to Angle Tarn when there’s ice or snow on the ground, use ice or snow spikes too
• Hiking poles if you use them (they really help on the steep descent)
• Warm layers including a puffy or insulated jacket or a good quality insulating mid layer
• Gloves and a hat (or a sun hat and sunglasses in summer)
• Plenty of water and snacks
• Map saved offline: signal is patchy, and while the trail itself isn’t difficult to navigate, it’s always good to be prepared
• Swimwear if you want to swim at Angle Tarn (I’d recommend bringing neoprene boots as the bottom is rocky)

This list is by no means exhaustive. I’d also recommend reading the guides on our sister site, This Expansive Adventure on what to wear hiking and our day hiking checklist. dedicated gear guides for all the essentials we’d recommend for hiking in the Lake District.

Why Trust Our Lake District Walking Guides

This Angle Tarn walk from Patterdale guide has been written by someone who lives in the Lake District. The aim with all our guides is to give you the information you actually need, including maps and the right level of detail to get you out and feel prepared.

When I write a walking guide, it means I’ve actually done this walk more than once and assessed it using my years of experience in the fells and spent time thinking in detail about what is actually important for you to know.

This just means that when you know what to expect, it’ll feel safer, you’ll feel better prepared and overall, this has a better impact on you and the place you’re visiting, so it’s a win-win.