A small reedy tarn between the two Langdale valleys, with about the best-loved view of the Langdale Pikes in the district
Blea Tarn sits in the hanging valley between Great and Little Langdale, a small mountain lake — a tarn — fringed with reeds and a stand of pines. The reason people stop here is the view to the north: across the water the Langdale Pikes line up in a row, and on a still day they double in the reflection. It is one of the most photographed scenes in the Lake District, and for good reason.
The National Trust looks after the tarn and the land around it. A level path loops right round the water in well under an hour, boggy in patches after rain, so boots help. There’s a pay-and-display car park just up the road on the Blea Tarn pass, the narrow, steep lane linking the two Langdales, and it fills early on fine weekends.
Side Pike rises just to the northwest and Lingmoor Fell to the east if you fancy climbing for a wider view. Down in Great Langdale the walkers’ pubs at the head of the valley, including The Old Dungeon Ghyll, are the usual place to finish a day.
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