Summer Lodge Tarn walk
A walk to Summer Lodge Tarn
I have always wanted to see how long it would take to walk to Summer Lodge Tarn from Swale View to add to the list of walks to do in Swaledale. I had a rough idea of course and knew there would be a couple of steepish climbs the other side of Summer Lodge itself to get up to the Tarn.
What I didn’t plan on was doing it after a day of walking and heavy gardening, but I did so my legs were not exactly firing on all four cylinders.
The route is fairly straight forward, head over Isles Bridge, up past Haverdale Beck and the waterfalls, through Crackpot, down the road past Summer Lodge B &B, up the track, turn right off the track a few hundred meters before the Askrigg road, head along the track until it ends and head slightly left on a not very well defined track for the final 200 meters to the Tarn. total length is about 7 miles return and takes about 1 hour 30 minutes on the way up and 1 hour on the way back as it’s mostly down hill!
This is a suitable walk for dogs, reasonably ok underfoot, a few sheep beyond Summer Lodge B&B heading up the track so close control or ideally keep your dog on its lead.
Haverdale Beck
Always worth a quick look in to see how the waterfall at Haverdale Falls is doing.
Despite some recent rain it is still pretty tame but still super pretty with the entrance through the gate covered in leaves both below and above.
Walking up the track from Summer Lodge
It may not look very steep here, but it was! This was taken about 500 meters from Summer Lodge walking up the hill but looking back to Low Row in the distance.
There was not a lot of wildlife higher up, some grouse, sheep and occasional rabbits.
Summer Lodge Moor
This was the view from on top of Summer Lodge Moor, about 500 meters from the Tarn.
Looking back towards Low Row and Blades above it. Not the sunniest of days but still great visibility even so.
Summer Lodge Tarn!
After a short amble across the slightly boggy ground once off the main track here is Summer Lodge Tarn!
It sits on top of the moor with great views all round. It about 200 meters in length and width - very ballpark estimations!
It’s a bit boggy and wet at some of the edges, but not all the way around and you will find somewhere dry to sit for a wee break.
Was it worth the effort? Well yes, it’s a nice walk, and you can always divert off piste and try and find the elusive (to me) Crackpot Cave which seems to be just beyond Summer Lodge B&B as you head up the track.
And you do get some amazing 360 degree views across Swaledale, into Wensleydale and far beyond. And the couple of sharp inclines will get the blood pumping!