BLEA Tarn is situated on the fells that divide Great Langdale from Little Langdale in the heart of the Lake District.

The road meanders upward quite steeply from both valleys, offering spectacular views across most of the central fells: Bow Fell, Crinkle Crags, Wetherlam, Wrynose and the magnificent Langdale Pikes are all visible from this road.

The tarn itself is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). These are protected areas in Great Britain designated under the Wildlife and Countryside Act for the presence of rare ecological or geological features. Blea Tarn has it all in abundance!

A classic glacial relic, the tarn lies in a trough that was cut by ice moving across from Great to Little Langdale. Lying virtually undisturbed, the sediments on the lake bottom have provided scientists with a wealth of historic references about the vegetation of this area going back thousands of years. Peat has formed over much of the northern part of the trough, which together with the glacial moraines form an attractive open landscape in contrast to the craggy pikes.

The woodland around the western shores of the tarn is managed by the National Trust. Larch, Scots Pine, Silver Birch and Mountain Ash are just a few of the species that you will find here. Various grasses, ferns and reed beds make up most of the open landscape down to the tarn. There are seats along a well-maintained path and plenty of places for picnicking and watching the occasional buzzard gliding overhead.

Blea Tarn is an easy walk with great views. It also has a wonderfully restful atmosphere and is well worth a visit.

Routes There is no public transport available to take you to Blea Tarn although the Langdale Rambler does go to the Dungeon Ghyll pub at the head of Great Langdale see below for contact details. Take the B5343 from Skelwith Bridge through the Great Langdale valley. After about 8km (five miles), the road turns sharp left and soon starts to rise steeply up the fell towards Blea Tarn. Follow the road for another 2.5km to the National Trust car park on the left hand side overlooking the tarn (1).

From here, take the footpath down to the southern edge of the lake crossing over a wooden bridge (with ramps) (2) and then follow the footpath for a further km through the woods to the small promontory at the northern edge of the tarn (3). The footpath does continue north but it is not suitable for disabled access.

National Trust This route is maintained and cared for by the National Trust, a charity that oversees some 25 per cent of the Lake District National Park. The National Trust and the national park authority work closely together in the Lake District, sharing common interests and complementary objectives. You can get more information by calling 015394-35599 or 0870-4584000 or visiting www.nationaltrust.org.uk.

LDNPA This walk is taken from a collection of more than 20 routes in the Lake District National Park that have been earmarked and maintained by the Lake District National Park Authority and are suitable for people with limited mobility. The routes, which have been checked by park rangers, are described in a special booklet, Countryside Access For People With Limited Mobility, available from Tourist Information Centres.

Information

Overview: Generally wide flat path with a few small gradients, suitable for accompanied wheelchair access.

Distance: 1.5km return journey on linear path.

Time: Allow 1 hour.

Map Ref: OS Outdoor Leisure No. 6 Map: The English Lakes South Western area.

Start point GR296043.

Parking: National Trust car park.

Gradients: Mostly flat, with gentle inclines in places.

Refreshments: Bring your own.

Toilets: None near the route.

Public transport: None available call Traveline 0870-608-2608 for details of Langdale Rambler.