Lake District
Tarbarrel Moss
493M
1617FT
About Tarbarrel Moss
Located on the high, peaty plateau between Lord's Seat and Barf, this modest Birkett is often crossed by those walking the circuit above Whinlatter Forest. Its marshy character, hinted at by its name, provides a quiet, wilder perspective of the Skiddaw massif across the Vale of Keswick.
Key Statistics
Rank
432nd Highest in Region
Parent Range
North Western Fells
Prominence
?
24m
Nearest Town
Thornthwaite
Geology
Tarbarrel Moss is built from layers of hardened mud and sandy stone. These compressed sediments form the sturdy foundation beneath your boots.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY206253
Latitude
54.6169°N
Longitude
3.2305°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely recalls the historical use of signal beacons; 'Tarbarrel' refers to the fuel used for these fires, while 'Moss' describes the characteristically saturated peat bog found on this high plateau.
- •Bill Birkett included this 493-metre rise in his survey of the Lakeland fells, though Alfred Wainwright passed it over, considering it merely a subsidiary shoulder of the nearby Lord’s Seat.
- •Sitting north of the main ridge, the summit offers a clear perspective of the forest tracks winding through Whinlatter, with the bulk of Broom Fell and Graystones visible to the west.
- •True to its name, it is a summit where the quality of your waterproof boots is tested far more rigorously than the strength of your lungs.