Lake District
Tarn Hill
313M
1026FT
About Tarn Hill
Rising above the Duddon Valley near Hall Dunnerdale, this modest summit is a classic Wainwright Outlying Fell. The terrain is typical of the Furness Fells—a mosaic of rocky knolls, bracken, and hidden hollows. It offers a quiet, uncrowded alternative to the high peaks, with a clear outlook toward the Scafells.
Key Statistics
Rank
753rd Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Fells
Prominence
?
30
Nearest Town
Hall Dunnerdale
Geology
Tarn Hill is built from layers of ancient volcanic ash and hardened lava. These resilient rocks form the rugged foundation beneath your boots.
Classifications
Find It
Latitude
54.3183°N
Longitude
3.2168°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is rooted in the Old Norse 'tjǫrn', referring to the cluster of small, unnamed pools scattered across the plateau between this summit and the neighbouring hill of Caw.
- •Alfred Wainwright included this hill in his 'The Outlying Fells of Lakeland', describing the surrounding Dunnerdale Fells as a delightful area where 'every step is a new exploration'.
- •The summit offers a particularly fine perspective of the Coniston Fells, with the distinctive profiles of Dow Crag and Grey Friar visible across the Duddon forest.
- •Identifying the true summit amongst the numerous rocky outcrops requires a keen eye; it is the kind of hill where you can confidently reach the top three different times without ever being quite sure which one counted.