How deep is Red Tarn on Helvellyn?

Red Tarn is up to 25 metres deep in places and about 420 metres long. It formed about 10,000 years ago when a glacier carved out the corrie and left behind a natural depression that filled with water.

Are there fish in Red Tarn?

Yes, brown trout live in Red Tarn, descended from fish introduced decades ago. Arctic char were also introduced by Victorians, though it's uncertain whether any remain now.

Can you walk all the way around Red Tarn?

You can, but you shouldn't scramble down to the water's edge. The shoreline is severely eroded from 700,000 annual visitors, and conservation groups are constantly working to repair the damage, so it's best to view it from the established path.

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Red Tarn (Helvellyn): What 700,000 Boots Per Year Do to a Shoreline

Wedged in the corrie between Striding Edge and Swirral Edge at 718 metres, it's the highest you'll find in England. Also the most trampled, because everyone climbing Helvellyn walks straight past it.

11 July 20267 min read

Red Tarn Erosion: 700,000 Annual Walkers vs. One Shoreline | TrailTrack