How high and how deep is Red Tarn on Helvellyn?

Red Tarn lies at 718 metres above sea level. It covers about 7.8 hectares, has a mean depth of 8.7 metres and reaches a maximum depth of 24 metres.

What fish live in Red Tarn?

Red Tarn supports schelly, the local name for the rare whitefish Coregonus lavaretus. It is treated as a native post-glacial population. Do not disturb the water or introduce, move or release fish or other organisms.

Do you walk past Red Tarn on every Helvellyn route?

No. Many eastern approaches from Glenridding or Patterdale enter the Red Tarn basin, but popular routes from the west do not. Striding Edge lies south-east of the tarn and Swirral Edge north-east; both are exposed mountain routes.

Think the Lakes Are Special? Meet the Tarns

Red Tarn (Helvellyn): A Fragile Corrie Beneath the Edges

Red Tarn is an 8-hectare corrie tarn at 718 metres beneath Helvellyn, with a maximum depth of 24 metres and a rare native schelly population. Accurate route context and care for its fragile upland shore matter more than invented visitor totals.

8 August 20265 min read