How cold is Scales Tarn?

Absolutely freezing year-round. Fed by cold runoff from higher ground at 598 metres elevation, the water maintains a painfully low temperature even in summer, sitting in a corrie that blocks direct sun and funnels cold air down from above.

How deep is Scales Tarn?

The mean depth is around 2.9 metres, though the bottom undulates with some pockets running deeper. It covers roughly a hectare, which is smaller than photographs make it look.

Where is Scales Tarn on Blencathra?

It's carved into a corrie on Blencathra's eastern flank at roughly 598 metres elevation. The tarn sits directly beneath Sharp Edge, with Scales Fell to the south and scree slopes surrounding it.

Think the Lakes Are Special? Meet the Tarns

Scales Tarn: Cold Enough to Make You Regret the Paddle

A corrie tarn at about 598 metres below Sharp Edge on Blencathra. It's fed by rainfall and catchment runoff, not lingering snowmelt or glacial streams, but the water stays shockingly cold well into summer.

30 October 20267 min read