Introduction
Sprinkling Tarn sits in a lovely location at the southern end of Seathwaite Fell, below the looming cliffs of Great End. Nowhere on Seathwaite Fell gets much higher than the tarn, but one of its most distinctive features is the very low rise to the east, which makes it look like it would only take a minor landslide for the tarn to start draining east instead of west.
The tarn is roughly triangular, with a peninsula jutting into its northern tip to give it a most unusual shape. The only path passes the south-western tip, so the easy circuit of the tarn tends to take you away from the crowds, even on a very busy day. I've often found the tarn fog-bound, which rather enhances that sense of isolation, but also removes the impressive views.
Statistics
Grid Reference of centre: NY 228 091
Altitude: 1,960ft
Map
How to Reach
Sprinkling Tarn sits alongside the busy path that links Sty Head and Esk Hause. The path cuts across the south-western corner of the tarn.
Walks
We visit Sprinkling Tarn on our ascent of Scafell Pike via Esk Hause from Wasdale and our ascent of Glaramara from Borrowdale.
Inflows
A very small beck flows into Sprinkling Tarn from the south.
Outflow
Sprinkling Tarn drains north-west down a steep stream in something of a ravine, just below the path from Sty Head. This stream is often regarded as the source of the River Derwent
Other Features
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