Talkin Tarn Country Park
Cumbria
Talkin Tarn is a 65 acre lake that fills a glacial kettle hole formed around 10,000 years ago, set in a country park of about 165 acres of woodland and meadow two miles south-east of Brampton in north-east Cumbria. There is no livestock anywhere on the site, so a dog can explore the surrounding woods and meadows with real freedom. Races were rowed here in the 1850s, the rowing club dates from 1859, and the tarn still has rowing, sailing and model boat clubs, and a converted boathouse by the water now serves as a bird observatory. The main walk is a well-surfaced 2.1km path right round the shoreline, fully accessible and flat, with the North Pennines rising to the east. Three waymarked trails branch off into the surrounding woods and meadows, and red squirrels live in the trees.
This is a dog friendly country park and one of the easiest dog walks in the Carlisle area, with no sheep or cattle anywhere on the loop. Dogs must be on a lead in the zone that runs from the car park entrance past the boathouses and around the tearoom to just beyond the sailing boats, which is the busiest part of the shore. Beyond that, the two areas of woodland give a dog with good recall room to explore off lead. Blue-green algae has been reported on the tarn in some summers, so check the notices before letting your dog swim. The car park is pay and display, and the Boathouse Tearoom and toilets are next to it.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 2.1 km (1.3 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 40 min
- Walk Type
- Lake, Woodland, Park
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Moderate
- Livestock Risk
- None
- Facilities
- Boathouse Tearoom and gift shop, toilets, rowing boat hire; more cafes and pubs in Brampton.
- Parking
- Talkin Tarn country park car park at the north end of the tarn, pay and display.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Talkin Tarn Country Park, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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All dog friendly stays in CumbriaFrequently Asked Questions
Is Talkin Tarn Country Park dog friendly?
Talkin Tarn Country Park is a great choice for dog owners, earning a solid 8/10 on our dog friendly rating. One of its biggest draws is that there is no livestock anywhere on the site — no sheep, no cattle — which makes the whole 165-acre park of woodland and meadow feel genuinely relaxed for dogs and their owners alike. There's a flat, fully surfaced 2.1km path around the tarn itself, and a lakeside tearoom right by the car park for when you're done.
Can dogs be off lead at Talkin Tarn Country Park?
Dogs need to be kept on a lead in the zone running from the car park entrance, past the boathouses and tearoom, and around to just beyond the sailing boats — the busiest stretch of the shoreline. Beyond that, dogs with good recall can roam off lead through the two areas of woodland, and three waymarked trails branch off into the surrounding woods and meadows. With no livestock anywhere on site, it's a genuinely freeing place for a dog once you're clear of the lead zone.
What should I know before visiting Talkin Tarn Country Park with my dog?
Blue-green algae has been reported on the tarn during some summers, so it's worth checking any notices on site before letting your dog swim in the water. The car park at the north end of the tarn is pay and display, so bring change or a card. If you're planning a longer day out, there are more cafes and pubs in Brampton, just two miles away.
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