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Talkin Tarn is a kettle-hole lake formed by the immense force of glaciers 18,000 years ago. Moving ice scoured and carved the landscape leaving glacial sand hills and a natural bowl, which filled with water as the ice sheet melted. The Tarn has long and rich history and has traditionally been used for recreation since at least the middle of the 1800's. The same is still true today with visitors coming from far and wide to enjoy all that the tarn has to offer.
The name Talkin is derived from the Celtic 'Talcan' meaning brow of a hill. The word 'Tarn' is Norse in origin, 'Tjorn' meaning tear drop or small lake.
Old buckles, stone axes and urns have been found in the area. Talkin Tarn has been used for hundreds of years for water sports. In the past a bathing hut on stilts was located on the tarn edge, complete with jetty and diving platform.
The beauty of Talkin Tarn is not down to nature alone, it is also the result of great conservation and management efforts of the country park team. Reed beds, open water, waterside margins with soft rushes, irises, sedges and grasses. Beech woods, birch and hazel scrub woodland, wet grassland and flushes. Talkin Tarn has a variety of different habitats, attracting many different species of wildlife throughout the year. Red squirrels frequent the bird and squirrel feeding area next to the tearoom, with nuthatches and greater spotted woodpeckers. In the Summer, the Common Blue Damselfly emerge from their underwater home. Other wildlife that you may encounter at Talkin Tarn include otters, badgers, foxes and roe deer. Autumn brings a show of colours from the trees and the splendour of the fungi of all shapes sizes and colours, growing around the woodland. Winter months bring a variety of birds to the open water including Mallard, Wigeon, Brambling and Mute swans as well as gulls and geese.
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Open Christmas |
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Open New Year |
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Season (1 Jan 2024 - 31 Dec 2024) |
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* Talkin Tarn Country Park is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Upstairs Tearoom (currently closed)
Summer - Easter to October Half term (inclusive) open daily 10.30am - 4.00pm
Winter - End of October Half Term to Easter Saturday & Sunday 10.30am - 4.00pm and School holidays
Downstairs tearoom and Gift Shop
7 days a week 11.00am till 3.30pm All year round
The take away kiosk is now open from 11.00 - 3.30.
The toilet facilities remain open 9am to 5pm, please follow social distancing guidelines and wear a face covering.
It is now closed fishing season, closed fishing season runs from 15th March - 15th June.
Water sports permits are now available.
Thank you for your continued support and look forward to seeing you.
This information is self-assessed; therefore we accept no liability for its accuracy. Please contact the venue for further information.
Boathouse Tearoom Talkin Tarn, BramptonThe tearoom is located on the waterfront at Talkin Tarn and offers beautiful views from the balcony…
Talkin Tarn is located approximately 9 miles east of Carlisle and just a mile south off the A69 with ample parking. Follow the brown signs to Talkin Tarn Country Park from the roundabout at Brampton.
Talkin Tarn can also be reached by road and rail. There is a bus route that can drop visitors off close to the park entrance . Also after a short walk Talkin Tarn is also easily accessible from Brampton Junction Railway station.
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Cumbria Tourism, Windermere Road, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 9PL