Goat's Water

Goat’s Water is a small mountain tarn in the English Lake District. It lies between Dow Crag and The Old Man of Coniston, close to the Duddon Valley and the town of Coniston. The tarn sits two miles from the car park above Coniston village. It is a popular spot in summer for walkers, hikers and rock climbers. Fly fishers also visit the tarn to fish for small native wild brown trout. The tarn is worth the journey for its dramatic setting. It is surrounded by steep crags and rugged fells that rise sharply from the water’s edge. The walk from Coniston village offers wide views across the valley and up to the peaks. Climbers use the crags for traditional routes, while anglers wade the shallows for trout. The water’s clear surface reflects the changing light of the fells. Visitors find a quiet upland pool with few buildings nearby. A path runs beside the tarn, leading walkers on towards the Old Man of Coniston. The surrounding fells are home to heather and bilberry, and the air carries the scent of damp grass. On calm days the water is still enough to mirror the crags and sky. The scene changes with the seasons, from bright spring greens to the golds and russets of autumn.