Dockey Tarn



Dockey Tarn is a tiny body of water situated on the southern slopes Heron Pike, above Rydal Water and Grasmere, approximately 500 metres (1,640ft) south-east of Alcock Tarn. It lies at an elevation of 385 metres (1,260ft) and has average depth of only 1 metre (3ft). There are no obvious paths leading to the tarn, although it is only a relatively short descent of 200 metres (656ft) north-west from the main path leading up the spine towards Heron Pike – from Rydal via Nab Scar.

Two rocky outcrops and possible sheep trods will guide the wanderer in the general direction of the tarn, which otherwise could be easily missed, especially during the summer months and the expanses of bracken covering huge swathes of the fellside. After a spell of hot weather, there is the potential for the tarn to dry out completely, exposing its rocky base. This would provide a challenge to the adventurous tarn swimmer, where the shallow water will allow for wading only.

Both Dockey and Alcock tarns are good examples of areal scouring of the bedrock surface from the. Although both tarns are different in character, they were created by the same process of ice moving slowly over long periods of time, carving the varied features we see today as tarns and pools.