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| Dockey Tarn | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type | Areally scoured (glacial) | |
| Max. Depth | 1 metre (3 feet) | |
| Surface Elevation | 385 metres (1,260 feet) | |
| Access | Footpaths and trods | |
| Topo Map | OL7 Explorer | |
| Coordinates | 54.457064 , -2.9989246 | |
| OS Grid Ref. | NY353073 | |
| what3words | pining.chosen.sunroof | |
Dockey Tarn is a tiny body of water situated on the southern slopes of 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). Ordance Survey does not mark any paths to the tarn on their Explorer series map, so straying off the official paths should be met with caution.
The main path connecting Rydal Mount with Nab Scar and Heron Pike is around 80 metres above the tarn. When the bracken blankets the ground, it can be more of a challenge to navigate through it during the summer months than in the winter after it has died back. The bracken growth is dense in huge swathes across the fellside, which makes checking your footfall no easy task. That said, two rocky outcrops and possible sheep trods could guide the curious walker in the general direction of the tarn, which otherwise could be easily missed. Don Blair, author of Exploring Lakeland Tarns describes the "charm and mild excitement of tarn hunting" where with the right amount of interest, and one could possibily even say luck, enjoy "the sense of achievement one feels on finally discovering an elusive pond."[1] Without taking the higher path, where it can be seen from certain points along its course, it would be easy to miss Dockey Tarn without the aid of GPS.
After a spell of hot weather, there is the potential for the tarn to dry out completely, exposing its rocky base.[2] Its shallow depth means this is more likely a regular annual occurance, and tarn swimmers should not be too disappointed if they decided to visit during an excessively warm period. This would indeed provide a challenge to bag the tarn, however, in normal conditions 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 Last Glacial Period. 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.[3]
References
- ↑ Blair, Don (2003). Exploring Lakeland Tarns: A Complete Guide. Revised Edition. Keswick: Lakeland Manor Press. p.26.
- ↑ Swimming the Lakes – No.72 Dockey Tarn Accessed 31 May, 2023.
- ↑ Smith, Alan (2014). The Smaller Lakes and Tarns of Lakeland. The Landscapes of Cumbria No.6. Keswick: Rigg Side Publications. p.37, 63.
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