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Contact Information

01228 817200

parks@carlisle.gov.uk

Carlisle City Council,
Civic Centre,
Carlisle,
Cumbria,
CA3 8QG

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You are here: Home Page » Leisure and culture » Parks and open spaces » Park locations » Talkin Tarn

Talkin Tarn Country Park

Talkin Tarn Country Park, close to the historic market town of Brampton, nestles in a 165 acre site, containing a glacial tarn surrounded by mature woodland and gentle meadows with the stunning Pennine Hills as a backdrop.

The Tarn has a 1.3 mile circular path that is ideal for a gentle stroll. This path is hard surfaced and accessible to all. There are also three way marked trails of varying lengths; 1.5km, 2.5km and 3.5km starting from the car park and on into woods and fields.

The boathouse has been renovated to incorporate the Tearoom and Gift shop. The whole building has full disabled access including a lift.

A permanent orienteering course and numeracy trail are available for self led activities. The park is an ideal location to bring your class for a day of environmental education activities. Equipment can be borrowed from the site office and the staff will be happy to help give you some ideas for activities.

Please note that rowing boats are not available for hire until further notice.

Talkin Tarn footpath diversion

A public path diversion order has been made to divert the legal route of a footpath at Talkin Tarn (though the actual route on the ground will not change). Please see the downloadable documents section of the road closures and diversions page for details.

Bookings for the Alex Boathouse Exhibition Area

The Alex Boathouse is available for local crafts people to hire in order to sell and exhibit their products. For more information contact the Tearoom Manager on 016977 41050 or heatherth@carlisle.gov.uk

Bookings for the Alex Boathouse in 2014 will be open from April 15^th until May 15^th2013. A maximum of two weeks can be booked. If any space is still available after May 15^th then bookings will be taken on a first come first served basis.

Please make your reservations by e mail only from midnight on April 15^th .

A long history

The Tarn has traditionally been used for recreation since at least the middle of the 1800's. It was a popular destination for Victorians from Brampton and Carlisle and accessed by train from the North East. The wrestling ring, bathing house and boathouses, which existed then, were all well used. Find out more about the History of Talkin Tarn.

About the management

Managing Talkin Tarn Country Park is all about finding a good balance between the needs of the wildlife and the needs of the visitors. This beauty that we have in and around Talkin Tarn is largely the result of man's management, particularly farming, and to keep this beauty that everyone cherishes so much we must continue to manage it carefully and sensitively.

Educational development is key, as are efforts to reduce CO2 emissions into the atmosphere by using environmentally friendly energy sources.

Carlisle City Council took over the management of Talkin Tarn Country Park in April 2006 and has invested £1 million to upgrade the existing facilities to ensure they comply with the Disability Discrimination Act and health & safety regulations. The development work promotes a Cleaner, Greener & Safer environment and uses materials in keeping with the local surroundings.

Natural England Country Parks Accreditation

Country Parks Accreditation Scheme We are very pleased to have been awarded Country Parks Accreditation (external link) by Natural England.

This shows that we provide the facilities and services expected of Country Parks. Not all sites calling themselves country parks currently deliver all the facilities and services expected of them.

Country Parks were established as a result of the 1968 Countryside Act and there are currently more than 400 sites that call themselves Country Parks in England. They are visited by over 70 million visitors a year.