Formation of the Tarn.

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.

Recreation

Talkin Tarn has been used for hundreds of years for water sports. While open water swimming is only carried out by triathletes these days, in the past a bathing hut on stilts was located on the tarn edge, complete with jetty and diving platform.