Upper Eskdale, Lake District, Cumbria

Tongue Pot

River

Source image

8.2

Wildland

Half day

Time

Check

Cost

Dramatic

Feel

RiversideValleyHillsWalkersPhotographers

Why it's Wildland

8.2

An emerald pool beneath a waterfall, with a mountain packhorse bridge just upstream.

The reward is more than a photogenic pool: a rough riverside approach, small waterfalls and rugged Eskdale fells give Tongue Pot a proper mountain setting. Worth the walk even if you never enter the water.

Dramatic · Wild

Find your way

Open map

Upper Eskdale, Lake District, Cumbria

Opening map…

Explore around here Get directions

The experience

Follow the published riverside approach from the foot of Hardknott Pass, watching the Esk gather into falls and pools. Tongue Pot is the centrepiece: a long green pool beneath a waterfall, with a shelving pebble bank and an overhanging oak. Allow extra time beyond the walking estimate to pause, or continue towards Lingcove Bridge and the nearby falls.

Things to do

Walk the riverside approach

Take the published four-mile return walk from the red telephone box at the foot of Hardknott Pass. The route passes farmland and follows the valley towards the pool, with rough and boggy sections requiring careful footing.

1.5–2 hours walking

Study the pool from the bank

Look for the waterfall entering the long emerald pool, its shelving pebble bank and the overhanging oak. Photograph from stable ground: wet rocks around the pool are slippery.

Include Lingcove Bridge and Beck Falls

The sourced walk links Tongue Pot with the packhorse bridge and Lingcove Beck Falls upstream. Use its route map for the extension rather than following informal waterside scrambles.

Make a day of it

Quick escape · 1.5–2 hours walking, plus time at the pool

Quick escape — walk to the emerald pool

01
Start from the roadside parking near the red telephone box at the foot of Hardknott Pass, checking restrictions and carrying the published route map.
02
Follow the four-mile out-and-back approach through farmland and along the valley; expect a stile, rough footing and boggy stretches.
03
Pause at Tongue Pot to take in the waterfall, overhanging oak and long green pool from secure ground.
04
Return by the same route, leaving enough daylight for slower progress on wet sections.

Half day · Half day; allow more time than the basic return walk

Half day — Tongue Pot and Lingcove's falls

01
Make the same riverside approach to Tongue Pot, allowing time to stop at the smaller waterfalls visible along the route.
02
Use the Wilderstill route map to include Lingcove Bridge and Lingcove Beck Falls upstream.
03
Look at the packhorse bridge and the contrast between the deep main pool and the smaller falls nearby, staying on secure paths rather than scrambling for a closer view.
04
Return down the valley without rushing the rocky and boggy sections.

Verified history

The packhorse bridge near Lingcove Beck Falls is the walk's tangible link with older travel through Eskdale. The supplied walking account connects it with the valley's trade and travel history, but gives no construction date or detailed chronology.

Hidden details

An oak above the emerald water — An oak overhangs one side of the pool, beside the shelving pebble bank: a smaller detail easily missed when attention is on the waterfall.

Waterfalls beyond the main attraction — The approach contains several smaller pools and waterfalls. Notice tributaries feeding the Esk from the established route; some waterside features are difficult to access and do not warrant a scramble.

When to go

June · July · August · September · October · Early morning for a better chance of finding a parking space; allow daylight for the return walk.

Summer offers longer days for exploring the valley; autumn brings colour to the surrounding woodland. Neither season guarantees dry ground.

Boggy sections occur even in summer and become harder after rain. Wear footwear with good grip and carry waterproofs. Winter conditions can make the approach hazardous. Cold water, changing river levels and slippery rocks remain risks; do not jump or dive. Swimming use is documented, but the supplied sources do not establish permission or current water safety. Mobile-signal claims in the source row conflict, so do not rely on reception.

Worth pairing with

Lingcove Bridge and Lingcove Beck Falls

The strongest natural extension: a packhorse bridge and a taller waterfall upstream, included in the supplied walking account.

Hardknott Roman Fort

A nearby Roman-history pairing identified by the walking source. Check its separate access arrangements and current visiting information before adding it to the day.

What to look for

The oak overhanging the pool, the pebble bank shelving into the water, the rocky cleft beneath the waterfall and the packhorse bridge upstream.

Best time to go

Summer for longer days; autumn for colour. Ground conditions matter more than the calendar.

Summer gives longer daylight for an unhurried visit, but the pool can be busy during holidays. Arrive early for the limited parking. Choose settled weather: boggy paths persist even in summer and become more difficult after rain.

How long to spend

Half day

Perfect for

Walkers · Photographers

Practical information

Opening & access

Reached on foot from the red telephone box at the foot of Hardknott Pass. The published approach is a moderate, four-mile return walk with rough ground, boggy sections and a stile. Check current signage before visiting.

Check before visiting

Parking

Sources report limited roadside parking near the old red telephone box at the foot of Hardknott Pass. Wilderstill describes it as free; check current restrictions. Approach roads are narrow and winding.

Check before visiting

Toilets

The source row reports no toilets at the pool. Check before visiting.

Check before visiting

Food & drink

Check before visiting

Dogs

Wilderstill reports dogs are welcome under close control. AllTrails warns that sheep and a stile make the approach less suitable for dogs. Follow current signage and keep dogs controlled around livestock.

Accessibility

Uneven, rocky and sometimes boggy paths, with a stile on the published approach. Wilderstill describes the walk as unsuitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs.

Cost

Check before visiting

Water

River