This is one of the most popular short “walks”:https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/tarn-hows-and-coniston/trails/monk-coniston-and-tarn-hows-walk in the area with many well made footpaths through the woods. The walk begins in the National Trust Car Park at Monk Coniston and climbs steadily up through the wild flower meadow to the woodland above.
Don’t forget to turn round for views back down to the lake.
The path continues through the walled garden of the Monk Coniston estate.The path crosses a road and enters more woodland, with a few stone steps and a wooden bridge and the car park for Tarn Hows.
Tarn Hows comes into views, set in a hollow surrounded by the fells. A C19th landowner landowner created the present tarn by damming a marshy area with three smaller tarns and planting spruce and larch. By the end of the C19th it was a popular beauty spot with charabancs of sightseers in the summer and skaters in the winter.
When the Monk Coniston estate was put up for sale in 1929, it was bought by Beatrix Potter. The National Trust bought the tarn off her and she bequeathed the rest of the estate to the National Trust in her will. “Monk Coniston Hall”:https://www.hfholidays.co.uk/country-houses/locations/coniston-lake-district-south is now a HF centre.
There are wonderful views down to the tarns which were covered with waterlilies in July. It is possible to do a loop around the tarns or return along the same side at a lower level.