Malham Tarn

Boat Ramps: 0
Access Points: 0
Species: 1

Malham Tarn is a glacial lake situated at 377 meters (1,237 feet) above sea level in the Yorkshire Dales, making it the highest marl lake in the United Kingdom. It is one of only eight upland alkaline lakes in Europe, with a pH between 8.0 and 8.6. The lake covers a surface area of 0.62 square kilometers (0.24 square miles) and has a maximum depth of 4.4 meters (14 feet) with an average depth of 2.4 meters (7.9 feet). The site is owned by the National Trust and is designated as a National Nature Reserve, renowned for its unique geology, flora, and fauna.

England licenses and regulations4 to check before you go

Species & education

Learn what type of fish are at Malham Tarn and what's needed to catch them.

Find which waters have the species you want to catch

European Perch

Perca fluviatilis

Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities

Learn how to get on Malham Tarn. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.

As a boat-only fishery, productive spots are found by exploring the lake. Areas over or near offshore beds of Chara algae can be productive due to the invertebrate life they support. The north shore, with its stony substrate, may also hold fish.

Know where you can legally fish on Malham Tarn

See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.

England licenses and regulations

England Boating Regulations

Canal & River Trust is the navigation authority for most inland canals and rivers in England and Wales, covering boat licences, registration, and rules of navigation. For coastal/sea boating the national Maritime & Coastguard Agency guidance applies instead.

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England Fishing License

An Environment Agency rod fishing licence is required to fish for salmon, trout, freshwater fish, smelt or eel in England. Buy a short-term or annual licence online via GOV.UK; junior licences are free but must be registered.

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England Fishing Regulations

The official Environment Agency freshwater rod-fishing byelaws for England: close seasons, size and catch limits, permitted baits and methods, and rod limits. These apply in addition to holding a rod licence.

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England Stream Access Laws

Closest official page on public access to land and water in England. Note there is no general public right to fish - fishing rights are privately owned, so you need the owner's or club's permission or a permit even where access on foot exists.

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Take Malham Tarn with you

The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.

Use the map without signal
Download the map around Malham Tarn to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for Malham Tarn to find where and when fish are biting for you.
HD depth charts from Garmin
Find drop offs, ledges, channels, points and shallow flats with Garmin depth charts in the app.