Fountains Fell Tarn occupies a shallow basin created by glacial activity in the Devensian age, which scoured the limestone away.

Malham Tarn was created in a similar fashion with the removal of the porous limestone allowing water to collect.

[12][13] The tarn lies fairly shallow on a flat plateau among the eroding peat bog (which supplies its acidity).

[1] It is often frozen for long periods of time during the winter due to its height near the summit of Fountains Fell.

[27] On the road through Silverdale, between Pen-y-ghent and Fountains Fell, to Halton Gill, lies the Ulfkil Cross base.