A Whinlatter qaurtet

Distance: 6 miles
Ascent: 1,900ft


I am really starting to get into this fell walking malarky and I try and snatch any short walk I can. Last weekend I had limited time so decided to visit the easily accessible and navigable Whinlatter forest with its well marked paths and collection of fells in close proximity. We set out to just climb Lord's Seat and Barf


We set off from the visitor centre at 11am and immediately found ourselves a bit lost on the rabbit-warren like paths through the forest. We eventually picked up the correct waymarker again and almost immediately got lost again, wandering up a moderate slope in the direction of Whinlatter Top instead.


I discovered our error at a stile that left the plantation boundary and with a check of the semi-useless path guide from the shop we decided to crack on for Whinlatter Top and Brown How (Wanwright's summit) before working out a route to our original targets. The path after the stile heads straight up the line of the fence and is very steep but we had warmed up so it didn't pose too much of a problem.


Whinlatter Top and Brown How are fairly average summits. Both offer great views of Grisedale Pike (now pencilled in as my 1st 2,000 footer) and Brown How has good views to the other fells in the group as well as through Lorton Vale.


We decided to continue on a good path off Brown How, which eventually traversed round towards the forestry path in the valley between the Whinlatter tops and those in the Lord's Seat range. The path became increasingly tenuous and eventually skirted the edge of a felled plantation. The thing I hate the most in the Lake District is the decimation left by a felled forest, like scars on the landscape.


We eventually intercepted the forest road and followed round the lower reaches of Lords Seat, leaving at a waymarked gatepost (the £2 guide proved its worth). There then followed a very stiff, straight and sustained climb through the forest which we did at a good rate of knots to get the blood pumping. A quick skip over a small boggy area and we were back on the gravel path and heading for Lord's Seat.


Like every fell I seem to choose, the summit of Lord's Seat climbs sharply for the last 100 yards and after the recent exertion another stiff climb was not too welcome. The climb was worth it though. The highest fell in its range gives extensive views to the west towards the Cumbrian coast and Skiddaw rises like giant to the north.


It was windy so we didn't linger to long as Barf awaited and time was getting on now, thanks to our earlier detour. The walk to the summit of Barf is fairly short. The route is somewhat eroded and was very boggy in places, though perfectly navigable. The final ascent was steeper than anything we had encountered that day, but short and not too taxing in the tiring legs. There was an abandoned wheelbarrow close to the summit, which was slightly bizzare


The views from Barf are truly astonishing for such an unassuming fell. The length of Bassenthwaite is visible from the fell, with Skiddaw providing a fantastic backdrop. Keswick and Derwentwater are also visible from the top. Well worth the effort and a great prize for all our exertions.