Whinlatter Forest: Tarbarrel Moss, Ullister Hill & Seat How

The walk, stage by stage

1. 1

   Whinlatter - Forestry Commission Car Park → Tarbarrel Moss (1.7 km, 170 m)

   Climb of about 170 m over 1.7 km (around 10% average).

   Leaving the bustling Whinlatter Visitor Centre, this route immediately climbs into the UK's only true mountain forest. You begin on wide, hard-packed gravel logging roads, providing a steady, reliable surface for the 9% average climb. As you gain elevation, the route peels off the main thoroughfares onto narrower, rougher paths that wind through mature coniferous plantations and sudden, exposed clear-felled zones, leading to the damp plateau of Tarbarrel Moss.

   Waypoints

   Start Point: Whinlatter Forestry Commission Car Park / Visitor Centre (approx. NY 208 244). Lower Forestry Tracks: The initial wide, sweeping paths. Tarbarrel Moss (493 m): A flat, often boggy Birkett summit sitting on a wooded plateau.

   Decision point

   Waymarkers: Forestry England's own trail pages (linked from forestryengland.uk/whinlatter-forest/walking-trails-whinlatter, read 7 Oct 2026) tell walkers to follow orange waymarkers on its Comb Beck trail, white on Heavy Sides and Seat How Summit, black on Masmill Beck and yellow on Revelin Moss. Those markers lead round Forestry England's own trails, not this route, so do not follow them blindly where they part from your GPS track. Track Junctions: Pay strict attention to your map at every fork. The sheer density of identical-looking gravel roads makes taking a wrong turn incredibly easy.

   Easy to get wrong

   MTB Hazards: Whinlatter is a premier mountain biking destination. You will frequently cross high-speed, one-way MTB trails (like the Altura Trail). Listen carefully for approaching bikes and never walk along the dedicated cycling singletrack. Forestry Operations: Active logging can suddenly close tracks or churn previously firm paths into impassable, deep mud. Pay attention to any diversion signs. The "Moss": As the name suggests, the immediate area around Tarbarrel Moss is a wetland. If you step off the main gravel tracks, expect deep, boot-swallowing bogs hidden beneath pine needles and thick moss. Do not attempt to bushwhack directly downhill through the trees if you lose the path; the undergrowth is choked with fallen timber and deep drainage ditches.

   If you need to get off

   Retreat: Simply turn around and follow the wide, descending gravel tracks directly back to the visitor centre.

2. 2

   Tarbarrel Moss → Ullister Hill (1.7 km, 51 m)

   Undulating section of about 1.7 km.

   A rolling, undulating traverse through the heart of the plantation. Leaving Tarbarrel Moss, the route follows a series of connecting saddles and firebreaks. The terrain alternates wildly between dense, dark avenues of sitka spruce and wide-open clear-felled sections that suddenly expose you to the wind but offer fleeting views of the Skiddaw massif. The paths here can be a mix of firm stone and deeply rutted, muddy forestry tracks.

   Waypoints

   The Firebreaks: The linear, treeless corridors separating plantation blocks. Ullister Hill Summit (524 m): A Birkett, typically marked by a small clearing or minor cairn amongst the trees/stumps.

   Decision point

   Tree Lines & Compartment Boundaries: Use the sharp edges where mature forest meets clear-felled land as massive, linear handrails to orient yourself on the map.

   Easy to get wrong

   Clag & Tree Blindness: While you won't face open-fell whiteouts here, the forest blocks all line-of-sight navigation. Every junction looks identical, and GPS signals can occasionally bounce under heavy canopy. Deep Mud: The firebreaks between the managed gravel roads are often completely chewed up by forestry machinery. Expect heavy, slippery mud after wet weather.

   If you need to get off

   Retreat: The way back this guide describes is the way you came. Forestry England diverts paths for felling, so follow the signs on the day.

3. 3

   Ullister Hill → Seat How (Thornthwaite) (0.8 km, 7 m)

   Undulating section of about 0.8 km.

   A short, winding transition segment. The route leaves the higher elevations of Ullister Hill, dropping down through the trees to access the prominent, rocky spur of Seat How. The path narrows here, transitioning from wide logging roads to a dedicated, heavily-trodden foot trail that weaves tightly through the forest before a final, brief, rocky pull onto the viewpoint.

   Waypoints

   The Connecting Trail: The narrow footpath diverging from the main logging roads. Seat How Summit (495 m): A superb, prominent rocky Birkett crowned with a bench, offering one of the finest framed views of Bassenthwaite Lake and Skiddaw in the region.

   Decision point

   Official Signage: Seat How is a major destination for casual walkers from the visitor centre. Forestry England's Seat How Summit trail page (forestryengland.uk/whinlatter-forest/seat-how-summit-trail-whinlatter, read 7 Oct 2026) says "Follow white waymarkers". Those markers lead round its own trail, not this route.

   Easy to get wrong

   Slippery Rock: The final few metres onto Seat How involve stepping up onto exposed rock. Beneath the tree canopy, this rock is often coated in damp moss and can be lethally slick. Exposed Edge: The northern and eastern faces of Seat How drop away sharply; keep a close eye on dogs and children near the viewpoint edge.

   If you need to get off

   Retreat: No way off the Seat How spur has been checked for this guide; go back the way you came, and follow any diversion signs.

4. Seat How (Thornthwaite) → Finish (3.2 km, 33 m)

   Descent of about 169 m over 3.2 km.

   The final walk-out is a long, sweeping descent through the lower plantation. Leaving Seat How, you rejoin the main arterial forestry roads. The terrain is entirely hard-packed crushed gravel, zig-zagging in long, gentle switchbacks down the hillside, making for a fast, easy, but potentially foot-wearying return to the visitor centre.

   Waypoints

   Seat How Descent Track: The main path dropping off the spur. Lower Switchbacks: The major track junctions on the lower fellside. Finish Point: Whinlatter Forestry Commission Car Park.

   Decision point

   Traffic Noise: The B5292 (Whinlatter Pass road) runs through the valley bottom. Visitor Centre Trail Map: For the way back to the café and car park, Forestry England's walking trails page (forestryengland.uk/whinlatter-forest/walking-trails-whinlatter, read 7 Oct 2026) says trail maps are available from the visitor centre, and describes numbered junction posts shown on its guide map. This guide has not checked those posts on the ground.

   Easy to get wrong

   Hard Surfaces: After walking on softer peat and mud, 3.2 km of continuous hard gravel can cause hot spots or blisters on tired feet. Mountain Bikes: As you near the visitor centre, the density of crossing MTB trails and casual cyclists increases significantly. Remain vigilant. At the major lower junctions, do NOT take tracks heading strictly East or North-East. These will drop you all the way down the mountain to the villages of Thornthwaite or Braithwaite (near the A66), resulting in a massive, steep climb back up the pass to retrieve your vehicle. Keep your heading trending South/South-West.

   If you need to get off

   Retreat: This is your walk-out route. Keep following the main descending tracks.