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7.32 km · ~243 m ascent · ~1.5–2.5 h · loop · 3 summits

Home / Routes / Whinlatter Forest: Tarbarrel Moss, Ullister Hill & Seat How
Looking straight up through the conifer canopy in Whinlatter Forest, moss on the trunks and bright overcast sky between the branches
Moderate steepnessLoopPlanned

Whinlatter Forest: Tarbarrel Moss, Ullister Hill & Seat How

7.32 km
Distance
~1.5–2.5 h
Typical time
~243 m
Ascent
3
Summits

Photo: © Lee McCoy

Download GPX →Planned route · not yet walked

Key facts

Distance 7.32 km
Ascent ~243 m
Descent ~243 m
Time ~1.5–2.5 h
Best season Year-round, and one of the better bad-weather choices — the trees take the sting out of wind and rain. Tracks can be muddy, and forest operations occasionally divert paths, so check signage at the visitor centre.
Type Loop
Start Whinlatter - Forestry Commission Car Park
A sheltered forest loop above Whinlatter — England's highest mountain forest — climbing on good tracks through the plantation to a trio of low, easily-missed tops. Tarbarrel Moss, Ullister Hill and rocky little Seat How give sudden, outsized views to Skiddaw, Grisedale Pike and the north-western fells for barely 250 m of climbing. A fine foul-weather or family day when the high tops are in cloud.

✎️ A rare sheltered option in the Lakes: mostly under trees, on solid tracks, with big views appearing at the tops. It starts from the Whinlatter visitor centre (café, parking and facilities). The three summits are Outlying/Birkett tops rather than Wainwrights.

✎️ Planned route — drawn but not personally walked or checked yet. A planned line is a suggestion, not a guarantee — conditions change. Navigate independently and carry a map & compass. How to use this guide.

Difficulty profile

LengthEasy7.32 km — a short outing.
SteepnessModerateSteepest sustained pull about 17% around the 0.2 km mark.
TerrainModerateMostly good mountain path. desk assessment — not field-verified
NavigationModerateWaymarked forest, but the network of forestry roads branches confusingly — easy to take the wrong spur in mist. Map and attention needed at junctions.
ExposureEasySheltered forest and gentle tops — no exposure to speak of.

Five independent axes, not one score. “Desk” ratings come from maps and guidebooks, not yet walked — treat them as a guide, not a survey.

Daylight & turnaround

By bus: the Honister Rambler (77/77A) reaches Whinlatter Visitor Centre at 09:55 and the last one back leaves at 17:56. At a steady pace this walk finishes about 12:24. Be off Seat How (Thornthwaite) by 16:16. Runs daily, including public holidays. From the summer 2026 timetable, read on 21 Aug 2026. Check the timetable before you rely on it.

Daylight is short from October to February — check today’s sunrise and sunset before you set off, and carry a head-torch and spare batteries. On short days, decide your turn-back time before you start.

Why this matters: 78% of Mountain Rescue call-outs come after midday — the day runs out on the way home, not on the way up. See also walking in bad weather and today’s conditions.

OpenTopoMap
Elevation profile, shaded by steepness
Elevation profile Rises from about 324 m to 518 m over 7.3 km, with the summits marked in order. The area beneath is shaded by sustained steepness over a 250 m window, in the same four bands as the route’s steepness rating: Easy under 15%, Moderate 15 to 25%, Hard 25 to 35%, Severe above 35%. 518 m 324 m 0 km 7.3 km 123

1 Tarbarrel Moss2 Ullister Hill3 Seat How (Thornthwaite)

Easy 93%Moderate 7%HardSevere

~243 m
Total ascent
518 m
High point
325 m
Start height

Free mapping: OpenTopoMap / OpenStreetMap (switch layers top-right).

This walk covers about 7.32 km with around 243 m of ascent, taking in 3 summits. The map above shows the line; the elevation profile and stage notes are below.

Access & barriers

Can a dog, a buggy or dodgy knees manage this route? A quick read from the gates and stiles mapped along the way.

Dog
Mostly gates
Buggy
Not buggy-able
Knees
Gentle descent
  • Dog: A stile of unmapped type — a dog may need lifting over.
  • Buggy: Not a pushchair route.
  • Knees: No sustained steep descent — kind on the knees.

On the line: 1 gate · 1 stile (type unmapped)

These are mapped barriers, from OpenStreetMap — coverage in the Lakes is good but not guaranteed complete. Spotted a stile or gate we’ve missed? Tell us and we’ll fix it. Barrier data as of 2026-07-09. Access data © OpenStreetMap contributors (via Overpass).

Pacing

SummitCumulativeAscentTime (fast–steady)
1Tarbarrel Moss1.7 km160 m0:36–0:48
2Ullister Hill3.4 km205 m1:01–1:21
3Seat How (Thornthwaite)4.1 km210 m1:11–1:34
Finish7.3 km243 m1:52–2:29

Naismith-based estimate — a fast/steady range. Your pace will vary. These use Naismith’s textbook constants (5 km/h, 600 m of ascent an hour). Measured against a pace fitted to 41 recorded Lakeland walks they run about 8% slow, and we have left them that way deliberately: a slow estimate strands nobody.

The walk, stage by stage

  1. 1

    Whinlatter - Forestry Commission Car Park → Tarbarrel Moss (1.7 km, 160 m)

    Climb of about 160 m over 1.7 km (around 9% 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 (approx. 400 m): A flat, often boggy Birkett summit sitting on a wooded plateau

    Decision point

    Waymarkers: The forest is heavily signposted with coloured walking route markers, but do not rely on them blindly as they form circular trails that may conflict with your specific GPS route. 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

    If you need to get off

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

  2. 2

    Tarbarrel Moss → Ullister Hill (1.7 km, 45 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: Any major, wide track heading south or south-east will eventually contour down the hillside and link back into the main Whinlatter valley network

  3. 3

    Ullister Hill → Seat How (Thornthwaite) (0.8 km, 5 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 (318 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. You will begin to see dedicated "Seat How Summit" wooden fingerposts pointing the way

    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: Drop immediately off the back (west) of the Seat How spur to intercept the massive logging road just below it

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

    Descent of about 165 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. As you descend, the sound of cars acts as a reliable beacon drawing you back to the car park. Visitor Centre Signage: The main tracks are heavily waymarked with symbols guiding you back to the café and parking areas

    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

    If you need to get off

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

Summits bagged (3)

  1. 1Tarbarrel Moss493 mNorth Western · Birkett, Synge
  2. 2Ullister Hill525 mNorth Western · Birkett, Synge
  3. 3Seat How (Thornthwaite)495 mNorth Western · Birkett, Synge

In the order you walk them — the same numbers the elevation profile, the stage notes and the pacing table use.

Getting there & parking

Whinlatter Visitor Centre (paid) — 0.1 km from the start (straight line)
Forest centre — Lord's Seat, Barf, Whinlatter fells, Grisedale Pike's back route. Fees: First 20 min free; first hour £2.90; then £0.70 per 15 min; all-day max £14. ANPR pay-on-exit; blue badge holders not exempt; card at machine, cash at visitor centre, or Park with Ease online within 48h (Forestry England, checked Aug 2026). Open 08:30-20:30 (Forestry England, checked Aug 2026). Free for Forestry England members (checked Aug 2026).
Directions Something changed here?
🚺 Whinlatter Forest Park Centre (~52 m straight line) — Free☕ The Cottage in the Wood☕ Cafe Ambio
Tarbarrel Moss car park (paid) — 0.1 km from the start (straight line)
Walking base for Hobcarton End, Grisedale Pike, Hobcarton Crag (Hobcarton Head) and Sand Hill — the 'Birketts around Grisedale Pike' route starts 53 m away. Also serves 'Whinlatter Forest: Tarbarrel Moss, Ullister Hill & Seat How'. Paid parking (OSM-tagged).
Directions Something changed here?
Whinlatter - Forestry England (paid) — 0.1 km from the start (straight line)
Walking base for Hobcarton End, Grisedale Pike, Hobcarton Crag (Hobcarton Head) and Sand Hill — the 'Birketts around Grisedale Pike' route starts 59 m away. Also serves 'Whinlatter Forest: Tarbarrel Moss, Ullister Hill & Seat How'. Paid parking (OSM-tagged).
Directions Something changed here?
Revelin Moss, Whinlatter (Forestry England, paid) — 0.3 km from the start (straight line)
The second Whinlatter car park, 300 m along the pass from the visitor centre - ANPR controlled, open 08:30-20:30. Fees: FE page: charges apply to Whinlatter and Revelin Moss car parks; tariff as Whinlatter main (first 20 min free; first hour £2.90; £0.70 per 15 min; max £14). ANPR pay-on-exit (Forestry England, checked Aug 2026). Free for Forestry England members (checked Aug 2026).
Directions Something changed here?
Whinlatter Top (verge) — 1.3 km from the start (straight line)
0.4 km from Whinlatter Top. Gravel verge.
Directions Something changed here?

Positions are approximate. Lakeland car parks fill before 9am on fine weekends.

Vehicles are left entirely at their owner’s risk. We list places people park; we cannot vouch for any of them. Judge it on the day: take valuables with you, leave nothing on show, and if a spot feels wrong when you get there, park somewhere else.

Every option near this start, on the parking map →

Water, shelter & getting away

💧 possible water source (2 m)🚌 Visitors Centre (93 m)

💧 Treat water from the fell before you drink it. A mapped point is usually a tap or public supply, but never drink untreated from a beck, stream or tarn — even clear-looking hill water can carry giardia or cryptosporidium from livestock or a carcass upstream and leave you seriously ill. Run it through a filter or purifier (a LifeStraw, Sawyer Squeeze or HydraPak) or bring it to a rolling boil first.

On-route facilities © OpenStreetMap contributors — an absent marker does not mean the facility isn’t there.

Buses

The 77 stops at Whinlatter, in Visitors Centre, 130 m from this start. Seasonal: the 77 does not run all year. 1 November 2026 is its last day, and it is not daily before then — a bus on 31 of the 56 days from 7 September. We don’t know when it returns. Confirmed with the operator, 29 August 2026. The last bus is 17:56 towards Keswick (77A) and 16:45 towards Cockermouth (77), every day. Checked against the operator’s timetable, 7 September 2026. Times here are a guide, not a promise — leave yourself more than the minute.

The 77 passes this route at 0.1 km (Whinlatter, in Visitors Centre, 60 m off the line).

Stagecoach 77 / 77A “Honister Rambler”
Keswick – Portinscale – Hawse End (Catbells) – Grange – Seatoller – Honister Pass – Buttermere – Lorton – Whinlatter – Keswick (circular)
Catch it from: Keswick (connect via 555 from Windermere/Ambleside or X4/X5 from Penrith)
Seasonal (roughly Easter–October). Brilliant for the North Western fells: Catbells, Dale Head from Honister, the Buttermere fells and Whinlatter.

Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com or Traveline before travelling.

If the parking is full

There is no real plan B here. Every place we know beside this route serves the same walks and sits close together, so if one is full the others usually are too. Worth starting early, or having a different walk in mind before you set off.

  • Whinlatter Visitor Centre (paid)
  • Revelin Moss, Whinlatter (Forestry England, paid)
  • Tarbarrel Moss car park (paid)

Worked out from the parking we hold within walking reach of this route and the other walks each place serves — two places that serve the same walks fill for the same reasons. We are not saying whether anywhere has spaces today, and we never will: this is what exists, not what is free.

Toilets and refreshments

At Whinlatter Visitor Centre (paid), the closest parking we hold to where this route starts:

🚺 Whinlatter Forest Park Centre (~52 m straight line) — Free☕ The Cottage in the Wood☕ Cafe Ambio

Distances are straight lines from the car park, not walking routes. Opening hours change; none of this is checked daily.

Safety & conditions

  • Whinlatter is a working forest laced with forestry roads that branch and re-cross — follow the waymarks and carry a map; junctions look alike, especially in mist.
  • Shared with mountain-bike trails in places (including the Altura trail) — stay alert and give way to riders where paths cross.
  • Occasional path diversions or machinery during active forestry operations.
  • Tracks get muddy and slippery after rain.

Check live conditions in the “From the fells” panel, on MWIS and the Met Office mountain forecast before you set off.

Make it easier or harder

Easier: The waymarked all-abilities trails from the visitor centre give a shorter, signed alternative.

Harder: Link out to Lord's Seat and Barf, or over to Grisedale Pike, for a bigger north-western day.

Short version: turn back at about 4.1 km (drop to Whinlatter - Forestry Commission Car Park) — roughly half the distance.

Download

Download GPX

GPX track for your GPS or phone.

Places to stay near this start

Croftlands Cottages guest house

about 1.9 km from the start, in a straight line

The best-answered page inside 2 km of the Whinlatter start, and the only one that solves the wet-boots-and-bikes problem explicitly: off-road parking beside the cottages, secure bike storage, and hosepipes for boots, bikes and paws. It also tells a driver something no sat nav will - that CA12 5SA covers the whole of Thornthwaite and will not find the cottage - and it puts the X5 bus stop outside the door, so a car-free party can reach the Grisedale Pike ground.

An osprey nest sits close enough that the birds can be watched from the cottage grounds between April and August, and the village bus shelter stands directly outside two of the three cottages.

  • Dogs “All three of our holiday cottages are dog friendly with Jasmine Cottage and Fox Howe being able to accommodate two each and Squirrel Cottage one.”
  • Family rooms “JASMINE COTTAGE (SLEEPS 4)”
  • Parking “Private off road parking beside the cottages”

Dancing Gate Cottage self-catering

about 4.2 km from the start, in a straight line

The only true drying room in the whole 3-mile radius, and it is paired with a tumble drier, a 3-bicycle stand and outdoor wash-off for bikes and dogs - the exact list a party coming off a wet Coledale round needs. It is also the only property here that states in its own words that it suits families as well as couples, and it sleeps seven across four bedrooms, so it takes a group that no B&B in the area can. Ranked above much closer properties on that basis; the 3-night minimum is the cost.

It is a former farmhouse still standing on a working farm, so guests share the yard with lambs, calves and horses depending on the season.

  • Drying room “There is a rear drying room for boots and coats and sportswear and a 3-bicycle stand for secure storage of bikes, plus a tumble drier.”
  • Dogs “Well-behaved dogs are very welcome and there are several pleasant walks in the nearby area.”
  • Family rooms “Double bedroom with king size bed and en-suite shower room - spacious electric shower, heated towel rail, washbasin with shaverlight and toilet. Twin-bedded room. Double bedded room. Single room.”
  • Children “The house is ideal for couples and families alike, sleeping up to 7 people - plenty of rooms but with a cosy atmosphere.”

High Swinside Holiday Cottages guest house

about 3.9 km from the start, in a straight line

The one property in the radius that can take a very large party - two of its three cottages connect through a lockable door to sleep eleven or twelve - and the only one with a stated EV charger, which matters for a group driving over Whinlatter Pass. It is on the Lorton side of the pass rather than the Braithwaite side, which is the quieter approach to Grisedale Pike's western Birketts, and the owner is close enough to call on.

The smallest of the three was built as a farm workers' cottage in the 1800s and still has its beamed ceilings; the Farmhouse next door can be linked to it through a lockable connecting door.

  • Dogs “Dog friendly”
  • Family rooms “Three Holiday Cottages sleeping 2, 5, or 9 (2 of the cottages can be connected to sleep 11-12)”

Braeside self-catering

about 4.5 km from the start, in a straight line

The most completely described interior in the radius, and it is described for people who come home wet: utility room with washing machine and tumble dryer, coat hooks, and dog towels put out for the end of a walk. Bike storage in the shed, parking for one car, pub 300 m and the owners' own tearoom directly downstairs - so an evening meal and a breakfast exist without moving the car. It states its dog charge and its 17:00 arrival up front.

The cottage sits directly above a tearoom the owners run themselves, and a full set of Wainwright guides is kept on the stairs for guests to borrow.

  • Dogs “2 dogs allowed. Dogs are charged at £20 each per full or part week”
  • Family rooms “3 bedrooms – 1 king-size, 1 double, 1 twin”
  • Evening meal “Even closer to hand (just downstairs!) is a tearoom . Run by us, this popular eatery allows you to treat yourself to breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea from a wide menu.”
  • Parking “Parking for one car in front of cottage, further free parking available on roadside subject to availbility”

What each place says about itself, quoted from their own site. We have not stayed at any of them, and there are no prices, no booking and no affiliate links. Distances are straight lines from the route start, never walking times. Properties found via OpenStreetMap.

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