Visitor information

Welcome to England's only true mountain forest

Whinlatter is home to stunning views, fantastic walks, exhilarating mountain biking, rare wildlife and adventure play.

Set within the Lake District, a World Heritage Site, Whinlatter has unrivalled views across Bassenthwaite Lake, Derwentwater and Keswick. It is also home to the longest purpose-built mountain bike trails in the Lake District. 

The Lakes are a dramatic and unique landscape which has been formed through man’s activities, such as forestry and land management. This landscape has inspired many of the world’s greatest artists, writers and thinkers.

Forest event
Saturday 30 March
Start 6.30pm
Meet at the yurt

Join Jo from JAG Outdoors,  at Whinlatter Forest  for a walk around the forest at night.

The walk will cover 3-4 miles of trails, and weather permitting, stop for some amazing star gazing opportunities. As an amateur astronomer Jo can help you have some fun finding the major constellations and will have star maps and guides on hand.

Please be aware the route will be on a range of surfaces and may be wet and muddy. Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Please bring a torch per person if possible. A red filter is ideal for when we stop to star gaze otherwise we will be turning the torches off! Dogs and children welcome.

We suggest you bring a flask of warm drink and maybe a snack, especially if bringing youngsters.Children under 12 must be within reach of their responsible appropriate adult at all times, older children must have an over 18 on site for the event.There are 3 points, after about 2 miles, at which we can offer you the option to return to the Visitor Centre if you or your little people are tired. This will be self guided.

Forest event
Sunday 7 April
Start 10.30am
Meet at Visitor Centre

Come and join the team from The Conscious Self for a forest flow, a beautiful day of connecting to nature, our breath, ourselves and each other.

Forest Flow

Our meet up is at a designated place before a small walk to a beautiful clearing deep in the forest which will have a beautiful feel as you enter... (especially surrounded by all the pine trees). It's time to then settle down into our spaces around the fire and connect to Mother Nature.

Forest event
Wednesday 24 April
Start 7pm
Meet at Noble Knott car park

The full Pink moon aligns with spring flowers bursting into life and symbolises happiness & optimism, a time to focus our energy on creating and manifesting our dreams and goals.

Calling in the elements & directions we cast a sacred circle to celebrate and connect with the energy of the moon, to release anything that no longer serves us and create our very best life!

You can expect:

Meditation ~ visualisation ~ drumming ~ fire ritual ~ manifestation!

Sharing with other women in a supportive and nurturing circle.

Forest tea and cake provided - please let me know of any dietary requirements on booking.

All you need to be is you! All you need to bring is yourself, some warm clothes, a torch, and maybe a journal...

 

Age 16+. Please note this event is in the depths of the forest 300m up a steep path. We have a large shelter and it will still go ahead in the rain. There are no toilets in the forest so please go before you arrive. 

Forest event
Sunday 28 April
10am to 2pm

The wild women instructors will guide you through an unforgettable day of fun where you will dip your toes into the world of bushcraft and survival skills. You will learn foraging, fire lighting, cooking and gain knowledge of the woodland.

Time spent with our inspiring and knowledgeable instructors will leave you with wonderful memories set in Whinlatter Mountain Forest.

Mums, daughters, grannies come for a grand day out. 

Food and drink

Flat bread falafel from Cafe Ambio

Cafe Ambio at Whinlatter

Whether you fancy a hot drink to start your visit, a warming meal or snack after your walk or ride or even a Sunday dinner then Cafe Ambio is the place to be! With a wide range of mouth-watering dishes, a warm and welcoming atmosphere and friendly staff who are always happy to help be sure to pop in next time you visit.

Whether you've just bought your first bike, or you're looking for your next adrenaline fix, Whinlatter Forest puts the mountain back into biking, with climbs to amazing views and rewarding descents.

Due to high demand for hired bikes, we advise that you book in advance of your visit by contacting the Cyclewise team at Whinlatter via their website.

The Gruffalo is celebrating his 25th birthday and to celebrate, everyone is invited to take part in a brand-new forest adventure.

What to expect

The interactive family trail features all sorts of party-themed activities and games, along with fun facts to teach you about life in the forest for the Gruffalo and other creatures.

Follow the trail to help find the missing party items to give the Gruffalo a birthday to remember. Search for balloons, pine cones, apples and the Gruffalo himself, and complete fun activities and rubbings as you go along.

Get the party started with a Gruffalo Party Trail pack

Pick up your pack for just £4 from the Visitor Centre during opening hours, packed with fun things to do on your party adventure.

Inside you’ll find:

kraft bag to colour inparty headband to wearparty trail activity leafletstickerspencil and crayonkeepsake sew-on Gruffalo Party patch

Share your party fun using the #GruffaloTrail hashtag.

The Gruffalo © 1999 & TM Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler. Licensed by Magic Light Pictures Ltd.

Stunning scenery, a higher calorie burn and increased mental wellbeing are just a few things to look forward to when you run in England's only true mountain forest.

Supported by Sport England and using National Lottery funding, our range of running trails (from 2.5km right up to half-marathon distance) at Whinlatter make running through the forest more accessible, so you can feel confident to just hit the trails and enjoy all the benefits of being active outdoors.

 

Whinlatter is home to stunning views and offers some fantastic walks. There are many miles of gravel roads, surfaced paths and tracks to explore.

Each junction is marked with a numbered post which is shown on the guide map making it easy to create your own route.

Nearby forests

Dodd Wood from Bassenthwaite Lake

Dodd Wood is a fantastic place to get some stunning views of the northern Lake District. The network of walking trails will take you deep into the woodland and walk to the top of Dodd Summit for views across the fells.

You may also see red squirrels in the wood throughout the year.

View of forest and hills from Carron Crag trail at Grizedale

Breath-taking views, stunning artwork and endless forest trails, come and discover all that Grizedale has to offer!

Explore the forest on two wheels, foot or horse back and keep your eyes peeled along the way for our unique sculptures which are dotted throughout the forest. For more of a challenge, test your nerve and swing among the trees on one of our Go Ape courses.

A view from a mountain looking down a wooded valley

Lying on the north western edge of the Lake District National Park, Ennerdale is home to some of England’s most vibrant natural environments and one of the longest running wild land restoration projects in the UK!

Rising abruptly out of the coastal plain of West Cumbria, Ennerdale is one of the most remote of Cumbrian valleys. There is a sense of tranquility, self-will and wildness, a feeling more of Scotland or Scandinavia.

View of Pillar from Blengdale Forest viewpoint

Discover a variety of outdoor experiences at Blengdale Forest, from a gentle walk up the valley of the River Bleng to a cycle ride around the forest roads. 

From the highest points, Blengdale offers wild views of Wasdale, Haycock and the West Cumbrian Coast.

For some light refreshment stop off in Gosforth and sample the delicious Gosforth Bakery's pies, famous throughout Cumbria.

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