Whinlatter Forest

About

Welcome to England's only true mountain forest. Rising 1000ft above sea level, the forest and visitor centre provide a whole range of outdoor activities for everyone.

Start your adventure at the visitor centre where our friendly staff will be happy to help with information and ideas to help plan your day. Enjoy some retail therapy in the forest shop or sample the home-made food at Café Ambio, gazing out over the balcony at the stunning woodland views and birdlife.

For younger visitors, the Whinlatter WildPlay trail is a fantastic 600m long trail boasting nine different play zones. Scale the giant timber climbing frame, fly through the air on the log swing or try your hand at Archimedes screw to move water uphill. Lovers of the magical worlds of Julia Donaldson can enjoy spotting our Gruffalo sculptures throughout the forest and our themed activity trails.

The forest is home to a varied events programme including bushcraft, foraging, forest bathing, alpaca walks and more - check our website to help you plan your visit.

Whinlatter is the place to be for walking, with miles of waymarked trails starting near the centre. There are suitable walks for people of all abilities, taking in spectacular views across the fells and forests.  For those who are less mobile we also have a Tramper available to hire as well as a specially designed route to open the forest to as many as possible.

Are you a keen trail runner or fancy giving this growing sport a go? With miles of forest trails to enjoy, we’ve a route for everyone. Dip your toe in the water with our 2.5km route or stretch your legs along the half marathon trail. Don’t miss out on our weekly parkrun every Saturday morning – one of the hilliest in the UK - and if you've never tried orienteering, Whinlatter's permanent courses are the perfect place to start.

The forest also offers excellent mountain biking, with the red-graded Altura trail, blue graded Quercus trail and the Gorse trail on forest roads. Bring your own mountain bike or hire one from our onsite partners at Cyclewise Whinlatter, why not try out an e-bike and explore even further?​​​​​