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Whinlatter Forest, North Lakes - Taking in the Wow Trail


Whinlatter Forest is situated high in the fells near Keswick, North Lakes. What ever the weather you should get some great views and most rides are almost all off road, bar the odd road you may need to cross. This is the second ride I have written up for Whinlatter and if you click on 'More Posts' you should be able to find the ride called The Gruffalo Ride, which could be linked into this ride to made a 12 mile loop.  





After getting some advise from the staff at the visitor centre about what routes were open that day, they kindly said we could cut through their corridor! Think they wanted to challenge us! It was the quickest was to the trail.  


Meeting the Owl from the Gruffalo Trail 






Starting from Noble Knott Car Park take the path out the car park which brings you out onto a forest track. You then work your way up the hill to Revelin Moss via a network of forest tracks. From Revelin Moss head down to the road and turn left and then right up into the main visitor centre car park. Here there is a café, toilets and a visitor centre with helpful staff who are very happy to answer any questions. 

From the visitor centre head toward the bike hire shop and then just past this your find the start of the Wow Trail. This route gradually take you up hill with fantastic views towards Skiddaw and other surrounding fells. You then start to descend and pick up the bridleway adjacent to Combe Beck. Here where the route became stony and steep we dismounted and lead our horses down the bridleway. You will then come out on the edge of Thornthwaite village, where you need to turn right and pick up the bridleway back into Whinlatter. You then cross the road and pick up the forest track back to the Noble Knott Car Park.  This is a great ride covering some good hills and it really is fantastic to have these routes that are mostly all off-road. 


Things to Note

Ride Length - This ride is 6 miles, but the ride can be made longer or shorter (for example this ride links into the Gruffalo Ride, which is outlined on a previous blog). All forest tracks are open to horse riders, just need to keep off the down hill mountain bike trails.  Sometimes Forestry England close some of the trails for forestry work so best to check their website to make sure everything is open or call into the visitor centre and ask.  

Type of routes - Bridleways and forest tracks (land owned by Forestry England and all tracks have a permissive right of access for all). Whinlatter is great place for a ride in poor weather or the winter months. The bridleway that runs along Combe Beck is stony and steep in places meaning if your doing down this route you may like to dismount and lead your horse. 

Parking - We parked at Noble Knott Car Park, CA12 5TW. The car park entrance is opposite Knott Head view point layby.   All car parks at Whinlatter can be used so you can start this ride form different directions.

Other users - The closer you are to visitor centre the more people you will see, including bikes, Segway's and alpaca walking. As ever lots of #BeNiceSayHi and everyone gets along and most people enjoy meeting the horses. 

Useful Information

Forestry England Whinlatter - https://www.forestryengland.uk/whinlatter

Nearby horse friendly accommodation: 

Swinside End Farm, Lorton   https://www.swinsideendfarm.co.uk/ 

A GPX route file of this route can be downloaded from the Facebook Group Ride Cumbria https://www.facebook.com/groups/367414084781168

With thanks to Anna Twiname, Bridget Pickthall and Liz Davison for letting me use their photos.
 

 






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