With the road past Whinlatter main entrance closed, subsidence caused by badgers, we were lucky that we were aiming for the car park right at the west of the forest.
Difficulty: 5
Walkers: Tim, Caroline, Isabelle (15), Grace (13), Evie (10), Poppy (7)
9:50, 0.0km 0h00 0m, Start (235)
11:00, 2.7km 1h09 305m, Graystones (452, Wainwright)
11:49, 4.8km 1h58 444m, Broom Fell (511, Wainwright)
12:25, 6.2km 2h35 507m, Lord's Seat (552, Wainwright)
12:53, 7.4km 3h02 532m, Barf (469, Wainwright)
14:54, 13.2km 5h03 816m, Whinlatter (517, Wainwright)
15:52, 16.0km 6h02 827m, End (236)
After crossing the river by the small footbridge, it was a bit of a slog all the way up to the first peak, Graystones.
A combination of a well deserved rest after the climb, and the way to keep from being blown off your feet.
Graystones, the first Wainwright of the day.
The path onwards led past a recently deceased forest. We couldn't really tell if it was pining for anything at all...
Up to Broom Fell, and a very convenient shelter for lunch.
From Broom Fell, over to Lord's Seat. We'd been here before a few years back, but Poppy was carried then, so we needed to revisit so she could claim it properly.
And over to Barf, another first time for Poppy. Beautiful views across Bassenthwaite and surrounding countryside. Shame we had to bring Grace.
Evie, looking a liittle unimpressed by the view.
After climbing down, it was a great view from the path leading into the forest - here back at Barf, seeing how close the path goes to the cliff side.
Here looking towards Skiddaw, Latrigg and Keswick.
Finally after navigating through the forest and climbing back out of the trees, we made it to Whinlatter.
We found the path down, which was amazingly narrow, twisty, downhill and slippery.
Caroline and Grace lead the way back along the track to the car.