Distance:6.25 miles Time: 3hrs (inc. stops) Total ascent: 350m

Our first trip to the lakes in 2023, and while we’d done a few shorter walks over the weekend, these were our first Wainwrights of the year. Quite a hot day so we selected this due to the shade offered by the forest at Whinlatter.

The trails here are very easy to follow, and after a steady climb from the visitors centre the going is pretty easy on the approach to Lord’s Seat, with a short final climb. The reward was spectacular. This is the westernmost fell we’ve tackled, so there were great views out across the Solway Firth.

Now that we’d left the shade of the forest, we couldn’t dawdle too long at the summit for fear of overheating the dog, so we descended towards the nearby summit of Barf. Cody managed to find a small but surprisingly deep puddle just before the final climb up to Barf, so he was happy.

Enjoyed the views across to Skiddaw, watching solitary clouds cast shadows racing down from the tops. Too soon we too had to descend back into the forest, though a welcome waterfall by the forest stile provided further dog refreshment!

The walk back to the visitors centre was a pleasant stroll along forest tracks, and we happened across a forestry volunteer watching a woodpecker nest, so we were able to watch a pair of very hungry woodpeckers being fed through a telescope.

Food at the visitor’s centre cafe was excellent, and worth a visit alone!

Really enjoyed Whinlatter, would definitely revisit.

This brings our Wainwright totals to Sarah 13, Paul 21