Seat How Summit Trail, Whinlatter Forest
Cumbria
Whinlatter, above Braithwaite on the pass between Keswick and Lorton, is Forestry England's only true mountain forest, its conifer plantations climbing the slopes of the North Western Fells. With no livestock anywhere in the plantations, a dog can range freely on the wide forest tracks for most of the climb to Seat How. The forest is laced with gravel roads and tracks, with every junction marked by a numbered post. The Seat How Summit trail is the pick of the waymarked walks: a 5.8km circuit from the visitor centre, following white waymarkers up through the forest and out onto heather to Seat How, a rocky 495 metre top with views over Bassenthwaite Lake and Derwentwater to Skiddaw and the Helvellyn range. Forestry England grades the trail as hard, as it climbs steadily on forest tracks and rougher paths with around 230 metres of ascent, before looping back down through the trees to the start.
This is a dog friendly forest walk with plenty of off-lead potential, as the plantations are free of sheep and cattle and the tracks are wide enough to see what is coming. Keep a lead handy near the visitor centre and play areas, where it is busy, and wherever mountain bike trails cross the path, as Whinlatter has the longest purpose-built bike trails in the Lake District. Red squirrels and deer can tempt chasers. There is shade for most of the way, and small becks give water lower down. The main car park is pay on exit, with toilets and a cafe at the visitor centre.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 5.8 km (3.6 miles)
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Duration
- 2 hr 10 min
- Walk Type
- Forest, Peak
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- High
- Livestock Risk
- Low
- Facilities
- Toilets, cafe and visitor centre at the start; pubs in Braithwaite at the foot of the pass.
- Parking
- Whinlatter main car park, Forestry England, pay on exit (members park free).
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Seat How Summit Trail, Whinlatter Forest, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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All dog friendly stays in CumbriaFrequently Asked Questions
Is Seat How Summit Trail, Whinlatter Forest dog friendly?
Seat How Summit Trail earns a solid 8/10 for dog friendliness, and it's easy to see why. Whinlatter's conifer plantations are completely free of livestock, the forest tracks are wide and well-marked, and there's shade for most of the walk plus small becks to drink from lower down. Facilities at the visitor centre include toilets and a cafe, and there are pubs in Braithwaite at the foot of the pass.
Can dogs be off lead at Seat How Summit Trail, Whinlatter Forest?
For much of the route, yes — the absence of sheep and cattle in the plantations means dogs can roam freely on the wide forest tracks for most of the climb to Seat How. That said, it's worth keeping a lead handy near the visitor centre and play areas where it gets busy, and wherever the mountain bike trails cross the path, as Whinlatter has the longest purpose-built bike trails in the Lake District. Dogs with a strong chase instinct should also be watched around the forest's red squirrels and deer.
What should I know before visiting Seat How Summit Trail, Whinlatter Forest with my dog?
The Seat How Summit Trail is a 5.8km waymarked circuit graded hard by Forestry England, with around 230 metres of ascent on forest tracks and rougher paths — it's a proper climb, so make sure your dog is fit enough for the terrain. Mountain bike trails cross the route in places, so keep an eye out and have a lead to hand for those moments. Parking is at Whinlatter main car park, which is pay on exit (Forestry England members park free), and the visitor centre has toilets and a cafe at the start.
Visitor Reviews
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Whinlatter Visitor Centre car park, Whinlatter Pass, Braithwaite, Keswick CA12 5TW
54.6093, -3.2286
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