This is Emily’s first ever ‘buggy friendly’ walk, and now that the weather is getting slightly warmer, this could be the first of many over the next few months. After checking the weather forecast, we thought the conditions would be perfect for a forest walk; this time of year the sun is low and the trees have very little foliage, which can have a positive effect while walking through deep forest plantations.
We chose to follow the ‘Two Gills Trail’, which is the red route in Whinlatter Forest Park. This route also follows (partly) ‘The Highway Rat Activity Trail’, which is aimed at younger children, but the whole family can enjoy completing activities and spotting characters along the way. There are a couple of steep sections on this path, and also a small section which is quite stony, so it helps if you’ve got a buggy with large ‘all-terrain wheels’. We don’t recommend this walk in wet conditions.
There is plenty of parking (pay on exit), a cafe and toilets at the Whinlatter Visitor Centre.
Approaching the Visitor Centre from the car park
Osprey sculpture near the car park
Information point near the Visitor Centre
As well as three trail walks, you can also walk to Whinlatter, Barf, Lord’s Seat and Broom fell from here.
The start of the trails at Whinlatter Forest Park
The start of the ‘Highway Rat Trail’
No 1 – The Rat Thief never shares
There are 8 boards along the trail with carved characters to be found along the way. It is aimed at younger children, but the whole family can enjoy the fun. This new trail follows part of the red and blue routes, and is about 1.25 miles in length.
Three coloured waymarkers in Comb Plantation
The three main trails in Comb Plantation are:
Comb Beck Trail (blue route)
Two Gills Trail (red route)
Seat How Summit Trail (green route)
What’s behind this door?
It’s a tree!
Having fun on the playground
No 2 – No ifs or buts!
Mouse carving in Comb Plantation
The path leaving the playground
A bit of a climb here!
No 3 – Stand and deliver!
Approaching the viewpoint and seating area
This would be a good place to stop for lunch on a nice day as there’s plenty of seating.
No 4 – Give me your sweets and your lollies!
Gruffalo carving in Comb Plantation
Fox carving in Comb Plantation
No 5 – Flies from a spider!
Dividing trails
When you arrive at this junction, you continue along the forest road and follow the Two Gills Trail (red route) to Black Gill. If you want to continue on the Highway Rat Activity Trail, you need to take the path to the right.
Carving on the forest road
A wise choice!
Snake carving near Black Gill
Approaching Black Gill
Frankie at Black Gill
Straight after crossing Black Gill, where the forest road bridges over it, we take a narrow path on the right.
Descent path above Black Gill
Emily taking it all in
Forest road leading to Comb Gill
Stony path above Comb Gill
This short section is quite stony, so it’s recommended that you have a buggy with big all-terrain wheels.
Approaching Comb Gill
Descending into Comb Gill
This is the most exciting part of the walk. The path is narrow, but is great fun.
Chicane on the Comb Gill path
Traverse path above Comb Gill
This is our favourite section of the walk with a lovely little traverse path. Please be careful of the drop on the right.
Steep descent at the end of the Comb Gill path
This is the steepest section of the walk, however, it’s absolutely fine as long as you take your time; it’s not recommended in wet weather.
Back onto the forest road
A brief opening from the forest road
Rejoining the ‘Highway Rat Trail’
No 8 – Who goes there?
This is the point where the Highway Rat Trail rejoins our route again.
Forest road leading back to the Visitor Centre
Have you seen this Highway Rat?
End of the ‘Highway Rat Activity Trail’
Arriving back at the Visitor Centre
Osprey information at the Visitor Centre
“In 1998 an artificial platform was set up at the top of a tree in Wythop Wood in the hope that it would be chosen as a nest site. Incredibly, this was successful, and chicks have been raised there every year from 2001 to 2007. Since 2003 it has been possible to watch the nest site from the Visitor Centre using closed circuit television, and in 2004 the project won the Tourism Team of the Year Award. This is the first time ospreys have bred in England since 1842. In 2008 the birds moved across the lake but they can still be seen on C.C.T.V.” (Lord’s Seat 4)
CJ
Gift shop at the Visitor Centre
A well deserved coffee and cake at Siskins Cafe
Thank you for visiting.
Jaclyn Jennings