Brown How - Whinlatter Wainwright | The Hiking Household

Brown How

Distance

Approx 3 miles

Parking

Lay-by parking to the west of Whinlatter Forest visitors centre

Why we love this walk?

This Wainwright walk is an ideal fell walk for those with children. My four children felt a lot of pride reaching the summit as it’s quite an achievement for little legs (and those adults recovering from a brain tumour and stroke lol)! We also love this Wainwright walk as it’s close to Whinlatter Forest that offers a children’s outdoor play area, cafe and toilets – a great place to stop after your walk.

Please do take care, correct walking footwear is essential.

For more details please head to the bottom of this page and view our Strava map.

The Route

Lay-by parking just beyond Whinlatter Forest is a great starting point for this walk.

Leaving the lay-by you cross the road and take the steep footpath uphill. This footpath is noticeable from where you park your car, be careful it is steep in parts. Follow this path upwards until, after about 1 mile, you come to crossroads. Here you can turn left and follow a steep path up towards a gate. Go through the gate and head directly right, following the fence which is on your right hand side. This section is extremely steep and my kids had to use hands and feet at times. When reaching the top of this section turn left and follow the paths that have been made by other walkers. Keep following this path where, after about 0.5 miles, you reach Whinlatter Top. This is marked by a few stones and, be warned, is not the final summit.

From here you keep following the path, go through some rather boggy areas, and eventually reach the summit of Brown How. It is marked by a much needed wind shelter made of rocks. Here you turn left and head towards the summit.

At only 525m this Wainwright offers some steep sections and scrambling in parts – my children loved it!

When you are ready to make your descent, head back down and return the way that you came up. This walk is perhaps better suited for children who can manage some steep climbs. Correct walking footwear is essential.