This review was completed in March 2021. The Gruffalo Trail has now moved on however, most of the sculptures can still be seen.
Whinlatter Forest
Whinlatter is situated 25 miles south of Carlisle, postcode: CA12 5TW. There is a pay & display car park aswell as toilet facilities and a cafe.
Our family have enjoyed the fantastic facilities of whinlatter for many years! There are so many trails to explore, for both kids and adults! It is also home to the longest purpose built mountain bike trails in the Lake District. There are running trails, cycle trails, walking trails, a wonderful outdoor play park (including water play!) and a cafe, visitors centre, Go Ape and bike hire!
Previously reviewed routes at Whinlatter can be found below:
The Superworm Trail, perfect for the little legs of the family.
The Revelin Moss Trail, a short one mile pram accessible walk.
The Quercus Bike Trail, a blue moderate mountain bike trail perfect for those beginning their mountain bike journey.
What most families probably know Whinlatter for is the Gruffalo Orienteering Trail! You are able to purchase a map from the visitors centre, however it is well signposted and you can’t miss the wonderful Gruffalo sculptures!
My eldest child is currently squirrel obsessed and we have more recently completed the Squirrel Scurry trail, a short walk following Teasel the Red Squirrel around the trail to learn more about Whinlatter’s red squirrels. Again, you are able to purchase maps from the visitors centre. My children get VERY enthusiastic over a map, for a rainy day activity why don’t you ask your children to design a map to take with them. Ours often make no sense and are actually no help in showing us the way – but we do have a lot of fun making them!
The Gruffalo trail is pram accessible with a good outdoors pram, I needed the baby carrier for the squirrel trail…. and don’t forget to make use of the wonderful outdoor ‘wild play’ which has water play, swings, climbing facilities & much more!
This walk is part of the Forestry England Woodland Walks. Whinlatter is a working forest and therefore some trails can be closed at times due to forest operations, or damage caused by recent storms. The Julia Donaldson Walks are only here for a few months before moving on to a new trail. For all up to date information on the trails at Whinlatter please access the Forestry England website here.
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