After a long walk yesterday, we
decided on some easier walking today. We had never visited Whinlatter
Forest, so it seemed a good opportunity to have a stroll round there,
and look at the Visitors Centre.
We arrived at 9.45am, just before the Visitors
Centre opened, but they had signs up outside, with details of the
marked walks. We chose the Red Trail, which was approximately one
and a half miles long.
It started by the Visitors Centre, where we noticed
some very large bird feeders, on which were Coal Tits, Chaffinches,
Robins and Siskins. |
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Bird Feeders by the Visitors Centre |
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bird feeder by the visitors centre |
| The trail, which we walked in reverse,
started off along the main forest track, but before long started winding
its way up through the smaller forest tracks. |
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Skiddaw and Latrigg |
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a clearing in whinlatter forest |
| They had cleared areas in the forest,
which allowed light through and plants to flourish. Every now and
then, there was a small stream. |
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a small stream on the red trail |
| After a steep climb, the path evened
out, and we were able to see for miles over the tops of the trees,
which were now mostly below us. |
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Eyebright |
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view towards hospital plantation |
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View towards the central fells |
| Eventually, we reached a view point, where some very
informative boards had been put up, explaining the views in the various
directions. |
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the hospital fell information board at the viewpoint... |
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...and the view to hospital fell from the viewpoint |
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the helvellyn range information board at the viewpoint.. |
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...and the view of the helvellyn range from the viewpoint |
| After the viewpoint, we followed the
Red Trail back down to the Visitors Centre. |
We were going to the Wainwright
Society Memorial Lecture at Rheged in the evening, where we were
having dinner, so we decided on a light lunch at the Visitors Centre.
This turned out to be a splendid idea, as the food was absolutely
delicious; better than many restaurants we have been to.
The weather was lovely, and we sat outside on
the balcony eating our lunch, while watching the birds, some of
whom came to see what we were having. |
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male chaffinch on the balcony outside the visitors
centre |
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robin on the balcony at the visitors centre |
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Bird Feeders at the Visitors Centre |
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bird feeder at the visitors centre |
| After lunch, we looked round the gift
shop, before making our way back to Castlerigg Farm to get ready for
the Wainwright Memorial Lecture. |
