Whinlatter Gruffalo Orienteering | Exploring Cumbria
Whinlatter Forest was one of the first places we visited up in the Lake District - we went with my aunt and uncle who also live here. We love visiting, especially as it gives us a chance to enjoy the activity trails, playgrounds, and so much more as a family.
Read on to discover everything you need to know about visiting and enjoying the Gruffalo orienteering course, a permanent feature at Whinlatter.
About Whinlatter Forest
Whinlatter Forest is England's only mountain forest. Not only does it offer spectacular views across Bassenthwaite Lake, Derwentwater and Keswick; you can find a diverse range of trees from Sitka and Norway spruce to Scots pine, Douglas fir and Lawson cypress.
If you fancy exploring more than just the Gruffalo Orienteering course (that this blog post is about!), Whinlatter also offers hikes to bag a Wainwright, bike trails, adventure playgrounds and so much more.
Where can I park?
Three miles from the A66 turning onto the B5292 to Whinlatter Pass you can find the car park at the visitor centre for Whinlatter Forest.
The first 20 minutes are free, but the car park is chargeable after. The max charge is £8.
To find the car park, use this post code: CA12 5TW
Explore the Gruffalo Orienteering trail
Follow the signposts
Make sure you know which direction to head
No orienteering course would be complete without posts indicating which direction you should go to find the next post. The Gruffalo orienteering trail at Whinlatter Forest is no different.
Learn forest facts
Along the route of the Gruffalo orienteering trail you will find not only the signposts which tell you which direction to take, but also some which allow you to learn facts about forests, and the creatures that live there.
Find the mouse
“All was quiet in the deep dark wood. The mouse found a nut, and the nut was good.”
Find the fox
“Where are you going to, little brown mouse? Come and have lunch in my underground house.”
Find the owl
“Where are you going to, little brown mouse? Come and have tea in my treetop house.”
Find the snake
“Where are you going to, little brown mouse? Come for a feast in my logpile house.”
Finally, find the gruffalo
“But who is this creature with terrible claws and terrible teeth in his terrible jaws? He has knobbly knees and turned-out toes and a poisonous wart at the end of his nose. His eyes are orange , his tongue is black; he has purple prickles all over his back. Oh, help! Oh, no! It's a gruffalo!”
FAQs about our family days out
Is it suitable for children and / or dogs?
Where you just want somewhere to let everyone run off some energy, want to explore an activity, fancy hiring some bikes, or simply wish to head to the Go Ape! activity experience, Whinlatter is the perfect place for children, adults, and dogs, too!
Are there facilities available?
There are fully accessible toilets and changing facilities next to the visitor centre which are open 8:30am - 8:30pm.
Is there anywhere to eat nearby?
We like to take a picnic which can be enjoyed on one of the many picnic benches available within the forest. However, if you fancy a hot drink, homemade cake, or even a delicious meal, Café Ambio is the perfect spot. It's open 10am - 5pm at the back of Whinlatter Forest visitor centre.
Whinlatter Forest is such a stunning destination spot to enjoy with your family, your partner, your friends, or just your dog! We absolutely love heading up the pass to enjoy the trails and more here, and now you have all the details you need to do the same.
For more blog posts about exploring the beautiful places we have on our Cumbrian doorstep check out my Lake District category here. Have you found somewhere free and amazing in the Lake District? We love to explore new spots, so feel free to share in the comments below.
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Check out the beautiful Buttermere Circular, with all the info you need to plan your own visit.