Forests and woods

An extensive woodland south of Keswick, running up to Walla Crag and overlooking Derwentwater. There is a fairly easy walk to the top of Walla Crag by way of Ashness Bridge, and the views from the top are genuinely breathtaking.

The National Trust has created seven waymarked walks through the woods and along the lakeshore, ranging from fifteen minutes to an hour and three quarters, and all easy to follow.

The shortest, around Cockshot Wood, starts next to the Trust’s lakeside shop and takes in wild play areas for den building, a magic climbing tree and dragons — with the trees giving some shelter from the wind for families with young children.

The longest, around Great Wood, starts from the Great Wood car park a mile outside Keswick and climbs into an internationally significant Atlantic oakwood. People often spot red squirrels and even roe deer, and a few windows through the trees near the top give glimpses out over Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite.

Forestry England’s Dodd Wood has four waymarked walking trails: Dodd Summit, Douglas Fir, Sandbed Gill and Skill Beck. The Dodd Summit Trail climbs Dodd, not Skiddaw. Wider public paths connect to the surrounding fells, including routes towards Skiddaw, but these are not Forestry England’s waymarked Dodd trails.

The shorter Douglas Fir and Sandbed Gill trails are graded Moderate; Dodd Summit is graded Hard. Shorter does not necessarily mean easy or suitable for every young child. Choose a route to suit your group and check current conditions.

Check the current Dodd Wood trail information

Dodd Wood car park is on the A591 opposite Mirehouse. Mirehouse has gardens, woodland walks and family play areas; check Mirehouse’s own visitor information before planning a visit.

Whinlatter, just up the hill from Braithwaite, is England’s only true mountain forest and is managed by Forestry England. The Seat How summit walk reaches around 500 metres, with views across the surrounding forest and fells.

Forest admission is free for everyone; car-parking charges apply. You do not need an entry booking for an ordinary forest visit. Separately run activities and some events may require their own bookings.

The Honister Rambler 77/77A bus service from Keswick is seasonal and finishes for winter after October half term. Check the current operating dates and timetable before travelling.

Check current trail conditions for forestry operations, closures and diversions, and plan your visit with Forestry England for current travel, parking and accessibility information.

The Wow Trail has a nature hide for watching woodland wildlife and a viewpoint over Bassenthwaite Lake, where lucky visitors may see an osprey during summer. There is no osprey livestream at the visitor centre. Read about the Wow Trail and Tramper hire and accessible routes before visiting.

Dodd Wood and Whinlatter offer opportunities to look for red squirrels and other woodland wildlife. At Whinlatter, the Wow Trail’s nature hide and viewpoint offer places to pause and watch. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed; there is no osprey livestream at the visitor centre.