Whinlatter
| Whinlatter | |
|---|---|
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 525 m (1,722 ft) |
| Prominence | c. 60 m |
| Parent peak | Lord's Seat |
| Listing | Wainwright, |
| Coordinates | 54°36′50″N 3°15′07″W / 54.614°N 3.252°WCoordinates: 54°36′50″N 3°15′07″W / 54.614°N 3.252°W |
| Geography | |
 Whinlatter
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| Location | Cumbria, England |
| Parent range | Lake District, North Western Fells |
| OS grid | NY197249 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 89, 90, Explorer OL4 |
Whinlatter is a small fell in the north west of the English Lake District, just north of the Whinlatter Pass. It is easily climbed from the top of the Whinlatter Pass, through the Forestry Commission plantations. The Whinlatter Visitor's Centre, a popular tourist attraction, is on the south side of the fell. The hill is part of a horseshoe around the valley of Aiken Beck. The fells name originates from a combination of the Old Norse and Gaelic languages. With the Old Norse word 'hvin' meaning gorse or furze, and the Gaelic word 'lettir' meaning slope, the name translates as "The Gorse or furze-covered slope.".
The North Western Fells occupy the area between the rivers Derwent and Cocker, a broadly oval swathe of hilly country, elongated on a north-south axis. Two roads cross from east to west, dividing the fells into three convenient groups. Whinlatter is in the most northerly sector, rising between Whinlatter Pass and the Vale of Embleton.
The hub of this group of fells is Lord's Seat, the highest point north of Whinlatter Pass. The main line of high ground runs east to west, taking in Barf, Lord's Seat, Broom Fell and Graystones, before petering out in the direction of Cockermouth. Lord's Seat however sends out a substantial additional ridge which starts southward, curves west and finally turns back north. This is Whinlatter, and the valley enclosed between it and the main ridge is that of Aiken Beck.
The descending ridge from Lord's Seat has a number of tops along its length. First is Ullister Hill (1,722 ft) which is normally reckoned part of the parent fell. The ridge then narrows at Tarbarrel Moss (1,617 ft), before rising again as it turns westward to arrive at Whinlatter Top, the summit. A final top, Brown How (1,696 ft) stands above the terminal descent to Aiken Beck.
From Ullister Hill to Tarbarrel Moss the ridge line and both flanks fall within Thornthwaite Forest. All sides of the lower slopes of Brown How also form part of the Forestry Commission holdings. Depending on the stage in the planting cycle large parts of the fellside will therefore be clad in conifers at any one time. Access problems have now been resolved and the landowner welcomes walkers, many marked trails being available through the woodland.
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Wikipedia