Barf, Lord's Seat, Ullister Hill and Seat How Loop

Overview

About Barf, Lord's Seat, Ullister Hill and Seat How Loop

Why go

Four named summits in one compact loop
Big Bassenthwaite and northern fells views

Heads up

Steep, loose climb with a short rock step
Boggy open ground and less distinct wayfinding

Barf delivers the most immediate view over Bassenthwaite Lake, while Lord's Seat opens the wider northern fells. Ullister Hill is a quieter, rounded top, and Seat How adds views back toward Whinlatter Pass and Grisedale Pike. The route also passes the little white-painted rock known as the Bishop of Barf, but the direct craggy ascent to it is not part of this walk.

Parkwolf’s verdictThe payoff

Map & elevation

The route

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Full map

Elevation102–550 m

TrailheadBarf, Lord's Seat, Ullister Hill and Seat How Loop54.62780, -3.20872

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Plan your hike

Before you go

Parking

Start at the small Powter How car park near Thornthwaite, just off the A66. Return to the road, turn left, then take the minor road and the signed footpath before the bridge. This route uses Powter How, not the Whinlatter visitor-centre car park.

Best time to go

Allow about 3 to 3.5 hours at an ordinary pace with summit stops. Late spring through early autumn usually gives longer daylight and firmer ground, but the tops remain exposed to wind, rain, and mist. Start at the small Powter How car park near Thornthwaite, rather than the Whinlatter visitor-centre car park. Follow the road briefly, then take the signed footpath before the bridge.

Safety

The climb beside Beckstones Gill is steep and loose, with slippery slate and a short hands-on rock step. Open ground between Barf, Lord's Seat, and Ullister Hill can be boggy and difficult to follow in mist. Stay away from the crags and do not attempt the direct scramble to the Bishop of Barf. There is little shade or reliable water on the fell, and sheep graze the route.

8 active Lake District alerts

ClosureChapel Stile footpath closed for retaining-wall riskPart of Footpath 543030 between Chapel Stile and Baysbrown campsite is closed because a retaining wall beside the path could collapse and material it supports could fall across the footpath.Official details
ClosureStanley Ghyll Lower Falls footpath closed for rockfallThe section of Footpath 408037 leading towards Stanley Ghyll Lower Falls is closed because severe rockfall damage has made the path unstable and further rockfall remains a danger.Official details

See all 8 alerts

A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone — Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Lake District Tour Guide

Your drive to Barf, Lord's Seat, Ullister Hill and Seat How Loop, narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Lake District National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.

Recorded for this trailhead

Barf and Lord's Seat from Powter How

0:00 / 1:12

“You're approaching Powter How, the starting point for a fell walk over Barf and Lord's Seat.”

Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Lake District Tour Guide.

Hiking Barf, Lord's Seat, Ullister Hill and Seat How Loop

The routeThis is a 5.0-mile loop from Powter How, measured as the complete circuit.

This is a 5.0-mile loop from Powter How, measured as the complete circuit. It starts along the road and a footpath beside Beckstones Gill, climbs through woodland to Barf, crosses open fell to Lord's Seat, then reaches Ullister Hill and Seat How before descending forest tracks back to the car park.

What it feels likeThe opening climb is the day's main effort: steep, rough, loose slate beside the gill, with one…

The opening climb is the day's main effort: steep, rough, loose slate beside the gill, with one short hands-on rock step. Above Barf, the route changes to heather and open grass. The crossing to Lord's Seat and the traverse toward Ullister Hill can be boggy, while the return from Seat How is mostly on forest tracks. This is a proper fell walk, not a polished forest stroll.

DogsDogs can use the route, but sheep are present and there are gaps beside some stiles.

Dogs can use the route, but sheep are present and there are gaps beside some stiles. Keep a dog under close control, use a lead around livestock, and do not let it run toward the crags or chase wildlife.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Lake District

All Lake District wildlife maps

81 sightingsRed DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map

13 sightingsEurasian OtterMost seen around 6 AMSighting map

76 sightingsOspreyMost seen around 8 AMSighting map

51 sightingsEuropean BadgerMost seen around 8 PMSighting map

233 sightingsMute SwanMost seen around 6 PMSighting map

176 sightingsGrey HeronMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Lake District. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.