Comb Beck Trail

A 2.8 km / 1.75 mile loop from Whinlatter Forest Visitor Centre, out into the conifer woods and back to where you started. Allow about 1 hour, a bit more if you stop for photos or have children with you.

From the visitor centre a short connecting footpath drops you onto the waymarked loop, which stays mainly off the wider forest roads. Follow the orange waymarkers round.

The sequence goes roughly like this:

Narrow woodland paths and the sound of running water carry most of the character of this walk.

• narrow paths winding through conifer glades
• a long stretch alongside Comb Gill, with rocky little cascades
• an ancient sheepfold tucked into the woodland
• a disused dam that once supplied power to workings below
• a return leg back to the visitor centre

Call it moderate in practice, even though it is short. The elevation range is around 125 m / 410 ft, and the sections beside the stream can be uneven, rocky and wet underfoot. There is no scrambling, no exposed fell ground and no stiles on this route, though there are enough tree roots, damp patches and small steep bits that you will want boots or decent grippy shoes.

Be honest with yourself about the surface: expect uneven, rocky and wet footing in places, and plan for slower going than the distance suggests.

Start and finish at Whinlatter Forest Visitor Centre, Whinlatter Pass, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 5TW. The car park sits just off the B5292 and parking charges apply. No trail-specific permit is needed to walk the loop.

Dogs are welcome in the forest. Keep yours under close control and clean up after them. Parts of the wider path network here are shared with cyclists, so expect bikes where the walking route runs near or across those sections and keep dogs and children close at those points.