Parking
Start at the main car park beside Whinlatter Forest Visitor Centre on Whinlatter Pass, Keswick, CA12 5TW. This is the correct access for the loop, and parking is paid. Do not navigate to the Seat How viewpoint itself.
Overview
About Seat How Summit Trail
Why go
- A genuine summit viewpoint over two lakes and the northern fells
- Straightforward signed loop from a visitor centre
Heads up
- The forest hides the views for much of the climb
- A steep opening climb and weather-exposed upper section
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Lake District map
Full mapElevation307–518 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
Safety
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
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Lake District Tour Guide
Your drive to Seat How Summit Trail, 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
Whinlatter: Beck Walk or Summit View0:00 / 1:13
“You're coming up on Whinlatter Forest's visitor centre, where you can choose between a walk beside tumbling water and a climb above the trees.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Lake District Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Noble Knott: Two Short Woodland Loops
- Braithwaite: Coledale Ridge or Mine Walk
- Barf and Lord's Seat from Powter How
- Scawgill: Graystones and Broom Fell
- 298 audio storiesacross Lake District’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Red Deer, Eurasian Otter, Osprey, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 265 trails, 89 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Seat How Summit Trail
The routeThis is a 3.5-mile circular walk from the main visitor-centre car park.
This is a 3.5-mile circular walk from the main visitor-centre car park. It climbs on wide forest tracks and narrower paths through conifers, reaches open heather at Seat How, then loops back through the forest. The summit section is the payoff, with views across Bassenthwaite and Derwentwater toward Skiddaw, plus the Helvellyn range in good visibility. Allow about 2 to 3 hours for the full loop with ordinary stops.
What it feels likeThe distance is modest, but the opening climb is sustained and steep enough to make this a…
The distance is modest, but the opening climb is sustained and steep enough to make this a moderate walk rather than an effortless stroll. Underfoot, expect gravel and forest tracks below the trees, then rougher path over open heather and rocky ground near the top. The forest hides the wider scenery for much of the ascent, so the walk earns its views instead of delivering them continuously. Shared forest tracks are used by walkers, cyclists, and horse riders, so take care at bends and junctions.
Access and dogsDogs are allowed on this route, but keep them under control around other trail users and…
Dogs are allowed on this route, but keep them under control around other trail users and wildlife. The walk starts from the visitor-centre area and follows signed trails through the forest. If you want a substantially longer and more open fell day, the nearby Lord's Seat and Barf route uses part of this network but is a different, much bigger outing.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Lake District
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 mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Lake District. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
