Barf, Lord's Seat & Broom Fell - Thursday 2 April 2026
Route
Powter How - The Clerk - Beckstones Gill - Barf - Lord’s Seat - Broom Fell - Comb Plantation - Whinlatter Visitor Centre - Thornthwaite - Powter How
Parking
Car Park at Powter How (Donation) which is approximately half a mile north of the village of Thornthwaite. The Grid Reference is NY22045 26511 and the nearest postcode is CA12 5SQ.
Mileage
8.1 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths & forest tracks with a small amount of road walking on quiet lanes
Weather
A gloriously sunny day with a slight chill and the lightest of breezes
Time Taken
5hrs
Total Ascent
2299ft (701m)
Wainwrights
3
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
Walkers
Dave & Robbie
Powter How - The Clerk - Beckstones Gill - Barf - Lord’s Seat - Broom Fell - Comb Plantation - Whinlatter Visitor Centre - Thornthwaite - Powter How
Parking
Car Park at Powter How (Donation) which is approximately half a mile north of the village of Thornthwaite. The Grid Reference is NY22045 26511 and the nearest postcode is CA12 5SQ.
Mileage
8.1 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths & forest tracks with a small amount of road walking on quiet lanes
Weather
A gloriously sunny day with a slight chill and the lightest of breezes
Time Taken
5hrs
Total Ascent
2299ft (701m)
Wainwrights
3
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
Walkers
Dave & Robbie
GPX Files
From 1 March 2025 GPX files will not be available directly from the walk page as there is difficulty in using a downloadable version from the website. To that end, if you require a GPX File please get in touch via the Contact Form below and we will gladly forward it to you - thank you.
From 1 March 2025 GPX files will not be available directly from the walk page as there is difficulty in using a downloadable version from the website. To that end, if you require a GPX File please get in touch via the Contact Form below and we will gladly forward it to you - thank you.
Route Map
The Car Park at Powter How - there is an honesty box just inside the gate on the left
From the Car Park the route crosses over the road to follow a way mark along a lane
Shortly after the first way marker another is reached on the right. Walkers can either take this route or carry on a little further up the lane to reach another path that handrails Beckstones Gill - both paths merge at the gill crossing.
Passing the white rock known as "The Clerk” (the stones relevance can be read further on)
Crossing Beckstones Gill
Crossing the gill, the route joins the main path coming up from Beckstones
Looking over Bassenthwaite Lake to Ullock Pike, Long Side, Carl Side, Skiddaw & Dodd
Slape Crag on Barf
The white rock centre right is known as The Bishop of Barf, a memorial to a foolish wager. In 1783 the newly appointed Bishop of Derry, now Londonderry, was in the area and stayed at the Swan Hotel in Thornthwaite (now closed). He wagered that he would ride his horse up the side of Barf and onwards to the summit of Lord’s Seat. Unfortunately, on attempting this feat, his horse fell on reaching the height of Bishop Rock, killing both horse and rider. The bishop was laid to rest at the base of the mountain and to commemorate his rather foolhardy enterprise the rock, known as the Bishop’s Clerk, was painted white by patrons of the Swan, who maintained the Bishop in his pristine white coat and in times gone by were paid "a shilling and a quart of ale". The hotel was converted into luxury holiday apartments in 2006 and the upkeep of both the Bishop & The Clerk is now undertaken by Keswick Mountain Rescue.
The white rock centre right is known as The Bishop of Barf, a memorial to a foolish wager. In 1783 the newly appointed Bishop of Derry, now Londonderry, was in the area and stayed at the Swan Hotel in Thornthwaite (now closed). He wagered that he would ride his horse up the side of Barf and onwards to the summit of Lord’s Seat. Unfortunately, on attempting this feat, his horse fell on reaching the height of Bishop Rock, killing both horse and rider. The bishop was laid to rest at the base of the mountain and to commemorate his rather foolhardy enterprise the rock, known as the Bishop’s Clerk, was painted white by patrons of the Swan, who maintained the Bishop in his pristine white coat and in times gone by were paid "a shilling and a quart of ale". The hotel was converted into luxury holiday apartments in 2006 and the upkeep of both the Bishop & The Clerk is now undertaken by Keswick Mountain Rescue.
Barf from the Beckstones Gill path
The path continues to rise gently towards the plantation
At Grid Reference NY 21442 26373 a fork is reached which points the way via the left hand path
The route reaches a short, scrambly section which is best approached via the left hand side. The path heads from left to right to where Robbie is (if you can see him that is!!).
After some twists and turns through the forest the route emerges onto a wide track coming up from the south
Leaving the forest track at a gate, the route crosses the upper reaches of Beckstones Gill
From the gill, Barf is reached via a gently sloping path
A proud pooch indeed - Robbie posing on the summit of Barf with the Skiddaw range beyond
The classic panoramic view from Barf of Bassenthwaite Lake with the Skiddaw range providing the backdrop
Our path from Barf to Lord’s Seat, the summit of which can be seen in the distance left of centre
Just prior to the final rise to Lord’s Seat’s summit there is a path heading off to the right. This path can be used to continue on to Broom Fell should you not wish to visit Lord’s Seat.
Looking back to Barf & the Skiddaw group from the ascent of Lord’s Seat
Robbie on the summit of Lord’s Seat - there used to be an iron fence post here but it is now no longer there
Grisedale Pike, Hopegill Head & Whiteside from the summit of Lord’s Seat
Looking over Whinlatter & Swinside to the Lorton Fells with Graystones over to the right
The route to Broom Fell from Lord’s Seat
Looking back to Lord’s Seat from the approach to Broom Fell
Approaching Broom Fell with the cairn & wind shelter now in sight
Robbie on the summit of Broom Fell. This is the 511m spot height however most people regard the cairned top 200 yards or so to the north west as the summit. It doesn’t really matter to be honest as the difference in height of the two points is negligible - just visit them both.
The cairned top & wind shelter on Broom Fell. They are reached via a stile in the fence where Robbie is waiting for his man servant to lift up the doggy access gate.
The cairn and wind shelter on Broom Fell looking to Skiddaw
We sat in the wind shelter and had our lunch - Robbie scoffed his down sharpish then decided to have a bit of a snooze
From Broom Fell we retraced our steps back to Lord’s Seat. Rather than climb to the summit again, at Grid Reference NY 20297 26692 there is a faint path which rounds the fell on its western side. The path is not marked on the OS Map.
The faint path around the western side of Lord’s Seat joins the path coming out of the Whinlatter Forest to reach a stile
The path heads in the direction of Ullister Hill and gives grand views over to Skiddaw
It’s ok Robbie, just a diversion that’s all
The sun shines through the forest canopy as Robbie and I head through Whinlatter
Looking over Keswick to Clough Head, The Dodds & the Helvellyn range
Don’t fancy yours much shipmate
At Grid Reference NY 20669 24611 the route drops down to Whinlatter Visitor’s Centre
The Visitor’s Centre at Whinlatter - pretty quiet today
Passing through the Visitor’s Centre, at Grid Reference NY 21156 24673 the route heads to the right down a rough path
Robbie quizzes me as to which way as we reach a track bend - we headed to the right towards Comb Beck
More decisions to be made as we reach a junction at Grid Reference NY 21681 24793. Robbie thought we were carrying straight on over to the right - he was wrong, left we go.
The route makes several twists & turns to eventually reach a junction of paths at Grid Reference NY 21704 25035. The path to the left heads up to the Visitor’s Centre, straight on heads to Powter How and the one to the right leads down into Thornthwaite. We planned to visit the cafe at Thornthwaite Gallery therefore headed to the right.
The path to Thornthwaite with the Powter How path continuing above
Robbie on the path to Thornthwaite (Click Play to view)
Heading through Thornthwaite
The cafe at Thornthwaite Gallery - and they were open
Tea & a scone at Thornthwaite Gallery - and very nice it was too
From Thornthwaite Gallery the route drops down to the main road. We crossed over and walked along the road for 280 yards to reach a lane heading off to the left.
According to the front of the bus its destination was Preston - somehow I don’t think it will get there
Crossing back over the road to join the path to Powter How
The cottage at Seat How with its myriad of painted wood carvings
The top sign reads John O’Groats which funnily enough is where I am currently sat typing up this walk report