Whitbarrow, near Kendal

• A perfect limestone outcrop
• An almost Mediterranean feel to the ridge
• Rich woodland on the lower slopes

I discovered Whitbarrow purely by chance. I was ticking Marilyns within striking distance of home and Whitbarrow was on the list. Expecting little from a mere point on the map I was delighted by the long summit ridge which (although technically Lake District) shows limestone scenery at its very best. The ridge is dotted with saplings and juniper, heather and bracken but is basically bare white limestone, perfect for a lazy summer’s sunny day. The whole ridge is now designated a nature reserve and therefore given some element of protection and proof that height is not everything to the walker. I started at Mill Side and after a steep pull ambled along the 3 mile ridge before dropping down to Witherslack Hall (now a residential school) and the road back. The summit at Lord’s Seat has a plaque commemorating Canon GAK Harvey, the founder of the Naturalists Trust. The sides of the steep outcrop are thickly covered in woodland making the summit ridge even more bizarre.

Recommend. Give yourself time on the ridge, there is nothing to compare to the summit ridge in the Lakes

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© Crown copyright 2010 Ordnance Survey. Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.

OS Map:	O/S 1/25000. OL2 Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western Section
Start Point:	847448. Mll Side is a small cluster of houses but the track leads clearly off to the north east
Terrain:	A steep climb for 400' and then easy, pick your own route. Clear paths are on the summit plateau, through the woods and the school before the road leads back to Mill Side
Eating & Drinking:	Nothing nearby, take a picnic!
Similar Walks Nearby:	South shores of Windermere Top O’Selside, Coniston Heights of Kendal Fell
Places to Stay: