Barf
468m (1536ft)
The North Western Fells, The Lake District, Cumbria, England
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 5ml (8km) |
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| Ascent: | 1,533ft (467m) |
| Time: | 3½ hrs |
| Grade: |  (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Whinlatter Forest Park - Thwaitehill Knotts - Beckstone Plantation - Beckstone Gill - Barf - Lord's Seat (Whinlatter) - Whinlatter Forest Park
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 10ml (16km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,039ft (926m) |
| Time: | 6.75hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Whinlatter Forest Park - Thwaitehill Knotts - Beckstone Plantation - Beckstone Gill - Barf - Lord's Seat (Whinlatter) - Broom Fell - Graystones - Scawgill Bridge - Whinlatter (Brown How) - Whinlatter (Whinlatter Top) - Whinlatter Forest Park
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 14.5ml (23km) |
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| Ascent: | 4,703ft (1,433m) |
| Time: | 10 hrs |
| Grade: |  (Very Hard) |
Route Summary:
Whinlatter Forest Park - Thwaitehill Knotts - Beckstone Plantation - Beckstone Gill - Barf - Lord's Seat (Whinlatter) - Broom Fell - Low Burthwaite Wood - Kelswick Farm - Sale Fell - Dodd Crag - Eskin Farm - Corpse Road - Ling Fell (Wythop) - Wythop Moss - Graystones - Scawgill Bridge - Whinlatter (Brown How) - - Whinlatter (Whinlatter Top) - Whinlatter Forest Park
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*This version is marked with the walk routes you need to follow to Walk all 214 Wainwrights in just 59 walks.
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Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Barf
Adrian Howard walked up Barf on June 30th, 2025 [from/via/route] Powter How car park-Beckstones Gill-Barf-Ullister Hill-Comb Plantation-Thwaitehill Knotts-Red Crag-Calf Crag-Beckstones Gill-car park [with] Just me [weather] Very warm & overcast
James Hughes climbed Barf on June 11th, 2025 [from/via/route] c183 Lord's Seat & Graystones from Whinlatter Forest [weather] Warm sunny day - Walk from Whinlatter Forest car park (expensive). Difficult working out tracks up towards Barf & ended up going to Lord's Seat first, which involved out & back to Barf. Fairly easy ascent across to Broom Fell. Short steep climb up to Graystones & steep descent to halfway path into forest. Wound way up to Whinlatter, but route not clear. Involved steep ascent on trods to find ridge path - not great. Path continues to forest fence then back to start. Pint at Coledale Inn - Force Crag.
Sarah Gunn bagged Barf on April 16th, 2025 [with] Martin Gunn
Caroline Winter hiked Barf on April 6th, 2025 [from/via/route] Spout force CP, forest road, Lords Seat, Barf, Broom Fell, Graystones [with] Yusef [weather] Great spell of warm weather- 16 degrees. - Preferable route than heading straight up past the bishops stone. Great views over Skiddaw
Martin Hartshorne summited Barf on February 13th, 2025 [from/via/route] Spout force car park [with] finley [weather] Clear hill tops, bit grey & bitterly cold. Sunny breaks later in the day
Chris Mcmanus conquered Barf on April 26th, 2024 [from/via/route] Circular route [with] Joanne & Julie [weather] Sunny
Mr M A Blanchard scaled Barf on October 14th, 2023 [from/via/route] Powter How [with] Ted [weather] Cold, sunny
David Higginbottom walked up Barf on July 8th, 2023 [from/via/route] Route 183 [with] Carolyn [weather] Clear day
Andy Dickinson has climbed Barf [with] Philippa
Christine Shepherd bagged Barf on July 31st, 2009 [from/via/route] Used walk c183 from Whinlatter Forest Park [with] On my own [weather] Fine until late afternoon - Climbed again while bagging Ullister Hill on 21.6.19. Had a third visit on 12.6.21 & a fourth on 24.07.23
Geoff Hand hiked Barf on July 13th, 2023 [from/via/route] WalkC183. Lords Seat & Greystones from Whinlatter Forrest Park. Set out from Whinlatter Forest Park via Combe Beck & Beckstone Plantation & then popped out onto the hill & upto Barf [with] Tess (Jack Russell) [weather] Windy day with high cloud & sunny intervals.
Steve Lucas summited Barf on August 28th, 2022 [with] On my own
Rob Prikanowski conquered Barf on June 5th, 2023 [from/via/route] c183 [weather] Sunny & warm.
Paul Roddam scaled Barf on April 6th, 2023 [with] Tom, Barb [weather] Sunny
Diane Edgar walked up Barf on October 28th, 2021 [from/via/route] Ascent from Thornthwaite [with] Gil [weather] Mostly dry very windy on the tops! - Ha dto hide from the forestry commission! Was quite disappointed that the white statue Barfs Bishop isn't actually a horse & is shaped more like a toad!
Chris Graham climbed Barf on September 28th, 2022 [from/via/route] Whinlatter Centre to Barf Fell & Lords Seat. [with] Wife [weather] Sunny & fresh breeze - Could I point out that the direction in Whinlatter forest is a bit obscure?. At Postion 8 on the map ,the path should indicate Barf Fell to the right ; if you carry straight on it will lead you up to Lords Seat. Personally I find this the better route as the other to Barf Fell is really "boggy".
Ian Ashton bagged Barf on September 17th, 2022 [with] Jph
Clare Tait hiked Barf on August 11th, 2022 [from/via/route] Parked opposite Swan Hotel. Took route which avoids "The Bishop" [with] Charlie [weather] Very warm & sunny. Needed to commence the route early to avoid the heat. - Our no 82 Wainwright. Completed with Lords Seat. Wasn't feeling the love for this hill in the heat. Steep path with loose material. Bit of a slippy scramble over a very small ghyll. Flying ants & insects everywhere.
Paul Macey summited Barf on July 29th, 2022 [from/via/route] C183 [with] Luke [weather] Sunny intervals/high cloud
David Butterfield conquered Barf on July 3rd, 2022 [from/via/route] Scawgill Bridge [weather] Changeable - Very boggy!
Richard Marchant scaled Barf on April 27th, 2022 [from/via/route] Parked at Scawgill Bridge & went straight up Graystones & continued North to Ling Fell. From here I dropped down in to Eskin & up on to Sale Fell then returned Southwards to Old Scales Farm & worked my way up on to Broom. Traversed to Lord's seat & a quick out & back to Barf. From here I went around Ullister Hill & up on to Whinlatter Top on to Brown How & back down to the car. [with] On my Own [weather] Dry Day with Hazy views early doors although it did become sunny & clear in the afternoon, but stayed cold all day.
Richard Fulcher walked up Barf on March 15th, 2022 [from/via/route] Parked at the Whinlatter visitor centre & walked steadily up through the Beckstone Plantation woods up to Barf. From Barf we walked across to Lords Seat & then on to Broom. We walked back towards & then around Lords Seat down past Ullister Hill & then followed the forestry tracks back down to the car park. [with] Jen [weather] Cold, bright day - strong winds on the tops. - We should have polished off Whinlatter fell maybe?
Peter Fisher climbed Barf on February 3rd, 2022 [from/via/route] Walked from Whinlatter Forest Park [with] Denise [weather] Light Cloud Moderate Breeze
Geoffrey Robertshaw bagged Barf on June 12th, 2021 [from/via/route] Up from road [with] Wife [weather] Great - Great Views at the top
Iain Jones hiked Barf on May 25th, 2021 [from/via/route] Whinlatter Forest Park (Trail Run).
Kate Peacock summited Barf on May 1st, 2021 [from/via/route] From Whinlatter [with] Sheila & Skye [weather] Decent weather for most of the walk. Mainly sunny with some cloud, avoided the rain & little wind. - First walk back after the winter & lockdowns & it felt good. We did Whinlatter summit & Whinlatter Top in case we had the wrong one. Great morning.
Tim Winn conquered Barf on October 11th, 2020 [from/via/route] Bassenthwaite [weather] Misty
Claire Murray scaled Barf on October 18th, 2020 [from/via/route] From Scawgill Bridge around Whinlatter [with] Vitor and Rita [weather] Cloudy but lovely - Lovely walk, easy going but took 7hrs
Christina Lander walked up Barf on October 17th, 2020 [from/via/route] Powter How - The Bishop - Barf - Lord's Seat - Broom Fell - Graystones - Whinlatter - Powter How [with] Dick [weather] Bright start, then in the clouds as we walked along the ridge, but then brightened up by lunch time - Quite a scramble up past The Bishop onto Barf, & then very steep down to Powter How at the end. Lovely walk.
Richard Marshall climbed Barf on September 27th, 2020 [from/via/route] From Car park near Whinlatter (Spout Force) [with] Bo & Roxy [weather] Warm Sunny
Darren Wilson bagged Barf on August 15th, 2020 [from/via/route] Barf, Lords Seat, Broom Fell [with] Mike, Chris & Dan [weather] Hot & Humid! - Clear day good views
Deborah Johnson hiked Barf on May 28th, 2019 [from/via/route] Thornthwaite [with] Andy and Ted [weather] Sunny day
Simon Boddy summited Barf on September 14th, 2019 [with] HF Holidays [weather] Sunny but windy at the summit
Charlotte Hill conquered Barf on August 4th, 2019 [from/via/route] Green route from Whinlatter Lords Seat & round to Barf [with] Lewis and Alex [weather] Dry - 3 hours of the history of Fortnite
Dave Eyes scaled Barf on July 9th, 2019 [from/via/route] Parked at Whinlatter visitor centre & walked to the summit of Whinlatter brown how then back through the forest to Barf [with] Christine Eyes [weather] Warm day - very over cast with low cloud. Drizzle in the air.
Andrew Johnson walked up Barf on April 10th, 2019 [from/via/route] Thornthwaite car park [with] Deb and Ted [weather] Blue skies. Beautiful day.
Chris Kent climbed Barf on September 22nd, 2018 [from/via/route] Whinlatter Forest [with] Karen [weather] Clear & chilly
Andy James bagged Barf on August 4th, 2017 [with] Suzie James
Vic Royle hiked Barf on July 6th, 2018 [from/via/route] Grisedale Forest (Whinlatter) & Bodell Cottage [with] Team Wiggle [weather] First day of clouds - Tears, fears & a Stagecoach bus ride home
Richard Beardsley summited Barf on June 12th, 2018 [from/via/route] Walked route c252. From Whinlatter Forest Park. [with] Gillian [weather] Sunny, beautiful day. Clouded over at the finish. - Nice cup of tea/coffee on completion of the walk. Time taken just under 3 hours.
Simon Myerscough conquered Barf on September 24th, 2007 [from/via/route] C183 [with] Martin & Bill [weather] low cloud, windy, mostly dry
Derek Parkin scaled Barf on March 25th, 2016 [from/via/route] Lord'd Seat [with] Lynn Parkin [weather] brezzy
Beth Webster walked up Barf on April 27th, 2014 [with] Hannah phillips
Chris Sheard climbed Barf on April 30th, 2015 [from/via/route] Ridge from Lords seat [with] Solo [weather] Warm partly sunny day with lovely views - Walking alone is very enjoyable as there is just you to challenge or please.
Dave Gay bagged Barf on April 22nd, 2017 [from/via/route] From Cokermouth Travellodge to Thornthwaite via Embleton High Common, Kirk Fell, Graystones, Widow Hause, Broom Fell, Lord's Seat & Barf. [with] Nathaniel [weather] Sunny
Leon Harvey hiked Barf on January 29th, 2017 [with] Solo [weather] snow
Mark Davidson summited Barf on March 17th, 2005 [with] Mike [weather] Grey & low cloud
Anthony Scott conquered Barf on September 17th, 2016 [from/via/route] Scawgill Bridge car park [with] me [weather] 16 degrees, few white clouds & very sunny - Boggy between Lord's Seat & Barf. Must be a nightmare in wet season!
Victoria Bates scaled Barf on July 27th, 2016 [from/via/route] From Lords Seat [with] Mark
Jon Mapp walked up Barf on June 25th, 2016 [from/via/route] C183 [with] Suzzanné, Caroline and Robin [weather] Good clear day not too warm - drizzle at the end - great views - At the end of the walk through the forest to Whinlatter the path seems to have changed - no clear route to the top.
Michael Nolan climbed Barf on April 26th, 2016 [from/via/route] from scawgill bridge [weather] all seasons in 1 day!
Andrew Wood bagged Barf on March 20th, 2016 [from/via/route] Trail magazine [with] Adele [weather] warm & sunny
Jill Dean hiked Barf on November 22nd, 2015 [from/via/route] Slippery scree - horrible, horrible, horrible [with] Darling G [weather] Ok - cold though - Horrible!
Steve Frank summited Barf on December 31st, 2014 [from/via/route] Whinlatter Pass
John Almond conquered Barf on August 8th, 2015 [from/via/route] go4awalk c183 - From Whinlatter Forest Park Visitors Centre - Barf - Lord's Seat - Broom Fell - Graystones. Didn't do Whinlatter [weather] Sunny with scattered clouds. fresh wind on tops - Took a wrong forest path on the way to Barf, adding about half a mile to the summit! Didn't do Whinlatter due to missing a path in the forest & feeling rather knackered! Returned to car along road south of Whinlatter.
Paul Peppiate scaled Barf on August 9th, 2015 [from/via/route] Lord's Seat [with] Ann and Jessica [weather] Cloudy with sunny spells
Nick Dobson walked up Barf on July 22nd, 2015 [from/via/route] Whinlatter [with] Margaret & Ralph [weather] Cloudy with light showers - Also bagged Lords Seat @ Barf
Jean Nichol climbed Barf on April 9th, 2015 [from/via/route] Thornthwaite [with] Self [weather] Sunny
Claire Lloyd bagged Barf on April 12th, 2007 [from/via/route] From Lord's Seat [with] Family's
Stephen Reader hiked Barf on May 21st, 2015 [from/via/route] From Whinlatter & Lords Seat. [with] Bev & Afia
Jane Crowther summited Barf on May 7th, 2015 [from/via/route] Lord's Seat [with] Thomas
David Noble conquered Barf on April 18th, 2015 [from/via/route] Whinlatter Forest [with] Jack [weather] Sunny - Got a picture of the Bishop
Colin Egan scaled Barf on March 29th, 2011 [from/via/route] Pouter How to Beckstones Gill [with] My wife Faith, friend Anita and Boris the cocker spaniel [weather] Fine
Andrea Healy walked up Barf on February 19th, 2015 [from/via/route] Powter How [with] Stevie [weather] dry, cool - found it very hard, pulled a muscle in my thigh .. easier getting up to Lords Seat
Kevin Parnham climbed Barf on November 3rd, 2014 [from/via/route] From bottom of Whinlatter pass via Lords Seat [with] Jo [weather] Showery day getting gradually worse - Boggy walk out & back from Lords Seat
Raymond Barnett bagged Barf on August 20th, 2014 [with] self [weather] clear warm
Mark Cummins hiked Barf on October 29th, 2010 [with] Sue, Tasha and Jess - With Sue, Tasha & Jess. Quite a steep uphill trek all the way. Definately not one to do on wet days as the path gets very wet & very slippery. Took an hour & 20 minutes to the top. Was blowing a gale but thankfully was not raining. Nice views though we didn't get to appreciate them for long due to the gales.
Joanne Mcgawley summited Barf on June 6th, 2014 [with] Rich [weather] Warm - 10.81 miles
Phillip Bulley conquered Barf on July 6th, 2014 [from/via/route] Whinlatter, Graystones, Broom Fell & Lord's Seat. [with] Judith and Toby [weather] Sunny
Keith Eastman scaled Barf on June 11th, 2014 [from/via/route] c183
Sandra Wallace walked up Barf on April 6th, 2014 [from/via/route] From the swan & back on forest road [with] Ian [weather] Very wet - Still getting upset by lack of fitness. Knees ok, just very slow
Harry Meijer climbed Barf on June 12th, 2014 [from/via/route] Above Whinlatter [with] The Lake District Walker
Clive Ward bagged Barf on February 21st, 2014 [from/via/route] Cottage in the Woods (Whinlatter) [with] Hazel [weather] Intermittent rain, hail to start then mostly dry. Very windy on peaks - My 60th birthday!
Graham Coules hiked Barf on April 28th, 2012 [with] Dale [weather] Windy. Cold
Chris Bramley summited Barf on February 2nd, 2014 [from/via/route] Whim latter forest [with] Jaqui, Blake Darren [weather] Windy cold wet
Elaine Evans conquered Barf on November 30th, 2013 [from/via/route] From Lord's Seat across to Barf then back down through Whinlatter Forest [with] Sue [weather] Started out a beautiful sunny day but clouded over & was quite cool by the time we bagged Barf, but stayed fine. - We had a good start so got the best of the weather. Watch out for cyclists coming through forest!
Gill Watson scaled Barf during October, 2010 [from/via/route] from broom fell [with] Gill
Tim Buckley walked up Barf on February 20th, 2012 [from/via/route] From Winlatter Forest visitor centre, via Thwaitehill Knott's & Beckstone Plantation [with] Lynne [weather] The weather was completely horrendous - horizontal freezing rain & driving wind. - We looked down to the white painted Bishop of Barf. Pressed onto Lord's Seat.
Darren Mortimer climbed Barf on August 3rd, 2013 [from/via/route] Whinlatter Pass [with] Dermot Palmer [weather] warm & very windy
Les Wrightson bagged Barf on June 15th, 2013 [from/via/route] c183 from whinlatter forest park [with] tan [weather] good sunny spells
Tony Aspden hiked Barf on May 17th, 2010 [from/via/route] From Lorton [with] Andy [weather] Fine & sunny
John Tippins summited Barf during 2013 [from/via/route] Thornthwaite [with] just me [weather] Bright & sunny
Iain Taylor conquered Barf on March 30th, 2013 [from/via/route] Whinlatter Forest Park NY 20774 24465
Dale Verrall scaled Barf on August 29th, 2010 [from/via/route] Bassenthwaite - Walk number C183 [with] Rachel [weather] Sunny but windy
Martin Cowell walked up Barf on February 20th, 2013 [from/via/route] Lord's Seat [with] Suzanne [weather] Cold dry & sunny
Wayne Baxter climbed Barf on April 22nd, 2011 [from/via/route] Powter How, Barf, Lord Seat, Broom Fell, Powter How [with] Sue, Trevor & Wendy [weather] Sunny
Lisa Cooke bagged Barf on May 5th, 2012 [from/via/route] broom fell [with] alan [weather] nice
Christine Knowles hiked Barf on September 23rd, 2011 [from/via/route] Thornthwaite [with] Graham [weather] Fine - Saw buzzard on tree. Flew off after a bit
Ashleigh O'neill summited Barf on January 2nd, 2009 [with] hubby [weather] icy conditions - treacherous underfoot
Charlie Housley conquered Barf on August 1st, 2011 [from/via/route] Thornthwaite-Swan Hotel. [with] Joanna. [weather] Changeable. A bit damp & drizzly with mist on the tops. - More difficult than it first appeared. Not help by the fact that I had a torn right calf muscle which contributed to a very difficult descent, & in all honesty should have stopped me from walking at all. Couldn`t let a visit to the Lakes go by without at least one fell though!
Neil Smith, Stephen Byrne, Patrick Rogozinski, Andrew Thornton, Peter Thwaites, Dawn Roberts, Jane Wilkinson, Jenny Godfrey, Melanie Dunn, David Kelley, David Kelley, David Watson, David Shaw, John Walter, Robert Maclean, David Laws, Louis Smith, Elaine Grayson, Louise Sandwith, Maria Mackenzie, David Buttress, Mike Wilson, Pam Armstrong, Patricia Dilley, Simon Duerden, Jonathan Tobin, Tracey Cowell, Paul Booth, Tracey Cordes, Linda Mckeogh, Sarah Lowe, Trevor Williams, Rob Barklamb, Adrian Roberts, Paul Henderson, Gordon Allison, John Cuthbert, Jacqui Smith, Patrick Buckland, Stephen Millington, Andy Nicholls, Jeanette Coward, Ray O'hara, Linda Walker, Libby Burns and John Southward have all walked, climbed & bagged Barf.
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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Barf
The Northern Fells (Binsey (left), Blencathra or Saddleback and Skiddaw), Bassenthwaite Lake and The North Western Fells (Sale Fell, Broom Fell, Lord's Seat and Barf) from the summit of Caermote Hill
The view north west from the summit of Swinside (Portinscale) featuring Lord's Seat (Whinlatter), Barf and Bassenthwaite Lake
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