North Western Fells · Book 6

Lord's Seat

Lord's Seat is a Wainwright, one of the 214 Lake District fells in Alfred Wainwright’s Pictorial Guides. At 552 m (1,811 ft) it is the 148th highest of the 214 and the 19th highest in the North Western Fells.

Height: 552 m; 1,811 ft
Rank: 148; of 214
In area: 19; of 29
Difficulty: Moderate

Lord's Seat in the North Western Fells of the Lake District — Photo: Mick Knapton via Wikimedia Commons

About Lord's Seat

The highest of the fells north of Whinlatter Pass, a rounded, peaty top above the forests of Thornthwaite. Short but boggy, with wide views over Bassenthwaite Lake to Skiddaw and out to the Solway. Best linked with Barf or Broom Fell.

The small group of fells north of Whinlatter Pass all lead back to Lord's Seat, which at 552m is the highest of them. Barf, Broom Fell and Graystones run off along one ridge and Whinlatter along another, and forest covers much of the lower ground.

The easiest way up starts at the Whinlatter visitor centre, which has a pay car park at about 330m. Waymarked forest trails lead north for about 3km and leave only around 220m of climbing. From the west, the quiet Aiken Beck valley has no road and makes a pleasant approach from the Scawgill car park on the Whinlatter Pass road. From Bassenthwaite, start at the free car park at Powter How and climb beside Beckstones Gill, just inside the forest, to Barf. Then cross the heathery dip to Lord's Seat. Walk Lakes' round from Powter How comes back through the trees over Ullister Hill and Seat How, 8km with 600m of ascent.

Much of the summit is peat. The walk between Barf and Lord's Seat is wet and boggy, and in mist it is easy to head off the wrong way. The last stretch onto the top is grass. There is no scrambling unless you go up Barf by the Bishop, which is best avoided.

The top is a dome with some bare rock and no cairn, just a few clipped-off iron fence posts. The Skiddaw fells stand across Bassenthwaite Lake, and the Helvellyn range is well seen. Grasmoor and its neighbours block the south. To the north-west, Criffel shows across the Solway Firth when it is clear.

Four mines worked lead and zinc on the eastern slopes, most of them below Seat How. Thornthwaite and Rachel Wood lasted until December 1920.

In winter

The ground between Lord's Seat and Barf is wet heather and bog, and in mist it is easy to wander off line, with no cairn on the top to aim for. A hard frost firms up the bog, and the forest tracks below are a sheltered way down.

Family Walk
Dog Friendly

Sources: Wikipedia: Lord's Seat, Walk Lakes: Barf, Lord's Seat, Ullister Hill and Seat How, Walk Lakes: Graystones, Broom Fell, and Lord's Seat. Updated 24 September 2026.

Summit

OS grid ref: NY 204 265
Latitude: 54.62781° N
Longitude: 3.23396° W
Area: North Western Fells

Walking up Lord's Seat

The nearest car park on foot is Spout Force Waterfall, 3.0 km (1.8 miles) from the summit along mapped paths. Directions to the car park

Route from Spout Force Waterfall

Distance: 3.0 km; 1.8 miles, one way
Ascent: 336 m; Total climb to the summit
Time up: 1 h 7 min; Allow 1 to 2 hours

Height in metres along the path from Spout Force Waterfall to the summit.

Times use Naismith’s rule, 5 km/h on the flat plus extra time for the climb, with Langmuir’s corrections. It’s a rule of thumb for the way up only, so add stops, weather and the walk back down.

The route follows paths mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors and isn’t a guided line. This car park was picked automatically and hasn’t been checked by hand yet, so compare it with a map. Check the mountain forecast before you go and carry a map and compass.

Lord's Seat questions

Is Lord's Seat a Wainwright?

Yes. Lord's Seat is one of the 214 fells Alfred Wainwright described in his Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, in Book 6, The North Western Fells.

How high is Lord's Seat?

Lord's Seat is 552 metres (1,811 feet) high. That makes it the 148th highest of the 214 Wainwrights and the 19th highest in the North Western Fells.

Where do you park for Lord's Seat?

The nearest car park on foot is Spout Force Waterfall, 3.0 km (1.8 miles) from the summit along mapped paths.

How long does it take to climb Lord's Seat?

From Spout Force Waterfall it is 3.0 km with 336 m of ascent. Naismith's rule, with Langmuir's corrections, puts the climb at about 1 h 7 min, so allow 1 to 2 hours to reach the summit at your own pace, plus the walk back down.

How hard is Lord's Seat?

Upfell rates Lord's Seat as moderate. Check the mountain weather forecast before you set out and carry a map and compass.

Which Wainwrights are near Lord's Seat?

The closest are Barf (469 m, 1.0 km E), Broom Fell (511 m, 1.2 km NW) and Whinlatter (Brown How) (517 m, 1.9 km SW).

What is the grid reference for the summit of Lord's Seat?

The summit is at OS grid reference NY 204 265, or 54.62781, -3.23396 in latitude and longitude.