2024 Update: Unfortunately the Zog activity trails have now ended at Whinlatter Forest. It's still worth a visit, however, as the Gruffalo trail and forest make a perfect day out with children.

I’ve written about Whinlatter Forest before… and no doubt I will again after this. There is so much to do here, and it's the perfect spot to visit as a family time and time again.

Read on to discover everything you need to know about visiting and enjoying the latest addition to Whinlatter, the Zog adventure trail.

The Hassan children are smiling at the camera, standing behind a wooden sign with a depiction of Zog and the word, 'Bravo'. Behind them are the evergreen trees of Whinlatter Forest.

About Whinlatter Forest

Beginning as a counteract to the post WW1 timber shortage, Whinlatter is now a stunning, sprawling mountain forest (the only one in England!) The area offers stunning views across Bassenthwaite Lake, Derwentwater and Keswick.

Naomi is taking a selfie Peanut is in a carrier on her back, with Squidgy, Munchkin and Pickle are stood behind to the left of the image smiling towards the camera. They are in Whinlatter Forest.

If you fancy exploring more than just the Zog Trail (that this blog post is about!), you can also hikes to the fell summit and bag a Wainwright, hire bikes, explore adventure playgrounds and so much more.

The three older Hassan children are moving away from the camera over a small flow of water that travels over the path through Whinlatter Forest.

Where can I park?

Three miles from the A66 turning onto the B5292 to Whinlatter Pass you can find the car park at the visitor centre for Whinlatter Forest.

The first 20 minutes are free, but the car park is chargeable after. The max charge is £8. It is worth noting that the charges apply at all times to all vehicles, including Blue Badge holders.

To find the car park, use this post code: CA12 5TW

An image of the three older children stood around the wooden sign indicating the start of Zog Trail at Whinlatter. To the left is the path into the forest, to the right a road into the carpark and the visitor centre, and behind them the forest trees.

How to make the most of the Zog Trail at Whinlatter Forest

Download the app

Before you head to Whinlatter Forest, be sure to download the Zog: A Forest Adventure app. The signal is not the greatest in the forest of Whinlatter Pass, so it's best to get it sorted ahead of time.

A screenshot of the Google Play store app, with some images of the app screen, a small square with Zog's face and the title, 'Zog: A Forest Adventure'.

Purchase the Zog Trail activity pack

The Whinlatter Forest visitor centre is the place you want to head to first. Here you can purchase the Zog Trail activity pack. They are £4 each. Inside the Zog Trail activity pack you'll find:

A kraft paper bag (take it home to colour it in!)
A pair of orange dragon wings.
Zog 3D glasses.
A sheet of Zog themed stickers.
The trail leaflet.
A pencil.
A crayon.

Munchkin is stood on a large tree stump with Whinlatter Forest trees behind him. He is wearing walking boots and a rain jacket, he is holding the paper bag with the activity pack for the Zog Trail.

Follow the trail

Find each checkpoint

Throughout Whinlatter Forest are dotted a number of checkpoints you need to find to complete the Zog trail. Each offers not only beautiful images from the Zog story, but facts and information too.

Munchkin is facing away from the camera wearing orange Zog wings. He is looking at a wooden board indicating the first checkpoint of the Zog Trail at Whinlatter Forest, with the forest trees behind it.

Utilise the 3D glasses to find the letters

The children's favourite part of the Zog trail was using the 3D glasses to look at signs and decider each one's hidden letter. By the end of the trail you should have found five different letters and it's time to unscramble the anagram.

Follow the arrows and collect golden stars

Signposts with illustrated signs indicate which way you need to head to continue along the Zog trail. Once you find each checkpoint, you can earn a golden star!

Munchkin is bending down next to a sign post with a red arrow at the top, a green arrow below that a landscape image of the Gruffalo with an arrow and a portrait image of a dragon from the Zog story with an arrow. All point to paths in Forest.

Enjoy AI with the app at each checkpoint

Learn how to care for the forest

As well as offering fun AI and 3D experiences, the Zog Trail has beautiful illustrations and facts about how we can care for the forest such as not disturbing animal habitats.

The older three children are looking around and listening to sights and sounds of the forest, at a board on the Zog Trail at Whinlatter Forest, just like it asks. They are surrounded by forest trees.

Learn how forests can care for us

We don’t just need to care for the forest, the forest cares for us too! Along the way you can learn how the forest offers shelter and food to wildlife and more.

The three older Hassan children are stood amongst the trees of Whinlatter Forest. They are facing and smiling at the camera. Behind them are fallen branches leaning against a tree making a large forest den.

Complete the trail

Of course the ultimate goal is to make it to the end. The whole trail is just under a mile in length and once you reach the end you can take a rubbing of Zog in your leaflet, meet Zog via AI on the app, and even snap a photo with the Bravo! sign that indicates you've reached the end of the trail.

FAQs about our family days out

Is it suitable for children and / or dogs?

This is definitely a spot to enjoy with every member of the family from the old, to the young, and even the furry! There are plenty of trails varying in degrees of difficulty and plenty to keep children entertained including the activity trails and adventure playgrounds.

Are there facilities available?

The first place you can visit after parking in the main car park is the visitor centre and forest shop which are open 10am - 5pm for any information, activity packs, or gifts you may need or want. Adjacent to the visitor centre are fully accessible toilets and changing facilities next to the visitor centre which are open 8:30am - 8:30pm.

Squidgy is facing away from the camera with a blue Disney Stitch rucksack on her back. She is looking out towards the trees of Whinlatter Forest and the valley beyond with a blue sky and fluffy white clouds above her.

Is there anywhere to eat nearby?

There are plenty of picnic benches available within the forest, which is our choice when it comes to eating on our family days out. However, Café Ambio is open 10am - 5pm at the back of Whinlatter Forest visitor centre, for hot drinks, snacks, and meals, too.

Whatever the weather, Whinlatter Forest is a stunning place to visit and offers so many options for everyone of any age and ability to enjoy the area. Now, with this blog post, you have all the information you need to be able to head up and explore the Zog Trail for yourself.

For more blog posts about exploring the beautiful places we have on our Cumbrian doorstep check out my Lake District category here. Have you found somewhere free and amazing in the Lake District? We love to explore new spots, so feel free to share in the comments below.