Following the success of the Yoga and Walking Weekend taking place in early August, here is another joint effort between Moors to Mountains and Happy Chakras. Nature Connection is designed to promote healthy lifestyle and mental wellbeing exclusively for guests of Forest How Guest House at Eskdale in the Lake District.
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Michelle from Happy Chakras will be presenting a small selection of nature-based yoga and meditation activities over the course of the weekend, which you can read more about below.
My involvement will be to lead any guests who are taking part in our Nature Connection collaboration on a moderately difficult guided walk up to Burnmoor Stone Circles. This is a beautiful and remote spot on the moor above Eskdale with views to Scafell and other surrounding mountains. It is essential to have good mobility and a reasonable level of hill fitness to take part.
As mentioned, Nature Connection Weekend is exclusively available to guests of Forest How Guest House in Eskdale. Please see below to read more about their beautiful accommodation and enquire directly if you might choose to book to stay with them any time.
Please email info@foresthow.co.uk to learn about rates and availability.
Eskdale is a wonderful valley nestled at the southern of the Central Lakes. It has a very unique mood with lots of beautiful ancient oak woodland and green pastures carpeting the valley bottom where the river Esk snakes alongside. There are some very impressive crags along the length of the valley with more imposing peaks such as Harter Fell reaching up to the skyline.
There is also lots and lots of interesting history in the area, with archaeological evidence showing that human settlers lived in the area as far back as 10,000 years ago, or 8,000BC! The site that we will be visiting on my guided walk, Burnmoor Stone Circles, is a collection of later Neolithic monuments from around 2,000BC which was part of the Bronze Age era.
Other historical interest to discuss will cover Roman and Viking settlers, Eskdale of course being famous for the Roman garrison of Hardknott Fort. This subject matter is sure to make an interesting start to the day as we head through the valley.
Our route will lead us on a gradual climb up onto the moor to the north of Eskdale. It is always nice to hear the whistle of the narrow-gauge steam train down below as it chugs along the Ravenglass to Eskdale railway. Again, the railway line has some history attached to it that I intend to share as we make our way up to higher terrain.
We will soon pass a disused quarry, more evidence of past human activities, and find ourselves weaving through some more rugged terrain. There will be a chance to observe wildlife such as grouse or deer, and and the general flora of the area characterised by heather and tough moorland grasses.
As we pass along the head of Miterdale, the terrain changes slightly and we can enjoy the luxury of a gentle forest track that is adorned by high gorse bushes to either side. At this point, the various moorland birds such as golden plover and skylarks will be heard singing from the surrounding moorland and there is an impressive view over to the south east slopes of Whin Rigg, a popular Wainwright summit.
There is a short lived steep climb up the hillside and within a short distance on a simple path, we will arrive at Burnmoor Stone Circles. The view is absolutely astounding, weather permitting of course. Harter Fell, Green Crag and it's cool little ridge, Great Carrs and Scafell itself can all be pointed out, among others. I personally enjoy taking in such a panorama from a quiet and isolated spot, I and I hope those in attendance will be able to find the experience as memorable and as inspiring as I always do.
Burnmoor Stone Circles is a group of five independent burial sites that stand on the moor alongside other small cairns and features that show the presence of our ancient ancestors form around 4,000 years ago. Important members of the community were often buried at such locations, as is the case here. Some of the cultural practices of the people who live here at this time are very interesting.
The Lake District would have been a much wilder place during this time period. Farming as we know it now did not exist. Tourism wasn't a thing here until the Victorian era. But, the area around Burnmoor Stone Circles is still very peaceful and will make a perfect setting for Michelle's yoga and meditation session.
Michelle from Happy Chakras will guide participants through a selection of nature-based yoga and meditation activities over the course of the weekend. The group will move through practices that work on natural connection with nature, and cultivate a sense of being grounded and restored physically and mentally/emotionally. There will also be a stretch and chill out yoga on Friday, pre-walk movements Saturday, and on Sunday a short yoga practice followed by reflections/journaling.
Michelle's session during the guided walk should leave everybody feeling re-charged and focussed. We will of course need to make our way back to Forest How afterwards, which will involve a simple descent into Miterdale where we will use some well surfaced quiet lanes and tracks and enjoy some more of the native oak woodland as we bring the walk to a close.
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No previous yoga experience is needed and there is no need to be "bendy".
The yoga Michelle teaches is therapeutic and not fast or acrobatic in any sense.
The guided walk is a full day out on the moor around Eskdale, accruing a distance of 12km, or just over 7 miles, with almost 400m ascent. Including an hour yoga and meditation session at the top, this is expected to take up to 7 hours at a moderate pace and allowing plenty of opportunity for engaging discussion. Please bear in mind that route duration is calculated based on average group speeds. The walk may actually be done in a quicker time, but also may take longer than expected based on individual fitness levels within the group.
It should be mentioned that weather in the Lake District can be extremely unpredictable at all times of the year and so it isn't possible to guarantee excellent conditions. Multiple weather forecast sources are always studied before any Moors to Mountains activity. Unless there is a potential safety risk posed by the weather, the activity will go ahead as planned.
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Before booking a space, please don't overlook the Footwear, Clothing and Equipment Requirements.
It is imperative to wear clothing that is suitable for both the activity and the time of year.
Weather conditions can change very quickly while out and about in the hills.
All participants must wear sturdy footwear and arrive to the activity with all other items listed.
Once a place has been booked on the Nature Connection activity.
Each participant will be contact by email with any relevant information to the specific activity. There will also be a link to a Participation Consent Form that should be completed in good time before any activity takes place. This will ask for important medical information, important contact details and also request consent to receive first aid where necessary, and for the organisers to take any photographs (or not) and anything else relevant.