EXTRA DATE ADDED - SUNDAY 13th JULY
Thanks you to all those who have booked a space for Saturday 12th - I'll look forward to seeing you on the walk!
Please click "Book Tickets" below to sign up to the 13th July.
Skiddaw is a huge mass of a mountain dominating the northern Lake District where it towers over Keswick and the surrounding area. The rocks that form the massif and other peaks in the North Western Fells are the oldest to be found in the entire Lake District, being laid down by sedimentary processes over half a billion years ago when the world was a very different place.
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While Skiddaw appears to stand alone in a well defined solitary position, there are several satellite summits that can be observed from valley level and offer their own individual challenges or scenery.
From the south, Latrigg, Dodd and Lonscale Fell can be easily identified. However, my favourite way to conquer Skiddaw is from Bassenthwaite to the north, taking in Ullock Pike, Longside Edge, Carl Side and with a descent via Bakestall. This provides some interesting terrain, a productive day out for Wainwright "Baggers" and absolutely breathtaking scenery throughout the walk.
The overall distance of this walk be 16 kilometres, or 10 miles, with around 1,000m ascent and is expected to take 7 to 8 hours at a moderate pace and allowing time for refreshment stops.
There is a steep, rocky path with uneven terrain up to the North West Ridge, and a tough ascent to the summit of Skiddaw that crosses some scree that can be loose in place. It should also be be noted that the descent from Bakestall down to Whitewater Dash is also at quite a gradient with more uneven terrain and grassy slopes. There are also some fairly easy sections of flat terrain including an initial warm=up through countryside and a section of the Cumbria Way to finish.
Of course, participants will be in safe, experienced hands, but this is not a walk for beginners.
It is necessary to have previous hill walking experience and a good level of fitness to take part in this walk.
If you are for any reason unsure of your ability, please email me via moorstomountains@gmail.com and we can discuss things further before making a booking.
This walk is limited to 6 PARTICIPANTS at £40.00 per person.
​Important details about this specific activity.
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The entire route accrues 16km, or 10 miles, with around 1,000m ascent, and is expected to take 7 to 8 hours​. The activity is not for beginners - a steady, moderate pace is required to complete the activity in good time.
It is necessary to have previous hill walking experience and a good level of fitness to take part in this activity.
The Swirls path is very steep and there is uneven terrain throughout the walk. If an individual is for any reason unsure of their ability, please email me via moorstomountains@gmail.com and we can discuss things further before making a booking.
If the walk leader observes a concern with fitness levels of an individual participant,
it may be necessary for that person to return the start of the activity for their own safety, where it is safe to do so.
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This activity requires sturdy boots with stiff soles, NOT hiking trainers, approach shoes or trail shoes.
Please refer to the Moors to Mountains Footwear, Clothing and Equipment Requirements.
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This activity is NOT suitable for dogs to attend.
Children and young people over the age of 14 are welcome to attend with a parent or guardian by prior arrangement.
Please bear in mind that the activity duration is calculated based on average walking speeds over the types of terrain encountered and previous occurrences of this specific route. The activity may be completed in a quicker or longer time than expected based on individual fitness levels within the group.
As mentioned, it is necessary to have previous hill walking experience and a good level of fitness to participate.
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It should be mentioned that weather in the Lake District can be unpredictable at all times of the year and so it isn't possible to guarantee excellent views on every walk. It may be necessary for the walk leader to change the itinerary of the route for safety or other reasons, meaning that is is not possible to included certain advertised objectives.
Unless there is a safety concern posed by the weather forecast, activities will go ahead regardless of conditions.
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Please see the Moors to Mountains Terms and Conditions before booking.
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Meeting point and transport information.
Our meeting point is Bassenthwaite Village Green (CA12 5XJ or NY235121), where there is limited of parking available.
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Participants should meet at the time advertised on the booking page. You will be contacted if there are any changes.
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On Saturdays only, the X4 bus service between Keswick and Cockermouth drops off and picks up on the A591, a short ten to fifteen minute walk from the Village Green.
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There is various accommodation available in the vicinity of Bassenthwaite and Keswick, including camping, hostels and B&B's.
Please ask me if you need any advice on where to stay or transport links.​
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What to expect when booking a professionally
guided activity with Colin from Moors to Mountains.
A friendly and supportive group ethic is promoted on all activities.
It is normal for participants to feel anxious or nervous about joining a guided walk for the first time, meeting new people or just stepping out of their usual comfort zone. This is normal. Please try to remember that other people in the group will likely be feeling the same, and I can assure all participants that they will be making new friends and feeling comfortable in the surroundings in no time.
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Knowledge and enthusiasm is shared throughout the activity.
Not only am I here to keep you safe and lead the group, I like to engage all participants in interesting conversation. Whether we are visiting a site with interesting geology and natural features or perhaps somewhere of historic significance, I like to make sure participants go away having learned something new. And as an environmentalist and lover of the outdoors, it is my mission to try and pass on my passion and knowledge to all who sign up to a Moors to Mountains activity.
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Safety, motivation and attentiveness is guaranteed.
All Moors to Mountains activities are designed for smaller parties. The number of participants that is allowed will depend on the terrain of each specific activity. Suitable group sizes allow me to give each individual client the maximum attention throughout an activity, whether this is to answer questions, provide some guidance or physical assistance.
My promise is to deliver a high level of care and individual attentiveness to each member of the group.
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It is not a race, everybody is here to enjoy the activity!
The benefit of booking onto my activities for small groups for many participants is that the reasonable pricing makes joining a qualified, knowledgeable and experienced Mountain Leader to be more affordable. However, participants in each group are likely to be of mixed abilities. All participants will move together as a group and support each other throughout the activity. If you are a very fit and fast hill walker and would like to experience more of a physical challenge, I am available for private bookings that may be more enjoyable for you than my usual group activities.
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I am qualified and insured, but also experienced in the mountains and hills of the UK.
As your guide, I am a qualified and insured Mountain Leader registered with the British Mountaineering Council and Mountain Training Association. I will only ever operate in areas where I have experience of the terrain and local knowledge. I have also volunteered with my community walking group for since 2011, where I have organised and led innumerable walks and expeditions across the whole of northern England, many areas of Scotland and Eryri/Snowdonia in North Wales. I also have a lot of personal experience in walking, wild camping and completing solo expeditions in these areas.
In that time, I have been lucky enough to spend time out on the hills and mountains with many people of different backgrounds and abilities. This experience has enabled me to develop an extensive knowledge of particular outdoor areas, and a penchant for designing routes that are both scenic and interesting. There are often places of historical or geological interest along the way and I enjoy sharing my knowledge of the landscape, history, industry, wildlife and geology.
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​Once a place has been booked on any activity.
I will personally contact each participant by email with any relevant information to the specific activity. The booking system will email participants a ticket but there is no need to present this when attending an activity. Participants will be sent thorough information and 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 for me to give first aid where necessary, take any photographs (or not) and anything else relevant.
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Thank you for reading and I hope to see you on the activity.
COLIN - MOORS TO MOUNTAINS.
