The GO Guide to the Lake District – Something New
In the final edition of our GO Guide to the Lake District we touch on some activities that might be new to you. For example, did you know you could ski in the Lake District during the winter? Maybe you fancy a ride on a heavy horse, a spot of potholing. We cover off 10 of our favourite ‘something new’ activities below.
1. Keswick Museum and Mountain Heritage Trust exhibition
An ideal activity for a rainy day, discover the effects of World War I on the climbing community of Keswick with this exhibition from the Mountain Heritage Trust.
Find out more at: http://www.mountain-heritage.org/mht/keswick-museum-and-mountain-heritage-trust-exhibition-opening/
2. Lake District Ski Club
Winter is an ideal time for skiing and there’s no better place to do so than at the Lake District Ski Club, which boasts up to nine pistes in total (weather depending). Positioned in a prime location for the Lake District’s best snow, you’ll wonder why you never tried skiing before.
Find out more at: http://www.ldscsnowski.co.uk/
3. Yad Moss
Visit England’s premier snow slope this winter for endless hours of skiing and snowboarding fun. For confident skiers and snowboarders only, Yad Moss provides the ideal backdrop on which to show off your snow sporting skills. It is located just one mile to the south east of postcode CA9 3HB.
Find out more at: http://www.yadmoss.co.uk/
4. Castlerigg Stone Circle
What better way to discover the heritage of the Lake District than with a visit to the iconic Castlerigg Stone Circle. Boasting spectacular views of Helvellyn and High Seat Mountain, this unspoilt area offers the perfect opportunity for quiet reflection after a strenuous day in the great outdoors.
Find out more at: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/castlerigg-stone-circle/
5. Lake District Winter Skills
Before you embark on an epic hill walk in the Lakes this winter, it’s a great idea to take part in a winter skills course. Once you’ve completed one of these essential courses, the hill walking possibilities are endless, allowing you to make the most of the fells and mountains of the Lake District.
Find out more at: http://thelakedistrictwalker.co.uk/mountain-skills/winter-skills-training/lake-district-winter-skills-courses.html
6. Coniston Boating Centre
Take a break from the more strenuous activities and observe the beauty of the Lake District from the inside of your very own boat. Choose from electric rowing boats and motor boats which seat the whole family or hire a kayak and race each other down the lake.
Find out more at: http://conistonboatingcentre.co.uk/
7. Roger Savage Gyroplane Tours
Look down on the impressive Lake District from above when you take a ride in a gyrocopter. It’s up to you whether or not you let the experts take control – if you’re feeling adventurous though, why not give flying yourself a go. For safety reasons, there is a 16 stone weight restriction imposed for everyone flying in the gyrocopter.
Find out more at: http://www.rogersavage.co.uk/
8. Cumbrian Heavy Horses
Your visit to the Lake District National Park will not be complete until you’ve experienced the ultimate horse riding experience on offer at Cumbrian Heavy Horses, the only specialised Heavy Horse Riding School in the UK. With horses matched to your ability and private riding across fields, on farmlands and through the streams of the Lake District, you’re guaranteed an unforgettable experience.
Find out more at: http://www.cumbrianheavyhorses.com/
9. Watersports
From canoeing and sailing to kayaking and raft building, there’s a water sport for everyone to get involved in at River Deep Mountain High, whether you’re hoping to try a new sport or looking for a family friendly activity for the day.
Find out more at: http://riverdeepmountainhigh.co.uk/
10. Adventure Makers Potholing Courses
It’s no surprise that the weather conditions in the Lake District can be adverse during the so escape the wind and rain for a few hours and explore the many caves and underground passages at Adventure Makers, based near the Lakes in the Yorkshire Dales – no equipment needed as they will provide you with all the tools. Just bring your sense of adventure!
Find out more at: http://www.adventuremakers.co.uk/
GO Lakes: Adventure Capital Project
With so much to see and do, just one visit to the Lakes will not cut it. Adventure seekers will be glad to hear however that Cumbria Tourism and its partners are backing an initiative known as Cumbria’s Adventure Capital UK Action Plan which aims to both improve and add to the existing family friendly outdoor activities on offer in the Lake District. It is hoped that this will lead to Cumbria being recognised as the Adventure Capital of the UK by 2018.
Cumbria Tourism’s Adventure Capital Project Manager, Andrea Runkee, said: “Cumbria and the Lake District already has an international reputation for breadth of its outdoor adventure offer linked to its rich cultural heritage.
“We can safely say that ‘Adventure Capital UK’ is now firmly recognised by consumers and visitors to Cumbria alike and it is now firmly embedded in the plans and strategies of a range of organisations and partnerships across the county, further helping to strengthen our desire to become the UK’s Adventure Capital by 2018”.
For more information about the Adventure Capital project, visit www.golakes.co.uk/adventure-capital. Share your thoughts on how the outdoor activity offering can be improved on the GO Lakes Facebook and Twitter pages.
