Lake District Winter Backpacking Weekend

Lake District Winter Backpacking Weekend Coniston to Great Langdale and back!

With Mark Reid FRGS – author of ‘The Inn Way’ guidebooks & Mountain Leader

Head to the hills for our fantastic guided Lake District Winter Backpacking Adventure Weekend. Spend a sociable, enjoyable and adventurous two days hiking across some of the Lake District’s most dramatic landscapes between Coniston and Great Langdale.

Discover little-known paths, adventurous routes, amazing views and fascinating history, taking you away from crowds and into a world of majestic mountains. Our routes will take us into the dales, hills, fells and mountains between Coniston and Great Langdale including Tilberthwaite, Little Langdale, Lingmoor Fell and Side Pike.

Camp overnight at the National Trust Great Langdale Campsite with great facilities, and only a short walk from the famous Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. If you don’t want to camp, then you may wish to stay at the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel*.

Guided backpacking weekend with Mark Reid
Experience the camaraderie of walking quiet Lakeland routes and camping in winter with like-minded people
Share your sense of achievement with your fellow walkers
Small group sizes – maximum 8 people.
Backpack and camp overnight at Great Langdale
An adventurous expedition to remember!

Experience the freedom of the fells on our 2-day Lake District Winter Backpacking Adventure Weekend.

BACKPACKING FROM CONISTON TO GREAT LANGDALE

We will backpack between Coniston and Great Langdale, carrying our overnight clothing and camping kit with us and then camp overnight at National Trust’s Great Langdale campsite. There are a range of routes between Coniston and Great Langdale to suit weather conditions and group needs, ranging from low level woodland and valley paths to higher level routes across the fells. There are lots of lovely places to explore along the way including beautiful waterfalls, old slate quarries, quaint villages, great viewpoints, hidden tarns plus lots more.

In the evening, we’ll head to the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel, famed for its bustling Hikers Bar complete with log fires and a great range of local Cumbrian ales.

GREAT LANGDALE CAMPING

We’ll camp at Great Langdale National Trust Campsite. It has free hot showers, drying room and shop. It is a 5-minute walk to the Old Dungeon Ghyll hotel. I will book your camping pitch for you; this is included in the price as it is integral part of this backpacking trip. You’ll need to carry your sleeping bag and camping kit with you in your rucksack.

Provided Camping Kit
I can provide each person with the following (unless you are bringing your own or staying at the hotel)

Lightweight backpacking tent
Lightweight insulated sleepmat
Stove
Backpacking rucksack
Headtorch
Waterproof rucksack bag – this is large enough to put your spare dry clothes in as well as any valuables.

Please provide your own sleeping bag. Ensure it has a temperature Comfort Rating of between 0 and -5 degrees C. If it has a temperature rating of zero or above, then it may not keep you warm enough.

DON’T WANT TO CAMP?*

If you don’t fancy camping in January then you may wish to stay at the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel and you won’t need to carry any camping kit!*

* If you choose to stay at the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel instead of camping, then please book this directly with the hotel. Accommodation other than camping is not included in the price, as camping is an integral part of this backpacking trip.

OUTLINE OF THE TRIP

DAY ONE
9:30am: Meet at Coniston for a briefing about the trip, weather forecast and gear check.
10am – 5pm: Guided dale, hill and fell walk between Coniston and Great Langdale. The route will be in the region of 10 – 12 miles (16 – 20 km) with around 600 – 850m of ascent and descent. The route will take in the fells, hills, dales, woodland and riversides between Coniston and Great Langdale.
5pm: Arrive at Great Langdale and set up camp.
7pm: Meal at the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel (optional), followed by a sociable evening beside the pub fire!

DAY TWO
9am: Break camp, pack our rucksacks and briefing about the day.
9:30am – 4pm: Guided dale, hill and fell walk back to Coniston. The route will be in the region of 10 – 12 miles (16 – 20 km) with around 600 – 850m of ascent and descent. The route will take in fells, hills, dales, woodland and riversides.
4pm: Arrive back at Coniston

Please note: The precise routes will be decided each day, given weather & ground conditions as well as group needs. All walks will include rough ground, hill and fell terrain, steep grounds well as open exposed hills; we may experience adverse weather conditions, although we will walk below the snow line. NB: all timings, distances, heights and routes are approximate.

YOUR GUIDE - MARK REID

FITNESS, EXPERIENCE, INFORMATION ETC

This 2-day walking backpacking trip will take you up onto remote hills, moors, mountains and fells of the Lake District, with the potential for adverse weather. The walks will include uneven ground, rough, rocky mountain, hill and moorland terrain, stream crossings, wet/boggy ground, woodland and riversides, sustained ascents and descents, remote exposed high hills, steep ground; we may also experience adverse weather conditions.
This trip includes camping overnight at Great Langdale in winter; campsite fees are included as camping is an integral part of the activity. We can lend camping kit of lightweight tent, insulated sleepmat, stove and gas, expedition rucksack; please provide your own sleeping bag (with a comfort rating of between 0 and -5 degrees C), personal walking clothes and food.
Camping in January means that we may experience cold, wet and windy weather, with the potential for discomfort. Great Langdale Campsite has a heated toilets/shower room, drying room and shop. We’ll head to the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel in the evening for a meal and warm by the fire.
The precise routes, including which hills, fells, mountains and moorland we walk across, will be decided each day, given weather & ground conditions as well as group needs. If strong winds or poor weather is forecast then we may stay to lower paths and valley routes.
A good level of fitness is required as you will be walking across hills, fells and moorland for two days
We will walk about 16 – 20 km (10 – 12 miles) per day with 600 – 850m of ascent each day, although this will vary with according to weather conditions and group needs. There will be rest stops throughout the day, as well as 30-mins for lunch.
Winter weather – the walks will NOT require the use of specialist winter equipment, however, we may encounter winter weather conditions whilst on the walks (cold, wind, rain etc); the precise routes will be determined on the day given the weather conditions. This trip will not take place if extreme winter weather is forecast or prevailing; if this happens then you will be transferred onto one of our summer trips ore receive a refund. If there is snow, then we will walk below the ‘snow line’ if possible, or choose a route that avoids any steep ground.
Mark Reid is an experienced Mountain Leader. Mark has walked over 34,000 miles of footpaths throughout the North of England over the last decade and knows the British mountains well. Since 2007, we have taken over 22,000 people out walking in the hills
Part of the attraction of valley, hill and mountain walking is the challenge of tackling different terrains, landscapes and weather conditions. Every effort is made to minimize potential hazards; however, the very nature of hill and mountain walking involves a certain level of unavoidable risk of accident and/or injury. By taking part in this activity, you are aware of and accept these risks.
Our walks are suitable for all ages. Under 18s (minimum age 14) may attend if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. The child must be accompanied at all times during the walk by their parent/legal guardian.
Terms and Conditions

BOOK NOW

CHOOSE YOUR Date

This includes:

Two full day's guided dale, hill, mountain and fell walking, guided by Mark Reid
Campsite fees at Great Langdale (one night)
Use of our camping kit, if required (lightweight tent, insulated sleepmat, stove, expedition rucksack, dry-bag & inflatable pillow).
Use of our Outdoor gear if required.
TeamWalking Loyalty Reward scheme

PLEASE PROVIDE:

Sleeping bag, with a comfort rating of between 0 and -5 degrees C
Food for 2 days (there is a campsite shop (provisions) and pub at Great Langdale where we will eat in the evening).
Mug and spoon
Gas canister
Personal walking clothing and equipment (base layers etc)
Travel to and from Coniston

NB: Please provide food, travel & accommodation (other than camping, as backpacking/camping is the key activity of this trip). A detailed list of what to wear and bring will be sent to you. This trip will not go ahead if winter conditions are prevailing in the valleys; if this happens then you will be offered a transfer or refund.

NUMBER OF PEOPLE