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Adventures for All
If the Lake District is the Adventure Capital of Britain, then Keswick is the Adventure Capital of the Lake District.
High adrenalin sports are in abundance on the fells, in the air and on the water.
You just need to choose your sport and head here.
To book your adventures in Keswick visit the Adventure Hub upstairs in the Tourist Information Centre in the Moot Hall.
If the Lake District is the Adventure Capital of Britain, then Keswick is the Adventure Capital of the Lake District.
ROCK CLIMBING
Modern rock climbing began in the Lake District in the 1880s when Walter Parry Haskett Smith soloed Napes Needle in Wasdale.
At around the same time, brothers George and Ashley Abraham established themselves as pioneer rock climbers and mountain landscape photographers here in Keswick. Their photos record many exploits of the early rock climbers in the Lake District, especially Owen Glynne Jones.
They were founding members of The Fell and Rock Climbing Club of the English Lake District – Ashley was the President. They ran a photographic shop in Keswick, this later was taken over by local mountaineer George Fisher and it’s still attracting adventurers, more for the outdoor kit today!
It’s no coincidence that the area has attracted climbers for more than a century. The Borrowdale Valley is one of the most popular places to climb in the Lake District. It’s popular because there’s lots of low level fast drying crags, they’re easy to get to and there’s not one, not two but three classic climbs:
• Little Chamonix, Shepherd’s Crag • Gillercombe Buttress, Gillercombe • Troutdale Pinnacle, Black Crag
It’s a great place to come to, whether you want to learn to climb, develop your skills or try to find an elusive route that’s not been done yet.
FELL RUNNING
You’ll probably encounter a fell runner or two while you are here and they may well be attempting the Bob Graham Round.
The challenge is to cover 42 peaks in 24 hours – covering 72 miles and 27,000 feet of ascent - starting and finishing at Keswick’s Moot Hall.
Bob Graham ran a guest house in the town when he set the route in 1932, at the age of 42. Clearly no-one else thought it was worth repeating for a while as no one broke his record for 28 years.
There’s now more than a thousand people who belong to the exclusive Bob Graham 24 hour Club. Many ultra distance runners attempt the challenge each year. Most of them fail. Of those that succeeded, Billy Bland was the fastest in 13 hours and 53 minutes in 1982. Some people have gone on to make this amazing feat look like a walk in the park by completing 77 peaks in less than 24 hours; or doing the whole round twice!
VIA FERRATA
There’s no need to head for the Dolomites this year as we have our very own Via Ferrata at Honister Slate Mine. This specially created ‘iron way’ follows the route the Victorian miners would have used to get home after a day in the dark.
Using permanently fixed cables and attached with a harness and clips for safety and protection, you work your way across a rock face using what nature left with the help of metal steps and ladders.
It is different from traditional rock climbing but gives you a sense of exposure and a very different perspective. The route, which is fully guided, takes you to the top of Fleetwith Pike, 2,126 feet high.
MOUNTAIN BIKING AT WHINLATTER
Up in England’s only true Mountain Forest, you’ll find the Altura Trail, specially built for experienced riders with good off road skills and a high level of fitness.
It’s 19 kilometres of red grade mountain biking with 15 kilometres of new single track offering berms, jumps, rock features, skinnies, cork screws and table tops.
The 1600ft altitude rewards riders with fine views of Derwentwater, Bassenthwaite, Helvellyn and Skiddaw.
See page 33 for more information on adventure providers. 20
KESWICK.ORG
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