Gorge Walking and Ghyll Scrambling


Gorge Walking, a fun and exciting activity to do with friends or family, takes you up or down a mountain stream sliding or clambering your way along. In the Lake District gorge walking is known as ghyll scrambling; ghyll is an old Norse word for mountain stream and scrambling is a much better description of what you will be doing: you'll be using hands and feet to find the best way along the ghyll.  Ghyll scrambling is an all weather activity: it's a great way to cool down on a hot day and you are going to get soaking wet anyway so it is a fantastic rainy day activity.

 

Gorge walking in the Lake DistrictGhyll Scramble in the Lake DisrictGorge walking session

A half day session of ghyll scrambling costs £120 per instructor.

To book a gorge walking session please call us on 07984 410230 or email us and let us know when you would like to come.

 

Group size depends on the ghyll and type of group but it usually no more than eight. Along with an experienced and friendly instructor we provide helmets to protect your head. You will need to wear fleeces or tracksuits (no jeans please) with waterproofs over the top and old trainers on your feet. If you have a wetsuit you can wear that but it is not essential. Everything will get soaking wet so make sure you pack a complete change of clothes.

 

If you would like to try gorge walking, abseiling and rock climbing all on the same action packed day why not come on one of our multi-activity days.

 

Please note we are very happy to run family sessions but we can only take under 18s if they are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.  This is a legal restriction so no exceptions can be made. 

 

There are lots of ghylls in the Lake District that are used for gorge walking; if there is a particular ghyll you would like to explore please let us know.  If you are not sure where you would like to go here is a description of two of our favourites. 

 

Hause Gill (usually known locally as Honister Gill)

This ghyll in peaceful Seatoller at the end of the beautiful Borrowdale valley is particularly popular with family groups and anyone who wants to experience the challenge of scrambling up a ghyll.  You will need your hands in places and there are plenty of opportunities for getting wet and having fun along the way.   There are lots of options on this gorge walk and we can make as easy or as challenging as you like.  It is also possible to stay dry for parts of this ghyll if you really do not fancy getting wet.

 

Stoneycroft Beck

If you fancy going with gravity rather than against it then this is the ghyll for you.  A short walk from the road takes you up the side of this ghyll and to the start of your very wet adventure.   As you descend the ghyll walking, sliding and jumping into pools you get soaking wet from the start.  This ghyll is very popular with groups of friends and is a great activity if it is raining because you are going to get wet anyway!

 

 

All of the ghylls in the Lake District are in wonderful locations and in the main fairly unspoilt; the depths of the ghylls provide unique habitats for many species of plants that are not found elsewhere.  Obviously a large number of people regularly scrambling up and down the ghylls will disturb these sensitive habitats and ghyll scrambling is one activity that the Lake District National Park Authority are particularly concerned about in regards to conservation.  As a company we also take this seriously and are very careful to follow current guidelines to minimise our impact on the beautiful environment of the Lake District.  We only use recognised ghyll scrambling areas and always try to use the same ingress and egress points to minimise erosion.   If you have any other questions about our environmental policies please do not hesitate to contact us.