Guided Lake District Walking Weekend - Skiddaw House
Go off-grid and savour the Lake District’s wild side this summer with a guided hiking weekend staying in Britain’s highest hostel.
Experience Type: Multi-Day Experience
Duration: 2 nights
Accommodation: Hostel
Group Size: Maximum 18
Level: Active Plus
Age: 18+
Dogs: No dogs, except trained assistance dogs
In a Nutshell:
Peaceful ‘middle of nowhere’ accommodation, reached only on foot.
Adventurous hikes in classic Lake District scenery with a Large Outdoors guide.
Enjoy mixing with a friendly bunch of people who’re just as keen to explore.
Appreciate the simplicity of a weekend revolving around lovely walks, home-cooked meals and good company.
Escape to a secluded corner of the Lake District for a guided hiking weekend staying in a car-free location that adds to the wildness of it all.
Skiddaw House is a former gamekeeper’s lodge which was once dubbed ‘The Loneliest House in England’ - this gives you a clue as to how remote we’re going to be for this weekend! This building is now a hostel, which we have sole use of for the weekend.
In fact, on the first afternoon, after meeting up with your Large Outdoors guide, you will leave your car, taking all your belongings for the weekend (so pack light!) to walk the 4.6 miles (7.3km) route to reach the house.
This is a pared-back, rustic weekend without the usual distractions (no mobile phone signal, no Wi-Fi, no pubs or cafés nearby), or mod cons in the hostel (no central heating or electrical sockets). Instead, there will be wood burners in the communal areas for heat, good home-cooked food, and fantastic views from every room.
Your Large Outdoors team will lead the group on epic hikes into the surrounding mountains over the weekend, where you can bag a number of Wainwrights.
Pre-trip note: You won’t be able to rely on your car to ferry your belongings to the hostel and there’s no shuttle service, so please make sure you travel light - you’ll enjoy the 4.6 mile (7.3km) walk in and back out again so much more with a lighter backpack! Bedding is provided by the hostel but you’ll need your own towel and don’t forget to check out the Compulsory Kit List in the ‘Good to Know’ section below.
Suggested Itinerary
Here’s what we’ve got planned - of course, we may have to offer alternatives or make amendments if the weather misbehaves or other unexpected situations arise!
-
The group will gather to meet one of the Large Outdoors team at 2pm. From here we walk together - approximately 4.6 miles (7.4km) - to reach Skiddaw House. Here you can unpack your bag and chill out with a cup of tea, while we take in the wildness of the surroundings.
Then your host will prepare the two-course evening meal, aiming to serve it around 8pm. While we’re eating, we will outline the walking plans for the next two days.
-
After breakfast and having packed up lunch, our group will step outside and start the day’s hike. Today we plan to cover around 10.5 miles (17km) and 930m of ascent exploring a quieter route to the top of Skiddaw via Longside Edge and Sale How with a real mix of terrain – from grassy slopes to broad rocky ridges.
All-in-all, it’s an adventurous day’s hiking that will leave you with a post-walk glow, basking in the knowledge you can now relax and enjoy the evening after achieving a grand day out. This evening it will simply be a case of relishing the peacefulness of the location, as well as the banter of the group, as we relax into the surroundings before devouring another dinner prepared by your host.
-
After breakfast, we pack up our belongings and walk back to our cars. Here we drop off any kit we don’t need for the day ahead before continuing our walk with our day-packs. This time with our sights set on conquering another iconic Wainwright peak, Blencathra!
We follow a beautiful circular route that will bring us back to the cars. The total distance for the day’s walking, including the walk from Skiddaw House, will be approximately 10.5 miles (17km).
Then all that remains is to say our goodbyes before staring our homeward journeys - with lots of great memories from the Lakes to take with us.
Essential Information
-
Meeting Time: 2pm
Your Large Outdoors walk leader and host for the weekend will meet everyone together, ready to walk into the hostel as a group. Please ensure you arrive in plenty of time, as the leader and group will not be able to wait for late arrivals and walking in is the only option!Meeting Location:
Threlkeld Cricket Club
St John's Gate
Threlkeld
Keswick
CA12 4TZParking: The meeting location is where you’ll park. You need to purchase 3 pay-and-display tickets, to cover you for 3 full day’s parking. This costs £9 in total (£3 per day) and you can pay by cash or card. You car will be left here for the duration of the trip as there is no vehicular access to our hostel.
Finish Time: We aim to finish on the final day by 4pm - the exact finish time may depend on the planned/chosen route, group dynamic, weather conditions, etc.
-
You’ll be staying at YHA’s hostel, Skiddaw House. Surrounded by mountains and accessible only on foot or by mountain bike, Britain’s highest hostel is perfect for an adventurous Large Outdoors walking weekend. Situated at 470m on the flanks of Skiddaw, and 3 miles from the nearest road, this traditional hostel on the Cumbria Way offers simple yet comfortable accommodation.
Stay here for a real escape from it all - with no mains electricity, phone signal, TV or internet to distract from the wilderness. Solar panels provide light and hot water, while wood-burning stoves provide the only heating in the communal areas.
Bedding is provided by the hostel so no need to bring your own, but please remember to bring your own towel and toiletries.
Room Types:
You can book one of the following options, subject to availability:
Bed in a Shared Female Room
Bed in a Shared Male Room
Twin/Double Room (shared bathroom)
Single Room (shared bathroom)Most rooms at this hostel are Shared Rooms, where you’ll be sharing a dorm room - with bunk beds - with other participants (room sizes vary and ). The Twin/Double Room sleeps up to two participants booking together, with a double bed and bunk beds in the room (bathrooms are shared). The Single Room is for one participant, with a single bed (bathrooms are shared).
-
Included:
2-nights’ accommodation at the remote and lovely Skiddaw House.
A Large Outdoors host/guide to welcome you and deal with the logistics for your experience.
Guided walks on 3 days (Days 1-3).
Home-cooked set 2-course dinners at the accommodation on both evenings.
A DIY breakfast each morning (toast, cereals, fruit and yoghurt provided).
A DIY packed lunch (sandwich and snacks) for Day 2 and Day 3’s walks. Please ensure you bring a lunch box or dry bag - to reduce waste, we do not supply cling film or sandwich bags.
Tea and coffee (limited decaf/herbal options) at the accommodation.
Bedding - but please bring a towel and don’t forget your own toiletries.
The chance to make new friends and meet like-minded people - Large Outdoors is all about making outdoor adventures sociable.
Pre-event support from the Large Outdoors team - give us a shout if there’s any advice or information you need and check out our Blog for useful articles too.
Not included:
Travel to the meeting location.
Any extra (i.e. not mentioned above in ‘Included’) excursions or activities that you may partake in which incur a cost.
Bottled water - tap water is available at the accommodation, so please ensure you bring sufficient water bottles or carriers to fill up and take out with you.
Alcoholic drinks - you are welcome to bring your own but please remember you must carry them in!
Any food, drinks or goods you choose to purchase at any shops, restaurant, pubs or cafés visited.
Travel/activity insurance - we recommend having insurance to cover, at a minimum: cancellation and curtailment; medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation); personal accident; injury and death.
-
Please see our Residential (Walking) Kit List.
The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount importance to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should have the items listed.
DON’T FORGET: As we leave our cars behind for this weekend and the hostel is remote, you might want to bring a few other things:
Any snacks you’d like for the weekend, to enjoy whilst walking or at the hostel.
Flip-flops, sandals, slippers or hut shoes, so you don’t have to wear your walking boots all evening.
Waterproof bags to keep your evening clothes, towel and toiletries in - either plastic bags or dry-bags. Then you can leave these belongings on your bed at the hostel while out on the Saturday walk if you like, so your backpack’s not as heavy.
-
• What level of fitness is needed?
This trip is rated Active Plus. Don’t forget you’ll be carrying all your belongings on Days 1 / 3, when we walk the 4.6 miles (7.4km) in to / out of the hostel. There’s quite a bit of ascent and descent involved across the three days too. Make sure you’ve practised walking with all your kit and your backpack is comfortable. Click here to see Large Outdoors’ Experience Levels.• Can I attend on my own?
Absolutely. The majority of our participants are solo travellers and adventurers. Plenty of fun, laughter and numerous long-term friendships (and a few marriages!) have begun on Large Outdoors experiences since 2008, so there’s no need to feel worried about your first experience, or indeed trying a new type of outdoor activity, with us.• I am currently on a specific diet / have an allergy - can you cater for me?
Unfortunately, we are generally unable to cater for a wide variety of diets or food preferences due to the nature and cost of our catered trips and/or the use of shared kitchens. However, we can offer vegetarian meals, vegan meals, provide meals with gluten* free ingredients, and/or provide dairy* free meals - these options can be selected when booking. *Please see our general FAQs for more information about dietary options.• What transportation is provided during this experience?
We do not provide any transport for this experience. You will be walking from the meeting location to the hostel (4.6 miles, 7.4km) on Day 1 and back out again on Day 3, with all of your luggage for the weekend (so pack light).• Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are not allowed on this experience, except for trained assistance dogs. If you wish to bring your trained assistance dog, please let us know in advance of booking so we can discuss the itinerary and any activity/equipment/accommodation, and of course additional safety requirements or considerations that may be necessary. -
The Lake District National Park needs no introduction, as it’s a veritable outdoors-lovers paradise. Stretching 2,292 square kilometres, it’s the largest National Park in England and second largest in the UK. It’s home to some brilliant wildlife, England’s highest peak (Scafell Pike), and its largest natural lake, Windermere, at 11 miles long.
We’ll be exploring the beautiful northern fells of the Lake District - surrounded by moors, valleys and breath-taking views.
This map is provided for guidance regarding the general location. For detailed meeting information, please refer to the 'Meeting Time & Location' section.