Grasmere Yoga Hiking Weekend in the Lake District

Our latest yoga and hiking weekend was in Grasmere at the Grasmere Independent Hostel.  The hostel itself was fantastic accommodation, with a great yoga room, which we had for our sole use.
We had 6 yoga classes for beginner and intermediate level on Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning and some great hiking in between on both days.

Saturday
After two morning yoga sessions (one for beginners and one for intermediates) we headed out of the hostel and through the lovely Lake District village of Grasmere. We had a short stop at the Sarah Nelson gingerbread shop and paid our respects at the Wordworths graves before walking out along the lakeshore to the Loughrigg Terrace for great views across Grasmere and Rydal Water.

Our walk then took along Rydal Water to the Caves.

And then over the river into Rydal village itself, with its church, Rydal Mount and Rydal Hall.

 Our route back to Grasmere took us along the Coffin Route, so called because it was old route that coffins used to pass on their way to the only village church in the area at Grasmere.

As its always important to stay properly hydrated and replenish lost carbs at the end of the walk we then tucked into plentiful supplies of tea and scones, with cream and jam.

After two more yoga classes we then enjoyed dinner in the hostel.

Sunday

After two more yoga classes on Sunday morning, we offered two walking options.  An easier option up to the very popular spot of Easedale Tarn and a harder option over Helm Crag and Gibson knot for those wanting to stretch their legs.

This is the view down Far Easedale towards Grasmere.

Our group on top of Calf Crag.

 
 And our final river crossing before refreshments in the pub, before the journey home.

Scafell Pike Hiking Weekend

Over the weekend of the 20th and 21st June we based ourselves in three fabulous Long Valley Yurts in Great Langdale and headed up Scafell Pike on Saturday.  The rest of the weekend we filled with easier walking in and around Great Langdale itself and finished the walk on Saturday with a grand BBQ as the sun came out.

The weekend didnt get off to the best of starts as we headed up Mickleden and Rossett Ghyll in drizzly rain and cloud.

And sadly the weather didnt clear as we got higher up as we reached Esk Hause.

The summit was shrouded in cloud, but then began to clear on the return journey.

And we had the most lovely evening for our grand BBQ.

Sunday was a more relaxed and easy day walking around the lovely valleys of Great and Little Langdale.

The Yurts themselves were a great hit and everyone agreed they cant wait to come back.

Trek the lakes weekend

We had a spectacular Lake District trek planned from Ambleside over Fairfield and Helvellyn to Helvellyn Hostel and then back over High Street, which got slightly blown off course, by gale force winds on Saturday as we headed up Fairfield.

The day started fairly fine with light winds as we made our way over the High Sweden Bridge.

And then as we made our way up onto the ridge and up to Low Pike and then High Pike the winds realy started to get up so a bit of sheltering behind walls was in order.

We continued up into ever strengthening winds, to Dove Crag at around 800m and within sight of Fairfield.  But after a further 10 minutes hunkered down behind another wall, we decided it was safer to turn back to Ambleside.

Where a resuscitation package of large quantities of tea and cake was swiftly applied.

Sunday the weather was a whole lot kinder as we left Helvellyn Hostel and made our way down to Glennridding and then through Patterdale, before making our way back onto the fells.

Then onwards towards to Angle Tarn.

We took a break at The Knott, for lunch and to admire the views of Hays Water and the High Street Range.

Then onwards for the final walk to the summit.

And the obligatory group photo huddled around the summit Cairn.

It was then just a swift hike across to Thornthwaite Crag and a scramble down to Threshthwaite Mouth. 

Before the final leg to finish at the Kirkstone Inn.

Extra weekend at Rydal added

All of our Yoga and Hiking weekends have been filling up fast this year, with only one place now left at Grasmere in July, Ambleside in August and Nab Cottage in October.

So we have added an extra weekend at the Rydal Youth Centre in the grounds of the very grand and picturesque Rydal Hall.  

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 The Youth centre itself has only recently been refurbished and offers good quality hostel style accommodation, but we have full use of the grounds of the hall, dinner in the hall on Saturday night and a spectacular barn for yoga, all for the low cost of £140 fully inclusive.

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Click on Rydal for more details.

Ben Nevis Summit Hiking Weekend

Over the second May Bank holiday we headed for Glen Nevis to make our attempt on Ben Nevis. 

We had a great group of 16 and headed out on Saturday morning in glorious sunshine, which sadly wasnt to last.

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Even as we made our way up the lower slopes the blue skies started to dissapear.

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But still the views back were spectacular as we made our way up.

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Sadly the summit was covered in cloud with lots of snow.

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Sunday we took an easy walk along the forestry track down Glen Nevis towards the Nevis Gorge and Steall Falls.

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The river was spectacular after recent rain, so made some great photos.

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This is the footbridge over the river as we made our way to the Nevis gorge itself.

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The Steall Falls were really spectacular, but sadly the wind had got up and the rain started, so some piled in to the shelter for lunch.

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Which was still pretty fun tho.

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And Sunday was finished off by a fantastic dinner at the Ben Nevis Inn.

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Monday was a take it easy day with a boat trip around Loch Linhe for some and a hike along a section of the West Highland Way for the rest.

New Logo

Mountain Hikes has a shiny new logo which we are very proud of.

Photography Hiking Weekend

We have just finished our first Photography weekend and what a great weekend it was.  The weather could have been more helpful, but it did mean that we got some great shots of waterfalls following the rain and lots of atmospheric shots of the lakes and mountains.  

We ran this weekend in conjunction with the London Photographic Meetup Group, so many thanks to Alex and Jean Christophe with the Photographic help and support.

Our first stop was around Rydal where we have lots of inspiration from the Falls, the river flowing through the grounds of Rydal Hall and the lovely cottages and Rydal Mount itself.

 And this is some of the group sharing advice and trying to get the best shot.

 After this we headed towards Grasmere to get some great views from Loughrigg Terrace and then Grasmere itself for lunch, with lots of opportunity to photograph the shops and around the church.

 Lots more shots along the lakeshore in the afternoon with a workshop session around the use of filters to blur images and then back to the hostel.

And the lovely footbridge over the river Rothay.

Sunday we spent time photographing the falls at Skelwith, which were in full flow after the rain.

 Followed by lots of opportunities around Loughrigg Tarn.

 And then a group shot before departing.