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esk ghyll
The great big ghyll scrambling experience
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- Eskdale
- 5 - 6 Hours (from meeting to leaving)
- From £100 (per person)
What’s Involved?
The biggest, the baddest and the best jumps the Lake District has to offer!
Who is it for?
This is for adults and older teens (16+)
The venue:
This is the best full day ghyll scrambling location with the biggest cliff jumps the Lake District has to offer. You will ascend a picturesque mountain stream, scaling cascading waterfalls and leaping into its emerald green pools!
This is a seriously aquatic venue with fast flowing water and deep pools and is located in the remote and beautiful Eskdale Valley in the South of the Lake District National Park.
The parking at the location is free but limited. Additionally, there are no changing or toilet facilities on-site.
what's Involved at Esk Ghyll?
After handing out the kit everyone will pack and carry all of it to the start point. This is accessed via a 40 minute hike on relatively flat terrain.
Once at the start point we will have a bite to eat and then get changed. All bags are left out in the elements, therefore it is important that everyone brings a bin liner/dry-bag to keep their clothes and valuables dry inside the rucksacks while we are out ghyll scrambling in the Lake District.
We will then make an ascent of the mighty mountain gorge known as Esk Ghyll jumping into and swimming through its deep emerald pools and climbing up its milky-white waterfalls.
Once finished we get changed into our dry clothes, have another bite to eat. Pack our bags and walk back to the cars.
who does Esk Ghyll suit?
You and your group must be fit and able as this is a very strenuous outing that requires a certain amount of self reliance and the ability to be on the go for up to 6 hours, travelling on challenging terrain.
No previous experience is required but ALL of your group must be good swimmers, have no fear of water, jumping into or being fully submerged in it. You must be confident scrambling unaided up and over wet, slippy and rocky terrain without being terrified of a slip.
The jumps are the main attraction at this location. If anyone really hates jumping then this isn’t the location for you.
To reinforce the point – Don’t book if you are inactive, can’t swim, do not like water, jumping into or being fully submerged in it.
Looking for prices, booking or more info?
Safety info:
It is a very aquatic outing that takes place in and around both fast flowing and deep water. The ghyll scramble can and will be ran in times of moderately higher water levels (group dependant).
When the water level is too high the ghyll is dangerous and cannot be entered. If we need to cancel due to dangerous water levels we can normally offer an alternative.
A positive thing about the ghyll is that it doesn’t run dry/low in prolonged spells of warm dry weather – there’s always enough water.
what's PROVIDED:
When you arrive on-site, ready for this Lake District outdoor activity, we will kit you out with the following equipment:
- Canyoning Wetsuit (10mm) – a clean and dry 2-piece wetsuit that has been specifically designed for canyoning. Its 10mm thick and warm and has an optional hood.
- Wetsuit Socks (3mm) – Clean and dry and 3mm. Any thicker and you wouldn’t fit your shoes over the top.
- Helmet
- Harness
- All Ghyll Equipment
- Experienced Guide
- Medical Kit
- Photo’s and Videos – taken by instructors and shared at the end of the session for free. All the photos on this page were taken during sessions on our phones.
wHAT TO BRING:
When booking our Esk Ghyll experience, we’d recommend bringing the following items along with you:
- Old trainers/hiking boots – you don’t mind getting wet (for use during the ghyll scramble) – no slip-on type shoes, plimsolls or crocs-
- Additional footwear – for the hike to and from the location (it can be wet under foot)
- Swimming costume/trunks/boxer shorts – to wear under the wetsuit
- Rash vest/base layer – to wear under the wetsuit (NOT COTTON – its cold when wet)
- Towel/dry robe
- Dry clothing
- Food & drink
- Any personal medication – (we have a dry container)
- Large rucksack (40l) – to carry all equipment to the start point
- Binliner / dry-bag – to keep clothes and valuables dry while out doing the ghyll scramble
HOW LONG WILL IT last?
The activity will last no more than 6 hours from the point we meet to the point we say goodbye.
The exact time depends on group size, the confidence and ability as well as the fitness of the participants and also the water conditions.
what time of year?
We run this location from roughly mid March to mid October depending on the type of spring/autumn we are having.
Please be aware that the sessions go ahead even if it is cold, windy and raining (to a point).
Only unsafe water levels and frost on the mountain pass will stop this activity.
meeting location:
The meeting point is a lay-by situated at the bottom of the Hardknott Pass. Exact location will be given upon booking. You are looking for a silver van parked up with magnetic logo’s.
It is likely you will be driving over the hardknott pass to reach the meeting location. This is a steep and winding road and is very narrow when passing other cars. It gets very busy later in the day. It helps if you are a confident driver to navigate this road. There is no telephone reception in the valley and the drive is challenging so please leave enough time for travelling.
pro's & cons:
Pro’s
- Lots of jumps
- Biggest jumps in the Lake District
- Great scrambling
- Suitable for confident “first-timers”
- Beautiful location
- Normally not very busy
- Can be ran in minor flood conditions (group dependant)
- Very aquatic
- Jumps/climbs can be avoided
- Pub, accommodation nearby
Cons:
- No telephone reception
- No public transport
- Challenging roads to get to meeting location
- Not suitable for everyone
- Not good for spectators
- Not possible for people that want a less aquatic outing
- No changing/toilet facilities
- 40 minute walk-in/out carrying a bag
- Big kit list to bring
- Very remote
Esk Ghyll photo gallery:
Our Latest FAQ
All of the activities we offer are physical and involve a degree of fitness (some more than others). We recommend you look at each individual activity page to see if it is suitable for you. All of our activities involve wearing a harness, so your waist cannot exceed 46 inches or the safety equipment will not fit.
This is impossible to answer without knowing you or your group personally. If you read each activity page it will hopefully help, we can also give general guidance.
A deposit is required to secure your chosen date, time and activity if you are booking more than 14 days in advance. Your deposit is non refundable or transferable. Full payment is required within 14 days
No sorry, none of our activities are suitable for a dog to join in.
There are no refunds/rescheduling if you miss the meet time and the session may start without you. You may be joining others, we may have a group after you etc so can’t always delay the start time. Allow plenty of time to travel around the Lake District. The traffic from Windermere especially from mid morning can be very slow with jams. Mobile reception is limited but we will have your mobile number and you will have ours on the PDF Info sheet you receive when you book.
You will lose the deposit payment if you cancel with more than 14 days notice. If you cancel within 14 days you will lose the full balance.
You will receive a full refund- or you can opt to rebook. There is no pressure to do this option. If we cancel because of dangerous water conditions at a location (ghyll/canyoning) then we will try to offer an alternative if possible, which you are under no obligation to do.
We run our activities in all weather conditions if it’s safe to do so. If it’s raining and/or cold the activity will go ahead. Wrap up warm with waterproof clothing if you’re abseiling. For ghyll scrambling/canyoning we have high quality, thick canyoning specific wetsuits especially imported from Spain. We wear the same wetsuits as you – so you know you are getting excellent quality. If the rain has been heavy and persistent we may have to cancel/ swap locations if the water levels are dangerous (see question above)