Latest posts for the topic "OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe"

OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 21:37:13 GMT

Sorry folks not ski related but you strike me as the best people to ask. I don't get to see my daughter as often as I would like so we had planned a weeks camping in August. I talked to her mum and asked if she had any objections to me taking her climbing, abseiling etc. They both thought it a great idea, so I'm looking for somewhere both me and little 11 can learn and although we may not do it together we can share the experience at the same time.

Any suggestions? She will be 10 years old. I will not be far behind :)

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 22:25:03 GMT

tino_11, I went on a hen weekend a couple of years ago & we spent a day doing a variety of activities, including climbing & abseiling, with www.distant-horizons.co.uk in the Lake District & had a brilliant time. Not sure if that's the sort of thing you're looking for but I'd happily recommend them.

Have fun :)

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 22:52:47 GMT

Tino, we went camping in Glencoe with our lads, when they were much the same age. The closest site is the Red Squirrel. It is a busy site, mixed caravans, tents and motor bikes. Not the quietest site I have been on. However, the biggest issue is the Midgies. These little beggars crawl over every square inch of bare flesh, instant itch. We bailed out a day early. Having said that, I have suffered midgies in the Torridons, and when walking the West Highland Way.

Hey, the WHW would make a good week.

The Lakes offer a huge variety of options. And there appears to be a good number of climbing schools. Most of the climbing is in the Langdales, where there is a camp site near to the Dungeon Ghyll. Although the climbing is good, the walking is also great. On my last Lake District visit I spent the week painting, with a group of like minded folk. Our Guide dog trainee spent the week eating sheep sh*t! :wink:

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 22:55:20 GMT

Does it have to be those areas?

This was one of my Sons favourite places when he was about your daughters age.

http://www.outdooradventure.co.uk/education/

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 22:55:35 GMT

Salski wrote: tino_11, I went on a hen weekend a couple of years ago & we spent a day doing a variety of activities, including climbing & abseiling, with www.distant-horizons.co.uk in the Lake District & had a brilliant time. Not sure if that's the sort of thing you're looking for but I'd happily recommend them.

Have fun :)

Salski, where were you in the Lakes?

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 22:55:52 GMT

I been to this place a few times. http://www.jjraftcanoe.com/rafting/viewer.asp?a=3 I've only kayaked on the river there, but they looked like a good outfit, and They used to have a great reputation.

I was going to suggest to you sometime time that you should try white water kayaking. It's a big sport in Germany, as it is in the UK. Austria has some great rivers. Often the water levels are better in the PM, so maybe up on the glacier AM ?

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 22:58:08 GMT

RoseR wrote:Does it have to be those areas?

This was one of my Sons favourite places when he was about your daughters age.
http://www.outdooradventure.co.uk/education/

Rose, it may be that the Germany/Newcastle/Devon logistics may be an issue.

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 23:00:58 GMT

Dave Mac wrote:

RoseR wrote:Does it have to be those areas?

This was one of my Sons favourite places when he was about your daughters age.
http://www.outdooradventure.co.uk/education/

Rose, it may be that the Germany/Scotland/Devon logistics may be an issue.

Yeh your right Dave I forget that Tino's in Germany.

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 23:03:25 GMT

Trencher wrote:I been to this place a few times. http://www.jjraftcanoe.com/rafting/viewer.asp?a=3 I've only kayaked on the river there, but they looked like a good outfit, and They used to have a great reputation.

I was going to suggest to you sometime time that you should try white water kayaking. It's a big sport in Germany, as it is in the UK. Austria has some great rivers. Often the water levels are better in the PM, so maybe up on the glacier AM ?

Same logistics issue, but white water is a good shout. There are good places and support on the River Tay, near Kenmore. The only problem with a WW week is that you cannot plan well ahead, because you do not know the water conditions, and they are important, particularly for beginners.

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 23:14:05 GMT

Dave Mac wrote:

Trencher wrote:I been to this place a few times. http://www.jjraftcanoe.com/rafting/viewer.asp?a=3 I've only kayaked on the river there, but they looked like a good outfit, and They used to have a great reputation.

I was going to suggest to you sometime time that you should try white water kayaking. It's a big sport in Germany, as it is in the UK. Austria has some great rivers. Often the water levels are better in the PM, so maybe up on the glacier AM ?

Same logistics issue, but white water is a good shout. There are good places and support on the River Tay, near Kenmore. The only problem with a WW week is that you cannot plan well ahead, because you do not know the water conditions, and they are important, particularly for beginners.

They do other activities as well. At that time of year, lack of water is most likely anywhere else, but I believe that site has small rapids, even at quite low flows on the Dee.

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 23:29:51 GMT

Kenmore-->Aberfeldy is really mellow. Aberfeldy--> is more technical (IIRC).

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 23:45:33 GMT

Dead right Pablo. My OH kayaked the Tay last summer. There were three days of rain beforehand, and most of the group got a dunking. Two of the group got into a bit of trouble. The issue then was heavy water, after Aberfeldy.

My moment was in 1975, with my OH and 4 others, kayaking down the Kangeroo River, South Australia. I was well behind the group, when my kayak was sucked ito the roots of a submerged tree. I could see the surface of the water above me, but was trapped. Well I did get out, and the kayak popped up at the other side. A wee bit scary.

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 03:10:34 GMT

Dave Mac wrote:
My moment was in 1975, with my OH and 4 others, kayaking down the Kangeroo River, South Australia. I was well behind the group, when my kayak was sucked ito the roots of a submerged tree. I could see the surface of the water above me, but was trapped. Well I did get out, and the kayak popped up at the other side. A wee bit scary.

Moving water is a bit like off piste. There is a minimum of training before it can be done safely (it's come a long way since 75). Sadly it is more accessible to the general population, than off piste skiing, and a lot of people pay the price.

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 07:43:46 GMT

Dave Mac wrote:

Salski wrote: tino_11, I went on a hen weekend a couple of years ago & we spent a day doing a variety of activities, including climbing & abseiling, with www.distant-horizons.co.uk in the Lake District & had a brilliant time. Not sure if that's the sort of thing you're looking for but I'd happily recommend them.

Have fun :)

Salski, where were you in the Lakes?

On that occasion we were staying in Grasmere (a fantastic house called Little Parrock) but we did our open canoe tour & BBQ on Derwent Water & climbed nearby on Shepherd's Crag. I'm a huge fan of the Lake Distrit & used to go walking there regularly - generally staying in the Langdale area. Nowadays we always head to the North Norfolk coast where we go sailing but I will have to try & organise a few days back up there again - I miss it!

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 08:17:59 GMT

Tino,
There are plenty of activities in Pembrokeshire to keep your daughter happy and busy for a week. The only danger is that if you come here you might decide to emigrate here, like I did :lol:

We have a much lower rainfall than the Lake District, and we are a lot quieter than Cornwall (but the coastline is a bit similar). We have masses of beaches, and there's camping, pony trekking, historic castles, hill walking, adventure sports etc.

And we have good train links to London and Manchester.

Here is one of our activity places:

http://www.tyf.com/

Ally

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 10:57:18 GMT

I think the relevance of Glencoe is that Tino might be in the area anyway (Oban at a guess). Pembrokeshire is hardly close :lol:

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 11:43:32 GMT

Well, if he wants to stay north, how about this one, near Pitlochry (it's much nearer to Oban than the Lake District which is about 250 miles away):

http://adventure.visitscotland.com/providers/nae-limits/abseiling-rap-running

We went to Pitlochry last year and it's an amazingly beautiful area, with plenty to do (although I'm sure it does have a pretty high rainfall - don't know about the midges though).

Ally

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 15:03:13 GMT

Wow, thank you all for the suggestions however far flung, I'll look into them when I'm on a proper computer. The reason for the Lakes or Glencoe us logistics. She lives in Hexham so it's a short hop over to the lakes. The Glencoe idea was because I could kill two birds with one stone and take her to see Grandparents in Oban. Might also get my old man to come climbing with us, although unlikely as he broke his back doing it in his youth and never went back to it.

Unless Pembrokeshire has mountains of at least 3000m that I can reach after work on Friday, I think it's safe to say I won't be emigrating there. Sorry Ally ;)

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 21:20:51 GMT

AllyG wrote:

and we are a lot quieter than Cornwall (but the coastline is a bit similar)

There's no such thing as a busy or noisy Cornwall. We locals know where to go to avoid the emmets.
The worst days for me are when it rains and everyone leaves the beach and comes into the city to go shopping and gets in the way of me and my white van! :twisted:

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 21:54:46 GMT

Tino

There are 101 places in the Lake District that you can do any sort of outward bound activity you can think of so I suppose it depends on what you fancy and what your daughter is into.

I can recommend Grizedale Forest for a day or two of fun. I have done both their orienteering course and a couple of the mountain biking trails and can recommend them for kids. They have a website but it doesn't have volumes of information I'm afraid. They also have a Go Ape course which is great and your daughter is old enough to do although she has to be 1.4m tall.... Check out http://www.goape.co.uk/

Also have a look at these people they do all types activities in and around the Lakes: http://www.riverdeepmountainhigh.co.uk/

The Lakes would get my vote but only because I'm not very familiar with the Glencoe area although that said it is somewhere I want to go and explore its just not as close to home for me....

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 22:53:04 GMT

Tino,
If you do indeed go on a camping holiday with your daughter in August, don't forget to have a back up plan in case it rains all week.

If you go to the Lake District at least you will be close to indoor activities in Blackpool and Manchester as long as you have a car. Last summer we went ski-ing in the Manchester Snow-dome in the morning, and then drove to Lake Windermere in an hour and a half in time for a cruise on the lake and supper there, before driving back to Manchester. The umbrella rack in the porch of the pub at Windermere was most enlightening :lol:

A three generation holiday sounds like a great idea :D

Ally

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 23:09:24 GMT

Hi Tino

I (obviously no bias!!) would recommend the Lakes - this is a really nice hotel with direct access to a watersports centre

http://www.elh.co.uk/watersports/index.aspx

As it is near to Ambleside you have access to lots of walking, climbing and close to the Beatrix Potter attractions and Brockholes visitor centre which your daughter will enjoy.

Why not invite the folks down - the weather will probably be better and there are no midges!! I have been a victim of them on many a caravan holiday in Scotland in my youth )

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 23:13:45 GMT

AllyG wrote:Tino,

If you go to the Lake District at least you will be close to indoor activities in Blackpool :D

Ally

:shock: went once - have promised myself I will never return! At best, dismal!

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 23:18:20 GMT

Salski,
What's wrong with Blackpool? I've never been myself, but millions have.

I was just trying to think of something that Tino could do with his daughter if it keeps raining. My own daughter was more than happy with the massive Trafford shopping centre next to the snow dome in Manchester, but maybe Tino's not so keen on being a mobile bank card :D

Ally

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 23:22:46 GMT

Definitely do not go to Blackpool :shock:

There are very few indoor activities worth taking part in other than the dodgy pubs :oops:

Ally it is like saying Pembrokeshire is a good place to go because of the indoor attractions of Barry Island :shock:

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 23:28:57 GMT

Oh, sorry everyone :oops:

Actually, I don't even know where Barry Island is, except that it's possibly somewhere near Cardiff?

Well, what does one do to amuse a ten year old girl in the Lake District when it keeps raining?

When it rains here during the summer our holidaymakers go to indoor swimming pools, shopping in one of the towns, to indoor amusement parks like Folly Farm, or museums and art galleries etc.

Ally

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 23:33:08 GMT

Can I add that I live within 25 minutes of Blackpool and went to college there for a while. The Pleasure Beach is a good place to visit but there is nowhere else I could reccommend. However my kids when younger used to love the trips to the Piers and their "attractions". I prefer the beaches of nearby sedate Lytham st Annes and mfc's nearby locales of Silverdale & Arnside.

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 23:42:49 GMT

Cross posts - there is a pool at the hotel I recommended plus a public one nearby. Kendal nearby offers shopping, McDonalds etc and there are lots of rainy day activities, Aquarium, Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway, Beatrix Potter to name a few. When you are walking, climbing and sailing in the Lakes rain usually is not an issue because you are prepared clothing wise - a bit like when on a ski holiday where snowy, sunnny, cloudy, cold or hot weather does not prevent you from partaking in the planned activity.

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 23:49:45 GMT

You mean, bring waterproofs and wellies?

We have a few tough holidaymakers who do this, and go out walking in spite of the weather, or hire wetsuits and go surfing, but most of them don't bring wellies and waterproofs in the summer.

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 01:14:15 GMT

AllyG wrote:You mean, bring waterproofs and wellies?

We have a few tough holidaymakers who do this, and go out walking in spite of the weather, or hire wetsuits and go surfing, but most of them don't bring wellies and waterproofs in the summer.

What ! go to Wales without waterproofs ??????

Ally, I like your Twr y Felin suggestion. There is some great surfing, and white water on The Bitches. One of my most horrifying moments was realising I wasn't going to make the ferry on the way back, and paddling over Horse rock, at a very high tide, with a big swell. A guy had dissappeared there, shortly before, and I almost ****** my pants (or wet suit in this case).

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 08:07:05 GMT

Hi Trencher,
That sounds as though it was extremely dangerous! I'm glad you were okay :D

Did you know, one of the RIB's on a boat trip around Ramsey Island capsized in the waters around Horse Rock in 2000? Luckily, all the passengers were rescued by the other RIB, and the lifeboat turned up a few minutes later.
http://www.maib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/atlantic-eagle.pdf

Our islands are a major tourist attraction. I have been to Skomer Island myself several times, to see the puffins, and I've also done the trip around Ramsey several times in a RIB to see the baby seals etc. and go into the caves. It's really exciting, especially seeing the 'standing' wave and wirlpools on 'The Bitches'.

One of my sister's has actually dived in Jack Sound, another hideously dangerous stretch of water between Skomer and the mainland, and my other sister used to skipper boats through it at slack tide.

I think Tino would really enjoy 'surfing' on waves instead of snow, here, and his daughter would have a great time as well. I think the issue is the distance from Scotland. It would be fine if he was a millionaire, because we have an airfield only about 5 miles away, but it's only for private planes and charter flights.

Ally

Re:OT - Outward Bounds in the Lakes or near Glencoe

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 08:30:07 GMT

North Wales isn't to far off and I can vouch for the surfing out of Abersoch and you also have plenty of outward bound activities in and around there!! Plus in my opinion its a beautiful part of the world...

I'd happily own a second home out that way since its a bit quieter than the Lakes.

As for Blackpool its not all that bad Paralytic... I was once a "local" and my parents still live that way. Bleckpool is great for kids in relation to the Sandcastle Waterpark, the obvious Pleasure Beach and the piers although they aren't the same as they were in my day... :lol:

That said I would only use Blackpool as the last resort rainy day option as there is too much to do and see in and around the Lakes and a bit of rain wouldn't put me off going up into those hills 8)