Adventure Days in Ambleside
The Easter holidays are here at last and yesterday was a busy day for us with Mark taking a big group ghyll scrambling in the morning whilst I ran one of our family adventure days for David Temkin and his sons, 11 year old Arieh and 10 year old Solly.
We spent a lovely sunny morning at Scout Crag in Great Langdale, just a short walk from the New Dungeon Ghyll and I was lucky to have Paddy Cave join me to help run the morning session (due to me being slightly out of action still from a recent wrist injury!).
So, for a change I was free to take photos, watch the fun and enjoy the views! Arieh had climbed before on a climbing wall, but his father David and brother Solly were new to the activity. As well as climbing 3 routes they also learned how to tie into the rope and to belay.
Arieh was able to put to test all that he had learnt on his recent trips to the indoor climbing wall in Manchester – tying on with a re-threaded figure of eight and belaying his climbing partner. David and Solly were also keen to learn and by the end of the morning, with Paddy on hand and keeping a watchful eye, they were all confident to belay each other.
We all returned to the Stickle Barn for a drink and some lunch on the picnic benches before saying goodbye to Paddy and meeting Mark who was to join us for the afternoon.
The afternoon was spent at Cathedral Quarry in nearby Little Langdale for an afternoon of abseiling and tunnel exploration. Whilst Mark set up the abseil we went into the huge cavern where Cathedral Quarry get its name. As often as I go I still always find it an awesome place to be – the sun streaming through the ‘window’ and the huge pillar supporting the enormous cavern. After a little bit of scrambling up rocks and watching people descending the ‘big’ abseil we donned our headtorches and went into the tunnels. Youngsters always love this bit of exploration in the dark and on request from Arieh and Solly we did the tunnels twice!
By the time we got back to Mark, he had the abseil all set up and ready for us. First down was Solly, then Arieh, followed by their father. On the first descent the boys were a little nervous to begin but not for long and by the time they reached the bottom they were already asking to do it again!
Thanks David, Arieh, Solly, Paddy and Mark for a super day out!
Kate
‘Thank you so very much for a wonderful day. Myself, Arieh and Solly enjoyed it so much and you were very kind, patient and attentive with us all. Thank you very much and our sincere thanks to Mark and Paddy whose company we all thoroughly enjoyed. We would recommend you highly and hope to see you again one day’.
David Temkin 9.4.17
If you’re interested in joining us on a Family Adventure Day or on any of our other activities please click here – we’d love to hear from you
