The Mighty Esk Gorge - Lakelands ultimate
Where to start when trying to describe The Esk Gorge! There's so much to say and we could easily get lost in superlatives.
Whilst The Lake District has many brilliant gorge scrambles, all are loads of fun. But as with many things, some gorges are better than others. This is highlighted whenever we visit the Esk Gorge over in Eskdale. The Biggest, and The Best!
It's not suitable for a quick trip due to the remote nature of the venue, but if you can spare most of the day, this is 'the' place to be. We've explored many of the Lakeland gorges, and yes many are great. Stickle ghyll and Church beck both being absolutely fantastic and well worth doing, particularly as they can be enjoyed in a morning or afternoon session.
However, for those with a little more time and wishing for a wilderness experience, let us introduce the Esk Gorge.
The approach walk is about 45 minutes of gentle uphill, this keeps the crowds away. The scenery is superb, as pretty as anything in Lakeland. As soon as we arrive, there's an entry jump of about 8ft into deep water. If you were at all sleepy, this just cured that!
And from here on up, it's swim, jump, scramble, jump, swim, scramble and so much more. The surroundings are spectacular, so much so, I find it hard to describe!
With some really high jumps, it can feel quite intimidating for some. Rest assured there are plenty of small and medium height jumps too and so many beautiful pools to swim in, you'll be spoilt for choice.
Example Itinerary:
Meet 9.30am in Eskdale - wetsuits and safety equipment issued
9.45am - walk to starting point
10.30am - have a snack (you'll be needing plenty energy) and change into wetsuits
10.45am - 1st jump!
We spend as much time in the gorge as participants wish. This will be flexible and based on weather conditions and water flow rate. A likely finish time being around 2pm
2pm - Return to dry kit, get changed into dry clothing and enjoy some lunch
3pm - Arrive back at road
What you need to bring:
Spare warm clothing (fleece tops are a good idea)
Pair of shorts (to wear over the wetsuit)
Swimsuit (for under the wetsuit)
Waterproof jacket
Towel
Spare footwear
Packed lunch, snacks and water
Any personal medications you may require, including Asthma inhalers
A backpack to put it all in
What to wear:
Comfortable outdoor clothing suitable for the prevailing weather
Sturdy trail shoes / trainers / hiking boots
What we provide:
Helmet
Buoyancy aid
Wetsuit - these are top quality 5mm full length suits that work very well
Group safety equipment to include - group shelter, 1st Aid kit, and any other items the instructor deems necessary for the safety of participants
Jackets
What to leave behind:
Any valuables
Mobile phone
Jewellery
Price:
This is based on number of participants.
£60pp for 4 or more participants
£75pp for 2 participants
Whilst The Lake District has many brilliant gorge scrambles, all are loads of fun. But as with many things, some gorges are better than others. This is highlighted whenever we visit the Esk Gorge over in Eskdale. The Biggest, and The Best!
It's not suitable for a quick trip due to the remote nature of the venue, but if you can spare most of the day, this is 'the' place to be. We've explored many of the Lakeland gorges, and yes many are great. Stickle ghyll and Church beck both being absolutely fantastic and well worth doing, particularly as they can be enjoyed in a morning or afternoon session.
However, for those with a little more time and wishing for a wilderness experience, let us introduce the Esk Gorge.
The approach walk is about 45 minutes of gentle uphill, this keeps the crowds away. The scenery is superb, as pretty as anything in Lakeland. As soon as we arrive, there's an entry jump of about 8ft into deep water. If you were at all sleepy, this just cured that!
And from here on up, it's swim, jump, scramble, jump, swim, scramble and so much more. The surroundings are spectacular, so much so, I find it hard to describe!
With some really high jumps, it can feel quite intimidating for some. Rest assured there are plenty of small and medium height jumps too and so many beautiful pools to swim in, you'll be spoilt for choice.
Example Itinerary:
Meet 9.30am in Eskdale - wetsuits and safety equipment issued
9.45am - walk to starting point
10.30am - have a snack (you'll be needing plenty energy) and change into wetsuits
10.45am - 1st jump!
We spend as much time in the gorge as participants wish. This will be flexible and based on weather conditions and water flow rate. A likely finish time being around 2pm
2pm - Return to dry kit, get changed into dry clothing and enjoy some lunch
3pm - Arrive back at road
What you need to bring:
Spare warm clothing (fleece tops are a good idea)
Pair of shorts (to wear over the wetsuit)
Swimsuit (for under the wetsuit)
Waterproof jacket
Towel
Spare footwear
Packed lunch, snacks and water
Any personal medications you may require, including Asthma inhalers
A backpack to put it all in
What to wear:
Comfortable outdoor clothing suitable for the prevailing weather
Sturdy trail shoes / trainers / hiking boots
What we provide:
Helmet
Buoyancy aid
Wetsuit - these are top quality 5mm full length suits that work very well
Group safety equipment to include - group shelter, 1st Aid kit, and any other items the instructor deems necessary for the safety of participants
Jackets
What to leave behind:
Any valuables
Mobile phone
Jewellery
Price:
This is based on number of participants.
£60pp for 4 or more participants
£75pp for 2 participants
Swimming in the emerald waters of the Esk
Tandem jumps into clear, deep pools
Big waterfalls and big fun in the Esk
