Happy faces on the journey through the gorge
Stoneycroft Ghyll - Best Gorge in the Keswick area
It wasn’t without a little surprise when recently we took a booking for Stoneycroft Ghyll, for mid-February!! My first thoughts were, no, this is still too early in the year for this venue. The weather forecast brought about a change in my mind and I re-connected with our potential clients, suggesting that actually we can offer this. Temperatures were rising rapidly and the forecast was for a sunny day.
That’s it then, we’re on.
I packed additional kit to help keep everyone warm.
Having only just returned from a winter in southern Spain I was as concerned for myself as anyone else. Newlands valley has quite a different climate than Costa Blanca and I’d become all too used to 20’C and sun. I was also unaware as to how much rain there had been over recent days, turns out rather a lot. This means lots of water draining off the mountains and filling the gorges.
Big fun in Stoneycroft Ghyll
Sure enough, Stoneycroft Ghyll was very full. This is going to be an exciting one huh. We sent everyone down the first slide and that’s a head under experience for everyone, so if not awake already they are now. And straight into the second slide, it’s like a water park on steroids this place, utterly brilliant.
As we were a large group, 16 of us in total, and slides can only be done one at a time, our progress downstream was pretty sedate, although the experience was anything but. Quite a ‘full-on’ trip. So we made the most out of every slide and had our grand finale at the BIG slide. Another head under moment followed by a swim.
By now we were all starting to feel the effects of cold water immersion in the middle of winter. The well fitting 5mm wetsuits from Lomo were doing their job well, but it was time to get out whilst we were all still comfortable and smiling. So it was to be a bit of family fun in the big pool and a happy smiley photo with the mountains as backdrop before we made good our escape.
A short and sunny walk back to the roadside and a quick change into waiting dry clothing, easy.
The second slide in Stoneycroft Ghyll
Knowing the venues we work at as well as we do means we give ourselves more options to be flexible to ensure our clients have a wonderful and unforgettable experience that is completely tailored for them. On this occasion it meant we knew exactly where to finish to make for a perfect experience that was satisfying for all, pushed everyone from their comfort zones, but kept the focus on fun all the way. Remember, it’s not how much you do or how challenging, but how much fun you have. That’s the key.
The afternoon for me was then spent on the mundane task of sorting lots of wet kit and trying to clean and dry 15 wetsuits etc. And for Kat, who had been running the session with me, it was off to Whinlatter for some biking with her family.
Stoneycroft Ghyll - I’d say is the best gorge scramble in the Keswick area by a mile. For an all adult group, a family with children, or a mix of all ages and abilities, Stoneycroft Ghyll fits the bill so well. And as we learned this last week, it is even an option for the colder months of the year, although may I recommend you consider this a venue that’s more ideal from April through to October.
Thanks for reading
Mark
We made it - good times