Search

Recent Posts

The Skirrid, Sugar Loaf & Blorenge Circular

Recent Comments

No comments to show.

Hiking & wild camping

admin

23 May 2026

Share:

Inspiration for UK-based adventures, routes, guides & tips

admin

Hard Knott / 16.8km / 3 Wainwrights Good morning

Hard Knott / 16.8km / 3 WainwrightsGood morning hikers, @weekend_hiker here with a quieter one in the Lake District for you today. If you’re looking for somewhere slightly wilder, away from the masses then this is the hike for you. There’s also a Roman fort very close to the start if you like your history and fancy a bit of an explore. The Eskdale Needle is also nearby.Two notes of caution: the Hard Knott pass can be a challenge to drive on, particularly in winter when there is ice and snow, and take care if you’re threading the Eskdale Needle - it’s not for the faint of heart!👣 Trail details: Hard Knott (549m), Eskdale Needle, Harter Fell (649m), Green Crag (489m) 👣 16.8km ⌚️ 6-7 hours 📈 1,140m🚗 Parking: Either by the Hard Knott Roman fort (approximate postcode is CA19 1TH) or a little further down the Hard Knott Pass by Jubilee Bridge.#lakedistrict #wainwright #hiking

The Castlerigg Stone Circle & High Rigg Circular /

The Castlerigg Stone Circle & High Rigg Circular / 8.5kmGood morning hikers, @weekend_hiker back with a beautiful Lake District loop situated close to Keswick. If you’re short on time, need to give your legs a rest from claiming all those peaks or just fancy seeing something a little different, then you should definitely make time to check out this stone circle. This route also includes one Wainwright fell: High Rigg.The Castlerigg stone circle is one of Britain’s most popular stone circles and, given its incredible location, it’s not hard to see why. Surrounded by views of Wainwright fells including Blencathra, Skiddaw and Catbells, it is estimated to be about 5,000 years old.You can reach it on foot from Keswick town centre in about 30 minutes, taking the 73/73A bus from Keswick or parking up at CA12 4RN (W3W ///stadium.tweezers.tries).8.5km / 325m ascent / 3 hours#stonecircle #sunrise #lakedistrict

The Buttermere Marathon: an epic hike / 29.6km / 7

The Buttermere Marathon: an epic hike / 29.6km / 7 WainwrightsGood morning hikers, @weekend_hiker here and we’re heading to a beautiful part of the Lake District. Fancy a full-on day hike with multiple options for shortening it, depending on how you get on? Then you have to check out this hike - it’s a high-level route (for the large part) around the gorgeous Buttermere.This route will take you to Innominate Tarn. Originally known as Loaf Tarn, due to the clumps of peat in it resembling risen bread, most people did not know its name so it became known as the nameless or Innominate Tarn. Alfred Wainwright’s ashes were scattered here.👣 Trail details: The Buttermere Marathon hike traverses the fells in this order: Fleetwith Pike (648m), Haystacks (597m), High Crag (744m), High Stile (807m), Red Pike (755m), Starling Dodd (633m), Great Borne (616m) ⌚️ 11-12 hours 📈 1,618m⁠🚗 Parking: Gatesgarth car park (postcode CA13 9XA) will get you closest to the first fell - Fleetwith Pike.#lakedistrict #lakedistrictnationalpark #hike

The Langdale Pikes / 26.7km / 13 Wainwrights Good

The Langdale Pikes / 26.7km / 13 WainwrightsGood morning, @weekend_hiker here sharing a stunning hike in the Lake District. This one is perfect for a big day hike or if you’re looking for a 2-day adventure you can break up with a camp in the middle. Hiking past Stickle Tarn always reminds me how stunning this part of the Lakes is.Widely considered to be one of the best known mountain groups in the Lake District, the Langdale Pikes is made up of 3 Wainwright fells: Harrison Stickle (736m), Pike of Stickle (709m) and Loft Crag (682m). Taking on the Grasmere/Greenburn Tour, Harrison Stickle is the first of the three reached and its far reaching views are impressive.👣 Trail details: The Grasmere/Greenburn Tour will take you to Silver How (395m), Blea Rigg (541m), Pavey Ark (700m), Harrison Stickle (736m), Loft Crag (682m), Pike of Stickle (709m), Thunacar Knott (723m), High Raise (762m), Sergeant Man (736m), Tarn Crag (551m), Calf Crag (537m), Gibson Knott (422m), Helm Crag (405m) 👣 26.7km ⌚️ 10-11 hours 📈 1,542m🚗 Parking: Park up at Broadgate Meadow in Grasmere (postcode LA22 9TA). Alternatively, the Stickle Ghyll car park (postcode LA22 9JU) is located nearby.#lakedistrict #lakedistrictnationalpark #hiking

The Greater Fairfield horseshoe / 19.6km / 6-7 hou

The Greater Fairfield horseshoe / 19.6km / 6-7 hoursGood morning, @weekend_hiker here, taking you to the Lake District for a classic hike. If you’re looking for a belter of a Lake District hike taking in 2 fine ridges and chaining 9 Wainwright fells, then look no further! The slightly longer version of the Fairfield horseshoe will reward you with some incredible views.You can hike it in either direction, starting at Rydal and going clockwise or at Ambleside and going anti-clockwise. I tend to hike it from Rydal and Nab Scar (455m) will be the first fell you encounter.👣 Trail details: Starting at Rydal Mount, you’ll want to traverse the fells in this order: Nab Scar (455m), Heron Pike (612m), Stone Arthur (503m), Great Rigg (766m), Fairfield (873m), Hart Crag (822m), Dove Crag (792m), High Pike (658m) and Low Pike (508m) 👣 19.6km ⌚️ 6-7 hours 📈 1,187m🚗 Parking: Park in the Pelter Bridge car park (postcode LA22 9LW) about 500m away.#lakedistrict #hike #ukhikers

The Rydal loop / 9.8km / 2-3 hours Good morning h

The Rydal loop / 9.8km / 2-3 hoursGood morning hikers, @weekend_hiker here with your Saturday dose of hiking inspiration in the Lake District.Nestled in a beautiful part of the Lakes, this is one of my favourite shorter hikes and has a little bit of everything. If its caves, views, woodland, a Wainwright fell with trig point and a grotto you’d like to see, then look no further - this is the hike you have been looking for! This route is perfect if you’re short on time or if you’re looking to justify a hearty pub lunch.Captured are Rydal Caves and the Grot:- Rydal Caves was created by 19th century slate mining, much of that slate was used to roof the various buildings in nearby villages and towns, such as Ambleside.- The grotto at Rydal Hall was built in 1668 by Sir Daniel Fleming who referred to it affectionately as the “Grot”. It is unique as it is Britain’s earliest known purpose-built viewing station. Visitors were led along a route so that the waterfall, Low Falls, was not visible until the door was opened, revealing it, perfectly framed through the window.👣 Trail details: Rydal Water, Rydal Caves, Loughrigg Fell (335m), Grasmere, Rydal Mount, Rydal Hall 👣 9.8km ⌚️ 2-3 hours 📈 456m🚗 Parking: Park at Pelter Bridge car park (postcode LA22 9LW) or further away at the car park in Ambleside (postcode LA22 9AN).✍️ Tips: If the weather is too brutal, you can reduce the elevation gain and duration of this hike by cutting out Loughrigg Fell and carrying along past the caves instead.#lakedistrict #hiking #hike

Wild camping on Helvellyn: England’s third highest

Wild camping on Helvellyn: England’s third highest peak ⛺️Following good wild camping etiquette and leaving no trace is both vital and respectful to the landscape and others. This means pitching late, packing up early, leaving no trace, keeping group numbers small and ideally to 1-2 tents, pitching out of sight and remotely.If you’re interested in going for a wild camp in the Lake District, the Lake District National Park authority has their wild camping guidelines on their website.#lakedistrict #wildcamping #wildcamp

Have you hiked to Thor’s Cave in the Peak District

Have you hiked to Thor’s Cave in the Peak District?Only a short hike from the car park, you’ll want to make sure you get there early to beat the crowds. There is an option to extend this hike into a loop and take in Wetton Hill and Ecton Hill which totals 11.5km and 390m elevation taking around 3 hours.Formed over thousands of years by water and wind erosion, some claim that the name originates from a corruption of ‘tors’ (meaning hills), whereas others believe that it comes from Thor, the Norse god of thunder. The rocks are limestone, formed from layers of dead marine animals between 280-360 million years ago. During this time, the area where Thor’s Cave now stands was south of the equator and was submerged under a warm, shallow sea. You can also see Chrome Hill (Dragon’s Back) from the entrance of the cave too. It’s an awesome place to explore.📍Thor’s Cave, Peak District (postcode DE6 2AG)🚗 Parking: Park up near the Wetton Mill tea room (postcode DE6 2AG). Please note that the tea room car park is for paying customers only but there is another parking area on the other side of the bridge.✍️ Tips: The tea room is great for stocking up on snacks before heading off on your hike - they make fresh sandwiches too! When heading into Thor’s Cave, the rock can be very slippery so boots with decent grip and staying close to the wall is highly recommended#peakdistrict #peakdistrictnationalpark #letsgopeakdistrict #visitpeakdistrict #cave

Hall’s Fell Ridge to Blencathra / 2 hours Good mo

Hall’s Fell Ridge to Blencathra / 2 hoursGood morning hikers, @weekend_hiker here taking you to the Lake District, along one of Blencathra’s awesome ridges. If you’re looking to get into scrambling then Hall’s Fell Ridge is the perfect introduction.Starting in Threlkeld (car park postcode CA12 4SG), the route will take you 1.5 hours with almost 700m ascent over 1.5-2 hours. The ridge will take you to the summit of Blencathra (868m) and the donut shaped trig point. Don’t forget to look back - the views are breathtaking.A note of caution: despite being an easier scramble, the top of Hall’s Fell Ridge is classed as a grade 1 scramble and can be slippery when wet. Make sure you’re wearing grippy shoes and are always maintaining 3 points of contact.#lakedistrict #lakedistrictnationalpark #hiking #ukhikers #hikersofinstagram

Striding Edge: the most exciting way to Helvellyn,

Striding Edge: the most exciting way to Helvellyn, England’s third highest mountain ⛰️This 13km loop starts in Glenridding in the Lake District. Generally considered a highly challenging route, it should be attempted only by experienced hikers. It has 900m elevation and takes around 5 hours to complete.Park up at Glenridding car park (postcode CA11 0PD). Head up hill, past the Traveller’s Rest pub on your right hand side and take the left fork to ascend Birkhouse Moor (718m). Hike towards the Hole-in-the-wall and then on to Striding Edge, a grade 1 scramble. Traverse Striding Edge and enjoy the summit of Helvellyn (950m), England’s 3rd highest mountain.Look to your right for Swirral Edge, your next grade 1 scramble. Once on Swirral Edge, take the path to your right down to Red Tarn (rather than continuing ahead to Catstye Cam). When at the lake, take the left path and follow it for about 3km until you reach a small wooden bridge over the stream. Cross the bridge and turn right. In about 2.5km, you will return to the Traveller’s Rest, this time on your left.#helvellyn #stridingedge #lakedistrict #cumbria #thelakes

The Nantlle Ridge / 17.1km / 5-8 hours 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Go

The Nantlle Ridge / 17.1km / 5-8 hours 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿Good morning, @weekend_hiker here with some footage of last week’s beautiful hike in Snowdonia. The Nantlle Ridge Traverse is a one-way day hike involving some easy scrambling. After a steep first ascent, you can expect dramatic scenery, no crowds and a great sense of achievement as you conquer all 7 summits.This hike was quiet and stunning. A beautiful day hike and one I will definitely be repeating in summer. The route finishes in the village of Nebo and, as it is a one-way hike, the easiest way back is by taxi (cost was £30) if you are solo hiking. Alternatively, you can take a bus to Caernarfon and then the Sherpa bus back to the Rhyd-Ddu car park.👣 Trail details: Starting at the Rhyd-Ddu station car park, Y Garn (633m), Mynydd Drws-y-Coed (695m), Trum y Ddysgl (709m), Mynydd Tal-y-Mignedd (653m), Craig Cwm Silyn (734m), Garnedd Goch (701m), Mynydd Graig Goch (610m) 👣 17.1km ⌚️ 5-8hours 📈 1,236m🚗 Parking: The Rhyd-Ddu station car park (postcode LL54 6TN) costs £6 for the day, has toilets and 50 spaces. It is also the starting point for the quieter Rhyd Ddu path up Snowdon, so expect it to fill up by 9am on weekends.#snowdonia #eryri #hiking

The Nantlle Ridge Traverse, Snowdonia / 17.1km / 5

The Nantlle Ridge Traverse, Snowdonia / 17.1km / 5-8 hours. The Nantlle Ridge Traverse is a one-way day hike involving some easy scrambling.After a steep first ascent, you can expect dramatic scenery, no crowds and a great sense of achievement as you conquer all 7 summits. The route finishes in the village of Nebo and, as it is a one-way hike, the quickest and easiest way back is by taxi (cost was £30) if you are solo hiking. Alternatively, a bus to Caernarfon followed by the Sherpa bus will take you back to the car park at Rhyd-Ddu.I used the GO Ultra camera from @insta360 for shooting the ground POV and vlog footage on this hike.👣 Trail details: Starting at the Rhyd-Ddu station car park, Y Garn (633m), Mynydd Drws-y-Coed (695m), Trum y Ddysgl (709m), Mynydd Tal-y-Mignedd (653m), Craig Cwm Silyn (734m), Garnedd Goch (701m), Mynydd Graig Goch (610m) 👣 17.1km ⌚️ 5-8hours 📈 1,236m🚗 Parking: The Rhyd-Ddu station car park (postcode LL54 6TN) costs £6 for the day, has toilets and 50 spaces. It is also the starting point for the quieter Rhyd Ddu path up Snowdon, so expect it to fill up by 9am on weekends.#snowdonia #eryri #hiking

Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2026 Weekend Hiker

Designed by WPZOOM