Feral Fathers Lake District Hiking Trip
Chris Packe
A summary
An immersive few days deep in the gorgeous mountains of the Lake District, my second home.
Walk some of the best routes, sleep in some of the best wild spots.
Trip runs from Weds 4th August (meeting in Cumbria at 4-6pm) until Sunday 8th August (on your way home by c.1pm).
Travel with your son or daughter, and a tight fellowship of other dads and teens, with everything you need on your back, and nothing else but the path ahead of you.
This is Feral Fathers taken to the next level.
Have a memorable adventure together, and also pick up all the tips and confidence you need to have your own trips.
Group size: 12 people, 6 dads, 6 children - one child per dad.
WHAT HAPPENS:
Day 1 (Wednesday): Travel up and meet by around dinnertime in a Cumbria youth hostel (precise one tbc), where we stay the first night.
Days 2-4 (Thursday – Saturday): Walk an epic route through the valleys, peaks and ridges of the park, sleeping out in tents for 2 nights, and ending up on Saturday night at another Cumbria youth hostel for a well-earned bit of comfort.
Day 5 (Sunday): Hike back to civilisation and where car are parked / train station. Heading home by 1pm latest.
You’ll carry everything you need on your back. I’ll teach you all you need to know, if you don’t know already. And you’ll discover what happens when you strip away everything except the essentials: exploring, camping, being together.
TRAVEL:
Train (into Windermere via Euston & Oxenholme) with connecting buses is a very viable way to travel (and my personal preference). Car travel is also possible, and suggestions can be provided for places to leave the car.
WHO IT'S FOR:
This expedition is for dads and kids aged 13/14+, although 12 years is possible if they are capable of walking some uphill with a full backpack on.
You don't need mountaineering experience or ultra-marathon fitness. But you do need:
- To be comfortable carrying a backpack for several hours
- Reasonable fitness (able to hike 10-15km over hilly terrain)
- No medical conditions or injuries that would make multi-day hiking inadvisable
- A sense of adventure and willingness to be uncomfortable occasionally (and delighted frequently)
Perfect for:
- Families who've done the Dartmoor trip
- Dads and teenagers looking for an epic experience and a solid challenge together
- Anyone who wants to experience multi-day hiking and wild camping but hasn't done it before
- Excellent Duke of Edinburgh Gold or Silver experience... but with your dad!
See more at www.feralfathers.co.uk
Tickets
Adult ticket
Child ticket
Adult ticket
Child ticket
FAQs
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What equipment do I need?
You'll need hiking gear: backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, waterproofs, walking boots, and suitable layered clothing. I'll send a detailed kit list once you're booked, and I'm happy to advise on what to buy/borrow.
For sleeping, we'll be wild camping in tents, which I can provide, or you can bring your own if it is appropriately lightweight but sturdy.
All cooking equipment and food is provided. You can bring extra snacks, but more snacks = more weight!
Full details on kit and logistics will be provided after booking. -
What might we learn?
As well as doing this for the sake of having a great adventure together, the other aim is that you will feel more confident and able to go on your own trips.
Hillcraft involves lots of subtle skills: what to pack and what not to pack, what to wear, how and what to cook, where to sleep (and where not to!), how wild camping is acceptable, map reading and route-choosing and -finding skills, reading the weather, dealing with the elements, managing your energy...
A little bit of knowledge goes a long way - you'll be surprised how much you pick up, simply by participating. -
Will we be in good hands?
Yes. Chris is a qualified Mountain Leader, and is licensed by AALA (the Adventurous Activities Licensing Authority) to provide hiking trips. This means he has attained a high bar of standards and has been fully inspected by a government authority.
In practice, Chris has led numerous expeditions over the last 10 years, in Dartmoor, Peak District, Lake District and Snowdonia.
He is also DBS checked and has an Outdoor First Aid certificate. -
Can we do this if we haven't done Feral Fathers woodland weekends?
Yes. Woodland weekends are a great introduction to what I do, but they're not a prerequisite. If you're comfortable outdoors and up for the physical challenge, you're welcome. -
What if the weather is terrible?
Overnight expeditions can be wild. That's part of the appeal. We go unless conditions are genuinely dangerous (which is rare - and hasn't happened yet).
Bring good waterproofs and the right mindset - I have found it repeatedly to be true that "bad" weather makes the experience more memorable and exciting.
In practice, after many nights sleeping out in Dartmoor, Peak District, Snowdonia and Lake District, if there's rain, it usually comes in manageable bursts. Dealing with it is part of the useful skill set you will build. -
What about food?
All meals are provided and cooked by the group together. Hearty, simple food that tastes incredible after a day on the moors. Meals will cater to any dietary requirements.
Cooking on the hill is another useful skill to pick up, and at the base camp, the meals provided will be hearty and delicious, to the same standard as the much-moved Feral Fathers woodland meals. -
What if my child is nervous?
The age group is 13+. I have guided many 13 year olds and over across Lake District mountains, and they often surprise themselves, as log as they have a base level of ability to carry a load, and a positive attitude. The group dynamic helps enormously - watching other kids (and dads) tackle something difficult gives everyone confidence, and there's a healthy 'wolf pack' mentality of helping each other when needed.
If you're unsure, get in touch (using the Contact Mentor button, or via www.feralfathers.co.uk) for a conversation. -
Do we carry everything ourselves?
Yes. That's wild camping - you're self-sufficient. But we're not trying to break records. We keep pack weight reasonable, take our time, and make it achievable for everyone.
About your mentor
Chris Packe
Chris Packe
Find out lots at www.chrispacke.com. Chris spent 15 years in investment banking, followed by 15 years in the woods and mountains. He is particularly fired up by running events and programmes that relate to men / fathers, and to teenagers. This comes to life as nature-based youth mentoring programmes – year courses for teens such as Wolf Pack for Boys and for Girls (13-15 years) and Call to Adventure (boys aged 11-13 years), as well as Feral Fathers (feisty weekend events for fathers and sons / daughters) and convening a monthly men’s fire circle (since 2015). In addition, he does work that is variously described as coaching, mentoring and guiding (he is a qualified mountain leader, and an archery instructor), and also sketch comedy, writing, cartooning and songwriting. Chris also finds himself owning a piece of woodland - a place to work, experiment and often to just go to alone and sleep in. He lives in Forest Row and has two children.
Learning aims
Aim 1
Aim 2
Aim 3
Location
What's provided
Safety
Enhanced DBS
Basic DBS
Risk Assessment
Public Liability Insurance
Safeguarding Training
First Aid Training
First Aid Kit
Smoke Detector
Please note:
It is the responsibility of the booker to satisfy themselves about the adequacy of the measures provided above and any other details represented in this listing. This platform is merely an introducer and does not verify the items listed.
Cancellation policy
Cancellations near to the event date cause problems, because people generally book their summer activities early, and if participants drop out, the place cannot usually be filled. Therefore, refunds cannot be offered for cancellations made within 3 months of the event date. Efforts will be made by the Provider to find replacements from the wait list if possible, in which case money can be reimbursed.
My experience consists of a leisure activity, on a specific date(s), and therefore the 14-day ‘cooling off period’ under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 does not apply.
