Weekend On The Slopes Of Skiddaw
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At 1550ft above sea level, Skiddaw House is the highest hostel in Britain. It was built around 1829 as a 'Keeper's lodge' and grouse shooting base for George Wyndham, the third Earl of Egremont. The building was originally divided into two separate dwellings; one side for the gamekeeper and his family and the other for a shepherd's family. The Earl and his shooting parties also had a few rooms to stay in when they came to visit. In 1986 the two dwellings were converted into the hostel it is today.
Skiddaw House operated as a youth hostel from 1987 until 2002, when it closed and began to fall into disrepair again. But with the help of the previous hostel manager, many volunteers and the Skiddaw House Foundation, the hostel was renovated and reopened in 2007. The building retains many original features, which combined with its interesting history and remote location make the hostel a unique place to stay.
One of the great features of Skiddaw House is its remote location, offering stunning views of the surrounding Lakeland fells. This venue is an OutdoorLads favourite and is truly special, right from the moment you park up you'll understand why this is so glorious!
However, the remote nature of the hostel means it is lacking the mod cons we may be used to, such as heating. Don't panic, there are a number of open fires throughout the building which helps keep it warm, but the bedrooms do not have any heating. Full bedding of 15tog duvets and pillow are provided but some may prefer to pack their own sleeping bag. Boots are also not allowed to be worn inside so we recommend packing slippers too!
Itinerary
Friday Afternoon/Evening - Arrive at the car park for 2:30pm, meet the rest of the group and we will hike up to the hostel together, sharing the load of weekend food supply bags. Please have your head torch handy in case we start to lose the light! Once we have arrived and found our beds, there will be a briefing and we'll have the usual OutdoorLads buffet so please bring something that can be shared between two people (doesn't need to be complicated).
(Important note: You need to plan to be there at 2:30pm as we will then hike in together. We won't have scope to come back for stragglers and there is no phone signal at the car park. If you know you won't be able to meet at 2:30pm, please message the event leader before you book to discuss any other possibilities.)
Saturday Day - A simple breakfast will be available. The main activity will be mountain walks (how many options we can offer depends on how many other mountain leaders book on). With hits like Skiddaw and Blencathra on our doorstep there are excellent options all around.
Saturday Evening - Pop your feet up and unwind from the days activities. We will be putting together a two course meal (main and dessert) to warm you all up again, followed by some games and good laughs. While the hostel has a few, if you have a favourite travel size board/card game why not bring it?
Sunday - Breakfast is provided once more then we'll all band together to tidy and clean up the hostel to how we found it (takes no time at all with so many) before we need to vacate by 11am. Once done we will take everything we brought back to the car park and then people might want to head home, into Keswick for an afternoon touristing, or if there is the demand there could be another walk offered.
Other information
Beds: There are two double beds in the hostel (not in private rooms sorry!). Please let the leader know when you book if you are coming with a partner or friend you are happy to share a bed with, so that we can enable as many people as possible to join this weekend.
Dogs: Sorry, this event is not suitable for dogs.
Skiddaw House requires a 1 hour hike to access it from the car park. To ensure everyone arrives safely we ask that all attendees meet at the car park for 2:30pm Friday so that we can hike up together. You will need to carry everything you need for the weekend including food and drink, in one trip - so pack light!
Photos: Provided by event leader Neil (pacer142) with permission for use.
What to bring
Hostel Kit:
Bedding: Bedding is provided (15tog duvet and pillow) but some might prefer the comfort of their own sleeping bag
Wash kit: remember to include a towel, shower gel and shampoo
Earplugs: for the shared sleeping arrangements
Slippers or similar: Unusual for hostels, but there's a No Boots Inside rule at Skiddaw House and the floor is quite cold, so some thick warm socks or slippers will keep you comfy
Power bank: The hostel doesn't have mains electricity so if you want to charge your phone a power bank is a good idea, though I recall there being a few USB charging sockets they can't be guaranteed to work or be available!
Mountain Walking Kit:
Water: bring plenty of water (~2 Litres) - there is a drinkable tap at the hostel but you may want some for the walk in!
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: ideally designed for hiking. Fell/trail running shoes with decent grips also OK but not your best white trainers!
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket and trousers: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Pole(s): some people swear by these, some at them - if you like using them make sure you bring some, they can be particularly helpful on descent
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch
Flask: it's going to be cold so a hot drink can be nice to warm up while on the hill!
Head torch (fully charged): days are quite short in November so it's quite possible the last leg to / back to the hostel might be getting dark, and it'll be handy to move around the hostel at night too
Emergency equipment: the walk leader will bring any emergency equipment required for the group, but you are welcome to bring any that you have, such as additional high energy food, a survival bag, a whistle, a medical kit, a torch and something to make fire (either storm proof matches or a firelighter
Map and compass: the walk leader will have these, but if you like map reading or want to develop your skills, bring yours along
Food & drink
Friday evening buffet
Please bring something suitable for the 'Friday Buffet' - bring along an item that can feed 1-2 people, ideally ready to be served cold as oven space is quite limited. Please be creative and remember not everyone is a carnivore, and we'd ideally like to avoid 18 quiches or pizzas! :)
Saturday and Sunday breakfasts
A buffet breakfast will be provided including tea, coffee, juice, fruit, cereals and toast.
Lunches
Please make your own arrangements for lunch - note that there is no actual fridge as the hostel does not have mains electricity, though there is a room that is fairly cold most of the time (particularly overnight) in which things can be stored.
Saturday and Sunday dinner
A 2 course (main and dessert) dinner will be provided on Saturday evening. Please make sure your dietary requirements are up to date on your profile so we can make sure they are catered for, and give me a message if there's anything specific we need to know about that doesn't fit on there.
Drinks
Tea and Coffee: Will be provided throughout the weekend.
Other drinks and snacks: Please bring your own. Remember you're bringing everything on your back so choose wisely and sparingly. There is a small shop run by the hostel manager with a variety of drinks ("a large selection of local ales, plus cider, lager, wines and whisky") and snacks available for purchase FOR CASH ONLY.