Lake District Advice

[PleaseReferToMeAsBritneySpears]

I'm planning a week in the Lake District in October half term, so the last week. We've got accommodation sorted and we'll be happy driving around to explore as we've got eight days.

So! What do we want to see? Kids are teens and early 20s.

We're not experienced hikers. We're comfortable with about five miles usually, but happy to stretch ourselves for a view and we'll have time. We won't want a long hike every day. Are there any amazing spots with a short walk?!

I fancy a canoe on the water but would love to go off (clinging to the shore line) for the day and not be restricted to one hour hire. I'm thinking of buying an inflatable kayak. What would we wear? Regular clothes? Gym gear type stuff? Should we wear life vests? (We're good swimmers, but accidents happen) Will it be too cold to spend long on the water in late October?

Any tips gratefully received. Thank you!

Hope we stay in the canoe then!

[quote Hopeisallineed]@TheCumbrian well, I swim all year round in the lakes and can definitely tell you it’s colder in October than it is in May. Just went for a Dip this morning in Ullswater snd significantly chillier than two weeks ago. I don’t wear a wetsuit but from September onwards always wonder why I don’t.[/quote]
And people die every year in the deep lakes because of the shock of the cold water away from the shallow edge.

God, along with ‘set off up Helvellyn via Striding Edge in October without a second thought’ you can see what makes the Mountain Rescue Annual Report such a gripping read.

(Helvellyn is great, but v different in October to August, it gets dark so much sooner for one thing. It is a tough walk if you are not used to fell walking, there is an obstacle called Bad Step which features heavily in the Patterdale MRT report, and the whole thing should only be done if you start early, have good gear, and can read a map and use a compass. Mist can envelope you in seconds and it is very disorientating).

It is good to do a proper fell walk, though, I think.

Blencathra is good but go nowhere near Sharp Edge until you are more experienced.

Langdale is incredibly beautiful, the walk up to Stickle Tarn / Pavey Ark is good, and you could continue up to Harrison Stickle. Not too long a walk.

Chesters at Skelwith Bridge has fantastic cakes.

'Not that cold' probably means something a bit different to TheCumbrian than to most of us, I think. For reference, leisure pools are usually around 30°C , those used by competitive swimmers about 25° ...which many find quite cool. So ~9° whether in May or October is quite cold for most people.
(I grew up by the North Sea and used to do watersports on/in a pennine reservoir so I'm not a wimp)

Thank you so much. We'll be sure to stay within our capabilities, on water and on land, and respect the power of Mother Nature.

To clarify , the point I was trying to make was that the Lakes aren't some frozen north after the 30th September and it will still be perfectly possible to go out in an inflatable dinghy (if byelaws allow) in October as much as it would be in May.

Someone accused me of lying about the lake water temps in May and Oct being roughly the same... they are.

Would I tell anyone to jump in a lake in either May or October. Not a chance. Wouldn't advise it even in mid summer.

But yes my definition of 'not that cold' probably does differ from others given I work outside in all temps in the lakes all year round.

You have all made me break my cardinal rule of not calling anything other than Bassenthwaite a lake. Shame on you all

Thanks Cumbrian! We'll not expect it to be warm enough for swimming, but hope a wetsuit isn't needed as we intend to stay within the canoe. That's what I needed to know really.

@TheCumbrian do you realise the difference in just 1 degree lower temp? I'm assuming you don't have any experience in having to go out and rescue people in difficulty then. I do. You're very wrong, please stop telling visitors it's ok to just go "wild swimming" or whatever in late October.

Planning to "stay in the canoe" is not good planning.

"hope a wetsuit isn't needed as we intend to stay within the canoe. That's what I needed to know really."

That's like standing on a train track as a train comes hurtling towards you and saying "we intend to jump off the tracks at the last minute". Crazy.

And I have first hand daily experience of this kind of thing. Please don't do it.

I just mean we won't be swimming. Can you hire canoes or rowing boats all year round? Does everybody wear wet suits?

No they don't. People who don't regularly go on the water tend to avoid the winter months.

Many hire companies will be wrapping up for the end of season because it's too cold then.

You said you wanted to go it alone and as someone who is involved in water rescues I'd really ask you not to! Go with a company, yes. Alone, no.

Of all the things @TheCumbrian has said to you, for your visit in late October this is the single one thing you should listen to...

"Would I tell anyone to jump in a lake in either May or October. Not a chance. Wouldn't advise it even in mid summer."

Ok thank you

Surprise View is my suggestion.

@PleaseReferToMeAsBritneySpears

I just mean we won't be swimming. Can you hire canoes or rowing boats all year round? Does everybody wear wet suits?

I'd have thought you could get a rowing boat and probably a Canadian canoe in the October half term. Rowing boats you usually get into off some sort of jetty so you shouldn't get wet at all (unless someone is a really splashy rower!). You're unlikely to fall in unless you're being daft. Canadian canoes - similar but often you get in and out on a beach so at least one person may get wet feet.

I've never seen anyone in a wetsuit in either of those. It's the inflatables which are a different matter - very low to the water, less stable, everyone gets at least wet feet, probably a wet bottom, and there is the possibility of a leak. They're fun in warm weather on calm water in low wind but I wouldn't invest in one (or two) for an October break.

There’s a huge difference in a few degrees of water temperature and if you are not used to those temperatures and are not acclimatised then that’s where there are problems. ‘Working outside’ in Cumbria is massively different than swimming in a huge body of water. Also depends on the wind chill factor and weather too so swimming in summer on a lovely hot day is very different. Defy would 100% recommend a wetsuit, if you fall in/capsize OP, the shock of the cold water without one can be serious, especially if you are not used to it. Even with one it will be bloody cold. Hiring one will not cost much.

Ok thank you so much.

Loads of great advice on here which is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you everybody.

@PleaseReferToMeAsBritneySpears have a wonderful time and just wanted to second ‘surprise view’ it’s a winner, then follow the road to watendlath. Little tearoom there and nice walks, plus it’s like a hidden valley lost in time!

Sounds exciting! Will pop it on the list!

St Patrick’s Landing, Glenridding, on Ullswater, hire the Canadian type canoes and operate in October www.stpatricksboatlanding.co.uk/

Haystacks from Gatesgarth is a good walk, beautiful views over Buttermere.

Currently in the Lakes with a 13 year old. We did Catbells summit and to be honest I found this pretty challenging but then again I'm not that fit. We walked 38000 steps that day and as I've an office job I'm just not used to it. Views were amazing but if you do it ensure you have correct footwear etc as there is a bit of rock scrambling required near the top.

Lakeland Segway is really great fun, we did that and all enjoyed it. It's on Cartmel racecourse.

Don't forget to get Cartmel sticky toffee pudding while you're there!

38,000 steps? Wowzers!

Thanks. Better check DS13's boots. He's growing a mile a minute these days!

@PleaseReferToMeAsBritneySpears

38,000 steps? Wowzers!

Thanks. Better check DS13's boots. He's growing a mile a minute these days!

That wasn't just catbells to be fair 😂. We walked into town and back for dinner as well on top which is a good hour. I could hardly move the next day. 😂

😅