About Me:
I am a Lake District based outdoor instructor with nearly a decade's worth of experience in mountain environments. I have had the privilege of being able to travel and work in some of the world's most beautiful and challenging locations. I have learnt throughout those years that safety and competence is paramount to having an enjoyable day out. Booking a guided walking day with me will ensure you have a wonderful day in the fells, with all the stress taken out of it. I offer walks for all abilities and ages and I pride myself in being able to completely tailor the day to your specific needs.
Activity Options:
Below is an outline of a variety of activities I can offer. A good fitness level is required for all walks listed, however, all activities can be totally customized on request. There are also plenty of walks that aren't mentioned below that can be guided, the best thing to do is just ask. Pricing and optional Add ons are listed below the activites.
Level One:
Perfect for those looking to fill a morning or afternoon with a short walk to some of the Lake District's most picturesque and iconic locations. These low level walks cover a maximum of 12km and last 3-4 hours. All days can be extended into a full day out with a stop off for a pub lunch or an afternoon abseiling or ghyll scrambling (location permitting, information available on request).
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Coniston Quarries (7.5km, 270m elevation)
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Coffin Route & Rydal Caves (9.5km, 230m elevation)
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Elterwater Circular (10km, 310m elevation)
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Buttermere & Scale Force (12km, 275m elevation)
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Airaforce & Gowbarrow (6.5km, 380m elevation)
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Walla Crag (8.5km, 330m elevation)
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Level Two:
All day lower level walks or smaller fells. A good full days introduction to Lakeland hiking. Most walks tackle at least one smaller Wainwright, allowing participants to ease into the hikers lifestyle. Perfect for a family day out in your chosen area of the Lake District. These walks are mostly up to 18km in length with a maximum of 750m elevation gain. The first four routes below would work well with a pub lunch!
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Derwent Water Circular (16km, 200m elevation)
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Elterwater Circular & Hodge Close (14km, 420m elevation)
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Ambleside waterfalls, Wansfell & Troutbeck (13.75km, 700m elevation)
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Rannerdale Knotts, Crummock Water & Scale Force (14km, 484m elevation)
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Raven Crag & High Rigg (12km, 650m elevation)
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Tarn Howes, Black Crag & Hodge Close (15.75km, 530m elevation)
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Castle Crag & Borrowdale Caves (15km, 640m elevation)
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Loughrigg, Silver Howe & Rydal Caves (15.5km, 710m elevation)
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Place Fell (14.5km, 750m elevation)
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Catbells, Maiden Moor, High Spy & Borrowdale Caves (17km, 750m elevation)
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Buttermere, Crummock & Rannerdale Knotts (19.5km, 575m elevation)
Level Three:
The true Lakeland classics. A 5-8 hour day on the fell tops gives you the opportunity to experience the Lake District at it's best. Whether it's a classic horseshoe or a day out Wainwright bagging, a level three walk is for keen hikers. Routes can have up to 1500m of elevation gain and 20km distance covered.
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Langdale Pikes (13km, 1000m elevation)
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Fairfield Horseshoe (17km, 1000m elevation)
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The Old Man of Coniston, Swirl How & Wetherlam (15km, 1100m elevation)
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Helvellyn via the Edges (14km, 1000m elevation)
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Scafell Pike from Seathwaite (15km, 1100m elevation)
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Pike of Blisco, Crinkle Crags & Bowfell (16km, 1250m elevation)
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Kentmere Horseshoe (20km, 1200m elevation)
Level Four:
If you're hoping for a BIG challenge then look no further! The level four walks are extra long, with some offering participants the 'full Wainwrights tick' in various Lakeland regions. It is the perfect adventure for hill going regulars looking to take it up a notch. All routes take 8-12 hours and can be in the region of 20km-35km with most having over 1500m of elevation gain.
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Ullswater Way (32km, 900m elevation)
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Coniston Fells - Full tick (20km, 1500m elevation)
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Langdale Horseshoe (20km, 1800m elevation)
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Ambleside Skyline Challenge 25km, 1600m elevation)
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Ennerdale Giants from Honister (20km, 1900m elevation)
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Scafell Pike - Full tick (21km, 1800m elevation)
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Lakeland 3000s 24h challenge* (73km, 3500m elevation)
*24 hour challenge is an additional cost, please enquire if interested
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Level Five (Mountain Skills):
If you want to feel more confident on the fells we run bespoke navigation training days covering skills from the most basic to Instructor level. Days out are 6 hours long and run on a maximum 1:4 ratio to increase learning opportunities and instructor contact time. No prior experience is needed, however, it helps if all participants have a similar starting competence. The skills covered are listed below. We usually aim to teach and review one of the three sections before moving onto another.
Introductory Skills:
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Types of maps, map scales and symbols
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Six figure grid reference
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Route planning
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Using a compass
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Following features
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Confirming location using features
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Basic contour interpretation
Intermediate Skills:
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Using Timings and Pacings to measure distances
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Relocation techniques
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Low visibility techniques
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Aiming off, Attack points and Back bearings
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Complex contour interpretation
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Naismith's Law
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Using different scale maps
Advanced Skills:
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Night navigation techniques
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Planning multi-day hiking and camping trips
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Confidently identifying micro-features
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Advanced Relocation techniques
Pricings:
Level 1:
1/2 day walk, 3-4 hours. (9:00-13:00 or 14:00-18:00). Participants: 1-5 £120, 6-10 +£10pp
Level 2:
Full day, 5-8 hours. (9:00-17:00). Participants 1-5 £200, 6-10 +£25pp
Level 3:
Full day, 5-8 hours. (9:00-17:00). Participants 1-5 £200, 6-10 +£25pp
Level 4:
Extra long day, 8-12 hours (7:00/8:00-8:00). Participants 1-5 £250, 6-10 +£25pp
Level 5:
Skills day, 6 Hours (9:00-15:00). No Participants 1-4 £240
Add Ons:
Packed Lunch (£10pp): consisting of a Sandwich, Traybake, Crisps & Fruit
1/2 day activity £50pp (Level 1 only): An afternoon spent Ghyll Scrambling or Abseiling
Large booking (10-20 people): £200 extra
Transport to and from activities can be arranged upon request: Cost variable
Multi-day walking and/or camping trips available upon request: Cost variable
Kit List:
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Walking boots
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Suitable walking clothing (Ideally no cotton or jeans)
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Waterproof jacket and trousers
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Rucksack
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Warm layers (hat and gloves preferable)
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Sun hat, glasses and sun cream (if applicable)
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Water bottle (1L minimum but ideally 2L)
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Food for the duration of activity
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Personal medication
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Walking poles (optional)
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Head torch (Level three, four and five)
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Map and compass (Level five)
Booking Request Form*:
*Your booking is not confirmed until you have been contacted by Jake Simpson Guiding to discuss your booking
Terms and Conditions:
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Once a booking has been confirmed with Jake Simpson Guiding you are confirming you have read and agreed to the Terms and Conditions listed below.
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Once booked, you will receive an invoice requesting a bank transfer payment. All payments are to be made in full, within three days of the booking, at which point the booking will be confirmed. Failure to do so will result in the cancellation of your booking. If the booking is made within one week of the activity date then the full payment is due immediately and must clear before the activity can run.
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If payment has been confirmed and you wish to cancel the activity the following policy applies: Cancelling activities over six weeks away from the arranged activity date results in 100% refund, four weeks away results in 50% refund, two weeks away results in 25% refund, less than two weeks 0% refund.
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Activities will run rain or shine, unless severe conditions are forecast. It is up to the guide to make a judgement call on all weather conditions. If conditions are deemed unsafe for the planned activity the following procedure will take place: The client will be contacted with a newly proposed activity, aiming to be in line with the initial booking request as much as possible. If the conditions are so severe that no activity can be run then a 12 month voucher to the value of the booking will be issued and is valid from the day of cancellation for 12 months.
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If an activity is cancelled, Jake Simpson Guiding takes no responsibility for other financial losses (E.g. travel, food, accommodation, fuel). Upon booking we recommend you take out personal cancellation insurance to protect yourself in case you cancel the activity.
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If the group fails to arrive at the designated meeting point and at the agreed time without contacting the guide to explain the delay, then the guide will wait thirty minutes before abandoning the activity. If the guide is contacted before the activity to explain a delay then the activity may be adjusted accordingly to the time remaining, but this is not guaranteed.
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During the activity the guide's decision is final and failure to adhere to safety instructions are done so at the participant's risk. The guide also has the right to exclude participants or cancel the activity if they deem behaviour unsafe. This may include: being intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, having inappropriate kit (all kit needed can be found on the kit list above), being abusive or aggressive to the guide or other members of the group.
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The guide is in place to keep group members safe, however, participants must understand that all activities have inherent risks and could potentially lead to injury or death.
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The guide's responsibilities for the group start at the meeting point and end at the finish point. The guide is not responsible for getting clients to the meeting point or for any onwards travel afterwards, unless agreed prior.
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If a participant wishes to leave the activity part way through, it is done so at their own risk.
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Any personal belongings a participant chooses to bring on an activity is their responsibility, not the guides, and are brought at their own risk. This includes items left in the guide's possession/ vehicle.
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Any media (pictures and videos) taken by the guide during the activity can be used as promotional/ marketing material for the business Jake Simpson Guiding. If participants do not want their pictures taken then please make it clear at the start of the activity.
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All bookings must be made by an adult (18 years old +). Group members under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the full length of the activity. The guide has the right to ask for ID for all adult members to confirm their age before the start of the activity. The guide has the right to cancel the activity if children are not accompanied by adults or if participants' age cannot be proved.
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Information disclosed in the Booking Request Form will only be used to contact you to fully arrange the booking and not sent to a third party.
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When booking you understand that the Terms and Conditions apply to all group members, with all being aware of what is written above.
