Pick the walk that’s best for you!

If you’re a ‘Wainwright Bagger’, you’ll be ticking off the 214 beautiful fells included in the great man’s famous guidebooks. 

But the fact all 214 are included in these remarkable ‘love letters’ with their hand illustrations and precise script, is pretty well where their similarity ends. Some are small, some are big; some are steep and scrambly while some are grassy and rolling; some have clear paths and some need some proper navigation.

And that’s why The 214 Club is just what you need. We’ll be working steadily through the 214, guiding you on some multi-fell walks to maximise your bagging rate, and lending a very experienced helping hand on some of the trickier summits.

But this isn’t a bootcamp approach to ticking them off. We enjoy these fells as much as Wainwright himself did. We take our time, and limit the size of our groups, so we can help people of all abilities enjoy their trips to the trigs!

Whether you’re just starting out, or plugging the last few you need to join the elite club of 214 Completers, keep an eye on our events calendar for our planned Wainwrights. Follow us on social media, too, for any last-minute additions when the weather forecast is just too good to waste!

All abilities.

No age limits.

These are the walks everyone talks about – for very good reason! There’s a huge sense of achievement to be found at the top of Scafell Pike or at the end of the Fairfield Horseshoe, for example.

But we know that for many people they seem out of reach. Too big, too complicated, too tough.

But here’s the simple truth – you don’t need to be super-fit, or fast, or skilled at navigation. You just need to walk with a supportive group, where we don’t rush or set time targets or point fingers. We take our time, help each other and enjoy ourselves.

So if you’ve ever thought about the big beasts and thought you couldn’t climb them, these guided walks are just what you need.

These are really popular walks, so keep an eye on our events schedule.

All abilities.

No age limits.

Who says you need to go high for beautiful surroundings and views?

Obviously, we love being up in the clouds – but we also know there are some stunning walks to be enjoyed in the valleys. Crags and scrambles and steep stuff isn’t for everyone, but the Lake District still has a lot to offer.

(And let’s be honest, we get some wild weather in the Lakes and there are days when it’s safer and easier to stay low, while still getting out and about.)

These are relatively flat walks full of miles, stiles and smiles all round. And low level walks are a wonderful way to see and admire the fells from a different angle.

Check our events schedule, and keep an eye on social media too for new additions.

All abilities.

No age limits.

Hills and Skills exists today because of the fell-climbing adventures of a mother and toddler over the last few years. We know what we’re doing when it comes to making the fells fun for children.

Frankie (co-founder of Hills and Skills) was three when he climbed his first Lakeland fell with mum Basia. He’s been mad for them since, and is more than halfway through his Wainwright bagging at the age of just six.

Children join us on any of our walks, and we are known for our family walking experiences. But Little Legs walks are specially designed for our younger hikers, not least those who are new to the fells. 

Expect handpicked routes, slow pace, lots of stops to investigate nature’s treasures, and plenty of breaks for rest and refreshment. We even supply stickers and certificates to add to the sense of achievement that builds children’s curiosity and confidence for life.

All abilities.

Ages 3 – 12.

Is there anything more stimulating than the colours, sounds and textures of nature? Why not set some healthy habits early on, for you and for baby, with our parent/baby group walks?

Of course, there’s no reason why you and your baby couldn’t join us on any of our walks, but if you fancy combining a fabulous fell walk with a parent/baby social get-together, these events are perfect for your little one’s development and your wellbeing.

Now, we know that walking with a baby comes with some considerations, and we’ve got you covered. Most important is safety, and our Baby Social walks are very carefully chosen to eliminate risk. No drops, crags or scrambling!

And we know that walking with your baby in bad weather is unlikely to feel like fun (for you or for them), so Baby Social walks will be mostly available at short notice, in keeping with weather forecasts. Keep an eye on our events schedule and our social media!

All abilities.

Babies from newborn to 3 years.

Our fur babies are as important on our walks as our younger family members – and they need to socialise and exercise in the fresh air at least as much as we do.

Well-behaved dogs are welcome on all our walks, but we also have some dog-specific walks that take account of things like crags and drops, scrambles and stiles.

So if your pooch would like a few pals to run around with, while you walk and chat with their humans, check out our Four Legged Friends walks. On hand to help will be Cadi, the gentle border collie in charge of biscuits and ear scratches here at Hills and Skills.

Check out our events schedule and social media.

All abilities.

No age limits.

Leads required if there is livestock around.

We’re Hills AND Skills and, being a qualified mountain leader, teaching others how to explore the fells and valleys safely is something we love to do.

Our navigation courses will include:

Basic training (small group). You’ll learn the map and compass basics such as bearings, spotting, relocating, pacing, and contours. This will give you a good grounding or perhaps a useful refresher to make sure your days in the fells are safe and stress-free.

Navigation weekender (small group). This is a three-day deeper-dive into map and compass work, backed up and embedded with immediate practice. We visit different areas to put new skills into practice, and progress to advanced tasks to really build your confidence and independence in the fells.

One-to-one navigation. If you prefer learning solo, we can deliver both the basic and the extended navigation course one-to-one, focusing completely on you, your skills, and your goals.

Check our events calendar for new group dates, and just drop us a message if you’d like to chat (with no obligation) about individual coaching.

This is where the magic happens. Once for a while we will organise something very special. It may be a charity walk, wild camping weekend, moonlight or sunrise walk… 

We are sure you wouldn’t want to miss it!

Keep checking social media for updates and of course don’t forget to keep up with our event calendar!  

If you have somewhere special to go, or a special date to celebrate, and it’s not listed in any of our many walks, we can take you there. 

Perhaps you have a few specific fells to tick off but you’re not sure how to reach them. Or perhaps you’re planning the best ever birthday celebration or group get-together, and want a day out on the fells. (Yes, we’re biased about what makes a great celebration!)

Just get in touch and tell us what you want to do, and we can tailor the perfect solution for you.