Lakes & Mountains with Matt

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Lakes & Mountains with Matt

Guided walks, outdoor experiences and Mountain Leadership, offering journeys that are as enriching as they are inspiring.

Whether you’re seeking to build confidence, master new skills, or reconnect with nature, we’re here to guide every step of the way.

15/09/2026

𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁, 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴?

Your phone battery is at 3%… now what?

No signal. Low cloud. You’ve taken a wrong turn.

Could you find your way back?

Join us on Saturday 26th September for our Introduction to Navigation half-day course in a beautiful part of South Lakeland.

Perfect for beginners wanting to build confidence, experienced walkers looking to brush up their skills, or Mountain Leader trainees wanting a quick navigation refresher.

You’ll cover:

🗺️ Map reading & route planning
🧭 Compass skills & bearings
🌫️ Navigating in poor visibility
📍 Relocation techniques

No experience needed — maps and compasses provided.

🎟️ 20% discount for Lakes & Mountains members

Less reliance on technology. More confidence on the fells.

📩 Get in touch to book your place.

13/09/2026

𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗣𝗶𝗸𝗲 (𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗸)

A late one last night as I had the pleasure of guiding a small group taking on the National Three Peaks Challenge for Men’s Mind Matters.

After a wet and rather grim day, the evening was warm, but the cloud came along for the party! Visibility became seriously poor towards the summit, so head torches on, careful footing and good navigation were definitely required.

It really does remind you how important the right kit is in the mountains. Seeing people heading up Scafell Pike at night relying on the torch on their phone, or attempting to cross the river in trainers, always makes me wince!

Thankfully, our team were properly equipped, worked hard and stayed together throughout. Despite the challenging conditions, we safely made it back down in under four hours — a fantastic effort.

And even better… they went on to complete the full National Three Peaks Challenge today!

Huge congratulations to the whole team, and it was a privilege to play a small part in such a brilliant challenge for Men’s Mind Matters.

Sometimes the toughest adventures make the best memories.

10/09/2026

𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆... 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗼

After a busy week at work, there’s honestly nothing better than switching off, pulling on the boots and heading into the mountains.

The hills give us a proper physical workout — climbing, descending, balancing and carrying a pack all add up. But there’s something else that happens when you leave the roads, screens and emails behind…

Your head gets a chance to breathe.

And the science backs it up:

Adults are recommended to get at least 150 minutes of moderate activity each week, with brisk walking counting towards that target.

The NHS says physical activity can boost mood, improve sleep and energy levels, and reduce stress.

Even a 10-minute brisk walk can help clear your mind and help you relax.

And the latest UK research found that 89% of people who had visited a green or natural space said it was good for their mental health, while 84% said being in nature makes them very happy. (nhs.uk⁠)

But for us, it’s about more than statistics.

It’s the fresh air.
The views.
The laughs.
The conversations.
The sense of achievement when you reach the top.
And that feeling of heading home tired, happy and with a much clearer head.

So if your week has been a busy one, maybe it’s time to swap the office for the outdoors.

Come and explore the Lake District with us.

👉 Check out our website, see what walks are coming up and come and join us.

Educating, Enthusing and Empowering people — one mountain at a time.

06/09/2026

𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝟭𝟮 - 𝗞𝗶𝗿𝗸 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹, 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗲

Driving over Birker Fell this morning, with low cloud and heavy rain, more than a few of the group were wondering whether we’d made the right call!

On arrival in Wasdale, we decided to chance a change in the weather, with a low-level walk as Plan B. Leaving the crowds at Lake Head (and the obligatory pot smokers 🥴), we headed into the valley and towards Black Sail Pass.

The ascent soon warmed us up and, as if by magic, the clouds began to lift. With conditions improving, we decided to continue on to Kirk Fell, while leaving Pillar for another time.

For some of the group, Kirk Fell also meant tackling a tricky scramble section. There were definitely a few nerves, but everyone managed it brilliantly, with many overcoming their fear of falling and discovering they were far more capable than they thought!

At 802m, the summit rewarded us with panoramic views across Wasdale and beyond. Despite a strong, blustery breeze, there were plenty of smiles at the top.

The descent was tricky in places but beautiful, and everyone safely made it back down for the two essentials after a mountain day…

☕ Brews & cakes! (Thanks Stephen) 🍰

A huge thank you to Paul Westwell for his support again today, and to everyone who came along and made it another brilliant day in the mountains.

7-8miles, Great walks, great challenges and, most importantly, great friends.

Pillar can wait… there’s always another adventure!

Please feel free to share pictures from your adventures today whether this with us or any of our followers…

05/09/2026

Aiming Higher Charity Annual Fundraising Walk 2026 - Helvellyn from Swirls (Thirlmere)

05/09/2026

𝗔𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

Today, the Lakes & Mountains with Matt team had the absolute pleasure of guiding the Aiming Higher Charity annual fundraising walk for the third year running — and this year we decided to aim a little higher, taking on the mighty Helvellyn at 950m!

A fantastic 43 walkers took on the challenge, setting off from Swirls with spirits high despite the steep climb ahead.

As we reached the summit, the cloud was low, the breeze was certainly making itself known, and the views were… well, let’s just say limited!

A quick selfie or two and we turned around, only to be rewarded on our descent with sunny intervals, breaks in the cloud and some absolutely stunning views across the Northern, Western and Central Fells.

Most importantly, all 43 walkers returned safely, and we hope the challenge has helped raise some much-needed funds for the fantastic Aiming Higher, a charity supporting disabled children and young people across the North West, helping create opportunities, experiences and support that enable them to achieve their potential.

If you’d like to support this fantastic cause, every donation, no matter how big or small, really does make a difference.

👉 Fundraising link in the comments — please consider donating and helping Aiming Higher continue the amazing work they do.

A huge thank you to every single walker who took part, dug deep and kept putting one foot in front of the other. You should all be incredibly proud!

And finally, a massive thank you to all our Lakes & Mountains with Matt leaders and assistants who gave their time today to support, encourage and help keep everyone safe. It really is a team effort, and we couldn’t do it without you.

31/08/2026

𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗪𝗔𝗟𝗞 𝟭𝟮 - 𝗞𝗜𝗥𝗞 𝗙𝗘𝗟𝗟 & 𝗣𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗔𝗥

📅 Sunday 6th September
⏰ Meet 09:00 for a 09:30 start
📍 National Trust Lake Head Car Park – CA20 1EX

Two big mountains, some spectacular scenery and a very special reason to celebrate!

We’ll be heading into Wasdale to tackle Kirk Fell & Pillar — a challenging mountain day with steep climbs, rough terrain and some fantastic views.

But the big story of the day…

Janet Crossley will be completing her 214 Wainwright journey.

Kirk Fell & Pillar will be Janet’s 213th & 214th, officially completing the set! What an incredible achievement.

🚗 Please car share where possible and if your plans change please let me know asap.

31/08/2026

Fiona has been nominated for going above and beyond as a Mountain Leader when someone was injured during a guided walk in Wales. From making sure they were safe and received medical attention to accompanying them to A&E and bringing them right to their front door, Fiona made sure they were never left to worry alone.

28/08/2026

“IT’S JUST ROUND THE CORNER…”

One of the absolute pleasures of what Fiona and I get to do with Lakes & Mountains with Matt is guiding people around some of the most beautiful mountains and landscapes in the country.

But there is one part of the job I particularly enjoy…

The looks I get when I say:

“It’s just round this corner…”

Only for another 20 minutes of walking to mysteriously appear.

Or when someone asks:

“How much further, Matt?”

And I confidently reply:

“Not far…”

At this point Fiona usually gives me the look — the one that says “You know that’s not true.”

But then we reach the top.

The tired legs are forgotten. The snacks come out. The smiles appear. Someone says “Wow!” as they take in the view, and suddenly that extra corner, extra climb and extra few hundred metres were all worth it.

And that’s what makes guiding so special for us.

It’s not just about getting people from A to B. It’s about the stories, the laughs, the encouragement, the friendships and those moments when people surprise themselves with what they can achieve.

We’ve got loads more dates in the diary over the coming weeks, with plenty of opportunities to get out into the hills with us.

So if you’ve been thinking about joining us…

Come on, you know you want to.

Lakes & Mountains with Matt
Educating, Enthusing & Empowering people — One Mountain at a time.

25/08/2026

𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲 & 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱 - 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟵𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿

Fancy a challenge? Want to take on one of the Lake District’s classic mountain routes while raising money for a brilliant local cause?

Join Lakes & Mountains with Matt on Saturday 19th September for our Fairfield Horseshoe Challenge, supporting Hope and Mind at Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust.

- 8 Wainwright summits
- 11 miles / 18km
- Fully supported by qualified Mountain Leaders

Starting in Ambleside, we’ll tackle the classic horseshoe anti-clockwise, taking in Low Pike, High Pike, Dove Crag, Hart Crag, Fairfield, Great Rigg, Heron Pike and Nab Scar.

Expect big climbs, stunning Lakeland views, classic mountain terrain and a real sense of achievement when you complete the circuit!

You don’t need to be an experienced fell walker, but you will need a reasonable level of fitness. We’ll walk at a supportive pace, take regular breaks and have our experienced team there to guide and encourage you throughout.

And most importantly, your challenge will help make a difference.

Hope and Mind supports Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust by funding those important extras that can improve people’s experience of mental health, learning disability, autism and community services.

Places are limited. If you’d like to take on the challenge, drop us a message and get involved!

Let’s walk together, make memories and make a difference.

Lakes & Mountains with Matt — Inspiring People: One Mountain at a time.

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Barrow In Furness
LA14

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+447562736187

Website

https://lakesandmountains.uk/

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