LithoPeaks

12/12/2025

28/09/2025

🧭 Navigation Basics: Getting Your Bearings ⛰️

Many Mountain Rescue teams have seen significant numbers of callouts this year, with many incidents being preventable. A common reason is hikers getting lost, often when phone apps or GPS signals let them down.

Using compass bearings is one of the most reliable ways to navigate. I’ve put together a short 2-minute video showing how to use them. While there’s much more to navigation, this is a key skill that can make a real difference on the hills.

27/09/2025

🌋Red Screes Volcanic Geology ⛰️
Last weekend, we spotted several striking rock outcrops on the hike up to Red Screes. These outcrops are made of volcanic breccia and belong to the Lincomb Tarns Formation, found in many parts of the Lake District. The breccia is a chaotic mix of coarse angular fragments and ash erupted violently out of a volcano around 450 million years ago. Some of the larger blocks contain fine layering, and are remnants of older deposits that were shattered and incorporated into the eruption debris.

26/09/2025

🧭 Navigation Basics: Getting Your Bearings ⛰️

Many Mountain Rescue teams have seen significant numbers of callouts this year, with many incidents being preventable. A common reason is hikers getting lost, often when phone apps or GPS signals let them down.

Using compass bearings is one of the most reliable ways to navigate. I’ve put together a short 2-minute video showing how to use them. While there’s much more to navigation, this is a key skill that can make a real difference on the hills.

05/09/2025

⛰️ Potter Fell area:
Just 5 km north of Kendal lies the Potter Fell area. Although not a mountain, the rough terrain made it an ideal place for navigation training this week. Here are a few pictures I took in between the heavy rain showers. Looking forward to revisiting this area again soon. 🧭

03/09/2025

Mountain navigation is a skillset built through experience, precision, and practice. From map reading to terrain interpretation, these essential skills form the backbone of safe and successful journeys. They’re not just learned—they’re earned, refined over time, and measured by far you’ve come.

Based in the Lake District, our training gives you the tools to develop these essential skills. Whether you're just starting out or sharpening your techniques, you’ll build confidence and competence, opening new pathways to explore the mountains.

🧭🗺⛰️ DM for more info.

03/09/2025

Mountain navigation is a skillset built through experience, precision, and practice. From map reading to terrain interpretation, these essential skills form the backbone of safe and successful journeys. They’re not just learned—they’re earned, refined over time, and measured by far you’ve come.

Based in the Lake District, our training gives you the tools to develop these essential skills. Whether you're just starting out or sharpening your techniques, you’ll build confidence and competence, opening new pathways to explore the mountains.

🧭🗺⛰️ DM for more info.

30/08/2025

A short video of a circular hike from Grasmere, passing over the following summits:

▪️Silver How
▪️Lang How
▪️Swinescar Pike
▪️Liittle Castle How
▪️Great Castle How
▪️Blea Rigg
▪️Eagle Crag

This is a nice route with some amazing views and a lot of interesting geology.

14/08/2025

🥾 Navigating in poor weather 🌧🌧🌧
The mist thickens. Landmarks vanish. You check your phone app - Your location briefly freezes, then drifts unexpectedly.

You're not quite where you thought. The landscape feels off, but it's hard to tell. Is the GPS misbehaving? Or do you trust it and change direction?

🧭 Navigation isn’t just about location. It’s about confidence and good decision making when visibility falls and tech fails.

At Lithopeaks, we teach the skills to safely explore the mountains, without the reliance on a phone:
• Map & compass navigation
• Terrain reading
• Route planning
• Decision-making in poor conditions

Whether you're new to the hills or heading deeper into wild terrain, we’ll help you build the skills to hike with confidence and competence.

📩 Message us now and start your mountain journey.

10/08/2025

⛰️ Windy day in the Langdale Pikes 🥾
Yesterday we tackled Jack’s Rake and the Langdale Pikes. Starting from Dungeon Ghyll, we followed Stickle Ghyll, warmed up with a scramble on Tarn Crag, then headed to Stickle Tarn for the start of Jack’s Rake.

Despite strong winds, the rake was well sheltered. Some wet, slippery sections made it tricky, but overall it was a brilliant scramble.

After topping out, we bagged Pavey Ark, Harrison Stickle, Pike of Stickle, and Loft Crag before descending back to the car park.

This is a fantastic area for anyone starting out with the Wainwrights—easy access, great paths, and multiple peaks close together. And if scrambling’s not your thing, the steep bits are easily avoided.

27/05/2025

🥾⛰️ Explore the Lake District with Expert Guidance!

Looking to explore the Lake District beyond well-trodden paths for an unforgettable, authentic mountain adventure? With expert guidance, you'll immerse yourself in nature, explore beautiful valleys, summit rugged mountains, conquer exhilarating ridges, and uncover hidden trails.

Led by an MTA Mountain Leader and geologist, our hikes offer more than just breathtaking views—You'll discover how the mountains were created and shaped over millions of years.

Some of our featured hikes include:
🔺️ Helvellyn & Striding Edge – A thrilling ridge walk with breathtaking views
🔺️ Coniston Fells – Stunning scenery and classic mountain routes through a historic mining area
🔺️ Langdale Valley area – Beautiful trails and classic summits such as Pavey Ark, Harrison Stickle, Pike O'Stickle, Crinkle Crags
🔺️ Haweswater area – Remote beauty and rich geological history

📅 Ready for your next adventure? Join one of our upcoming events or get in touch to plan your perfect guided hike—whether solo, with friends, or as a team-building experience!