4.8

| 18 reviews

Adventure Skills Workshop in The Peak District

Name: Adventure Skills Workshop in The Peak District
Rating: 4.83 (18 reviews)

2 nights

Easy

Master the art of adventure over an inspiring weekend with ex-Commando, outdoor photographer and expedition leader, Ian Finch

What's Included?

Small Like-minded Groups

Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 7 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people

From

…

excluding flights

From

…

excluding flights

What's it like?

4.8

| 18 reviews

Had a fantastic couple of days in the Peaks...

November 2023

Howard

November 2023

Howard

Ian was welcoming, friendly, very experienc...

November 2022

Victoria

November 2022

Victoria

November 2022

Victoria

November 2022

Victoria

This is an inspiring, informative and, most...

September 2022

Jon

September 2022

Jon

September 2022

Jon

September 2022

Jon

September 2022

Jon

I really enjoyed the trip, Ian was very fri...

December 2021

Luke

December 2021

Luke

December 2021

Luke

Very knowledgeable guide. Cozy bunkhouse. B...

December 2021

Sothiro

December 2021

Sothiro

December 2021

Sothiro

December 2021

Sothiro

This was a fantastic trip, whether you are...

October 2021

Ally

October 2021

Ally

October 2021

Ally

My husband and I had a brilliant time on th...

September 2021

Samantha

September 2021

Samantha

September 2021

Samantha

September 2021

Samantha

September 2021

Samantha

The trip was much more then I expected it t...

September 2021

Hardeep

September 2021

Hardeep

The trip was absolutely brilliant , i've do...

September 2021

Bachittar

September 2021

Bachittar

Learn how to navigate, read weather patterns and plan and prepare your equipment for your next journey into the wilds

Hike through quieter parts of the Hope Valley, navigate with your team up onto the surrounding hillsides and learn the basics of outdoor photography as you go

Return home rejuvenated, motivated, and more prepared for your next big adventure

Deemed one of 'the UK’s best creative retreats' by The Guardian

Key Information

Day 1

Into the peaks

Arrive in the Peak District and head to your overnight spot for the weekend, an adventure bunkhouse nestled deep in the Hope Valley. Meet Ian and your fellow crew for a natter and beer before bedding down for the night. As dinner is not included tonight, make sure you grab something in Hope or Castleton before arriving.

Day 2

Skills at the ready

Hiking

12km · 400m up · 350m down

Kickstart the day with a quick chat over breakfast so Ian can learn a bit about what you might like to get out of the weekend - no questions or adventures are too small, the weekend is your chance to quiz away to your heart's content. You’ll then head out into the hills and start learning by doing, the bunkhouse is at the foot of The Great Ridge so perfect wilderness territory.

Ian will have a range of kit to chat through as well as sharing advice about planning your own adventures using the right maps and apps to get you into the great outdoors - anything from a weekend walk near to home or a longer overseas multi-day trip. You’ll head back to the bunkhouse late afternoon for a photography session at sunset (if the time of year permits) before heading into Castleton to one of the local pubs for a well-earned pint and dinner.

Day 3

Putting it all into practice

Hiking

10km · 300m up · 300m down

Another day exploring and learning - likely to include a gentle stomp to the top of Mam Tor for 360° views across to the Edale Valley and Kinder Scout. You’ll spend today putting into practice some of the skills learned previously and have a go at navigating as a group, understanding contours and how to foresee obstacles and challenges as you go - as well as the key skill of timing and pacing a hike. The weekend will draw to a close late afternoon and you can head home armed with all the skills needed to plan your own adventures in the future. It’s likely you’ll end up guiding your mates before you know it!

The Area

Logistics

Starts

Bunkhouse in the Hope Valley

20:00 on Day 1

Ends

Bunkhouse in the Hope Valley

16:00 on Day 3

Transfers

The bunkhouse is a 15-minute walk from Hope train station which is easily connected to the Sheffield or Manchester mainline trains (both approx. 2 hours from London).

On Day 1 you can arrive anytime after 20:00 and Ian will meet you there. Please make sure you grab dinner before you arrive. On Day 3 you will be back at the bunkhouse for approx 16:00, please don't book a train before 17:00 just in case you're out in the hills for longer than planned.

For those driving, there are one or two spaces only at the bunkhouse so it's advised to leave your car in Hope or Castleton where more options are available.

Travel options

There are regular trains to Hope from Sheffield and Manchster from across the UK.

Day 1

Bunkhouse · Mixed dorm

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 2

Bunkhouse · Mixed dorm

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 3

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

What is the food like?

The breakfast provided will be hearty and vegetarian - think oats, fruit and all the other good stuff to fuel you for the day ahead. There are tea and coffee making facilities at the bunkhouse. Packed lunches will be provided from a local cafe, you'll choose what you would like to eat the night before. You shouldn't run out of food but do pack extra snacks if you know you get extra hungry throughout the day. Dinner on Day 1 is not included so please grab something before arriving. Dinner on Day 2 will be in a local pub.

Vegetarians, vegans and most other dietary requirements can be catered for, just let your host know upon booking.

What is the accommodation like?

Bunkhouse

The group will have exclusive use of a bunkhouse just along the road from Castleton. The whole group will sleep upstairs in a mixed-gender, open-plan, flexible, futon sleeping space. Cotton liners, duvets and pillows are provided. There is a downstairs kitchenette, dining and social hangout space, a bathroom with a shower and shared storage space. There is also a boot room with a dryer and plenty of hanging space if needed for wet gear. The outside garden has a seating area and firepit area overlooking Lose Hill.

Upgrades

There are no single rooms available at the bunkhouse so no upgrades are possible.

Sheila(November 2023)

Our local guide Ian Finch was friendly, exceptional and professional in the way he was delivering the course and interacting with us. The group dynamics was also very good and supportive.

Howard(November 2023)

Had a fantastic couple of days in the Peaks, learnt a lot, and will be putting them into practice over the coming months, highly recommended. Ian is a great communicator and his passion for the great outdoors, whether it’s deep in the Amazon or a country walk through Epping Forest shines through.

Durr M.(August 2023)

The Peak District adventure workshop is an amazing little adventure to do over a weekend. Ian Finch was an absolutely brilliant host and knows his adventure craft well. I really enjoyed the hikes and the beautiful views and loved learning about navigation, how to put up a tent and what kit to take on different hiking trips. I really liked the photography part of the trip as well. I would definitely recommend this workshop to other beginner adventurers like me 😊

Katy(August 2023)

Victoria(November 2022)

Ian was welcoming, friendly, very experienced and an excellent guide for the weekend. The content was exactly as described and very useful indeed. The trip was sustainable, the group dynamics excellent and even in suddenly changing extreme weather conditions with difficult terrain you always felt safe and looked after by Ian. I would not change anything about the trip. Highly recommend!

Austin(October 2022)

Great trip, great host. It’s not a complete go/go/go until you drop. Nice balance of education/ skills and hiking. Returned to genpop energised and refreshed!!

Jon(September 2022)

This is an inspiring, informative and, most importantly, fun weekend. The accommodation has an 'Upmarket Youth Hostel' vibe. The food is healthy and hearty. The course is a perfect balance of theory and practice - you learn how to plan your dream adventure and then get hands-on with expedition kit before heading out on two hikes to hone your navigation and photography skills.

But what really makes this a memorable 48 hours is Ian, the guide/host. He has tonnes of hard-won experience and great adventure insights, which he shares with infectious enthusiasm. Plus, he throws in lots of truly thoughtful touches - From Brownies and wine when you first arrive through to badges when you leave.

This is a great trip for ANYONE who loves the great outdoors and wants to learn more.

Sharon(July 2022)

Great experience, learned loads and gained confidence

Luke(December 2021)

I really enjoyed the trip, Ian was very friendly and knowledgeable, and was able to answer any questions we put to him.

I particularly enjoyed the hiking and navigation exercise we did on the peaks, but all the aspects of the weekend were incredibly useful in giving a holistic view on how to get the most out of a planned trip.

The food was delicious and plentiful, and the accommodation was warm and cosy. I would recommend this to anyone who has an idea of a dream trip, but wants the knowledge and skills to turn that dream into reality!

Sothiro(December 2021)

Very knowledgeable guide. Cozy bunkhouse. Beautiful landscapes. I had a great time and learned a lot!

Jennifer(October 2021)

Fabulous setting and learnt a lot from Ian who was a great leader too.

Ally(October 2021)

This was a fantastic trip, whether you are a regular adventurer looking to improve skills and confidence, or completely new to getting outdoors, this is the trip for you! Ian and Jamie are great guides, their passion for adventures is clear and they have a wealth of experience between them, with some incredible stories to share! Set in the beautiful Peak District, with comfortable accommodation, it was the perfect place to spend the weekend learning new skills, getting outdoors and meeting new people.

Samantha(September 2021)