Walking footwear, stout Merrills-type things or walking bootsHiking
Hi,
I've been invited for a weekend's walking near Ambleside for a stag do and I'd appreciate some advice on a packing list. We'll be staying in a hostel so no tent or cooking equipment required, but what else should I be taking for two days walking this weekend?
I've got a well broken in pair of Brasher boots (lots of local dog walking) so I'm ok there.
As for coats I've got a choice of a Rohan eVent Pampas (again for the dog walking), a Driz-a-bone short coat (winter dog walks) or a Paramo Verez smock (used for skiing), as running hot would be better phrased as sweaty monster, which would be the best choice?
When you are our walking, what do you take with you (Crinkle crags and Bowfell). First aid kit (what?), map, snacks? Hydration bladder or water bottles? Water or squash/juice/energy drink?
Can you point me in the direction of a suggested list or make some recommendation / share some tips yourself.
Any help much appreciated.
Alex
List so far
Boots and socks to go with those
Suitable bag/backback
Waterproofs, at least a waterproof jacket-type thing if the forecast is iffy
Breathable layers to wear underneath waterproofs, Helly Hansen LIFA type stuff seems to work
Lightweight walking-type trousers that aren't jeans coz they suck
if they get rained on
Gloves for if its cold
Thermos, waster flask
Towel in case it rains
Hair gel and other male grooming products in case it
rains, ok no just kidding
Some bin liners in case it rains with triple monsoon megaforce
Shorts if the weather is good
Camera
Hat for potential sun, yah right
Any medication you usually take, don't forget to bring
some ...
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 Map(s) (OS 1:25,000 series) and a decent compass Whistle Torch or headtorch Food / energy bars Wristwatch
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Cash and Wallet - its a stag do for goodness sake.
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 If it's a stag do, wet wipes and spare underpants.
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If it's a stag do, wet wipes and spare underpants. 
Or incontinence pads?
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@DoubtingIllegitimate - Thanks for the helpful suggestions.
@MiserableOctogenarian - We are staying in a hostel outside of Grassmere so I doubt if there is much to spend money on, sheep and velcro rather than a lap-dancing club?
@Simo & @MO - Not my stag do but I'll pass on the advice.
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@Alex... You greatly unrepresent Grasmere and the Lakes as a whole - if they can find a way to empty your wallet they will... Some reasonable pubs in Grasmere, some very good coffee shops and some excellent restaurants. In all seriousness, what you are asking depends so much on the weather (looks out window at October like scene)
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@Grumps
My bad, I only remember Ambleside round the corner from about 20 years ago as a student in the Winter. Everything seemed closed.
We are heading up this weekend, so the weather looks to be picking up so cloudy, with a bit of wind and the possible odd shower but around 15C. I'll err on the lightweight rather than warm and waterproof.
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.jpg) Alex, whatever the weather, if you're heading out onto a hill it would be worth putting a waterproof and a fleece in a bag to carry. Ambleside nowadays represents a lot of opportunities to spend, especially if you like outdoor gear. Whatever the weather, have a good weekend, it is a stunning location.
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If you are walking after a few drinks I would take some powerade/lucozade hydration drinks or some powder and a bottle and drink as much as possible in the morning.This time of year there is nothing to challenging so a waterproof, hat and gloves in case and you will be OK.
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Grasmere eh? Forget the walking and get a paddle of ale at Tweedies. Then once you've had that a few times you should have found your fave beer. Then stick with it all day and night. To those not a regular of Tweedies it is acracking bar for food and drink (of all kinds) that for the price of a pint gives you a wooden paddle with three holes in it. In each hole is a glass and in each glass is whatever beer you choose that is on tap or draught. That way you get to taste as wide a selection in one go to find your favourite. Then its hangover time many hours later IF you are staying there or have a nominated driver / taxi / same thing. If you don't like pints of UK beer (weirdo!) then try their foreign bottled beers like Duvel, Chimay or even their wheat beers on tap and in bottles. OR their whiskye, wine, cider, etc. You get the idea yet?? Basically at about £2.80 a pint you can easily empty your wallet there (cue comments from Southerners about how cheap it is and from Northerners about how Southern yuppie prices are hitting the North - £1.25 a pint near us a few years ago and not on special offer at Weatherspoons neither). And if you really must get out then 'fraid I know nothing about gear so can't help you!! What is this Paramo you speak of??
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... (cue comments from Southerners about how cheap it is ...
£2.80 a pint? Two pounds eighty??? Bloody 'ell, as a soiutherner I really must protest! Why, that's virtually giving the beer away! As to Ambleside, I agree - apart from the Co-Op the town is slowly morphing into an outdoors gear shopping arcade. Alex, I think waterproofs are a 'must' - Lakeland is not renowned for its dry climate.
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Yeh take waterproofs.... it could hammmer down with rain and by sunny in the same day so just take waterproofs.
What you take also depends on what you are doing, if you are only doing a few mile walks you shouldnt need too much tbh. Just lightweight trouser, camelback hydration system thing, hat and gloves, a t-shirt, a jumper and and waterproofs.
I guess you will be drinking a fair bit, so as said above hydration is very important... you need to be drinking an awful lot of water, 3 ltrs plus I'd say. Over the day.
If it is more of a serious weekend expedition then this kit list should give you some guidelines http://likehiking.com/2011/07/22/the-expedition-kit-list-what-to-pack/
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Had a fab time and we managed both the Crinkle Crags and Bowfell with Champagne (in moderation), port and cheese at the top of Bowfell to celebrate.
Good food at Tweedies along with the odd paddle of beer (but we brought our own polypins for the hostel).
Hydration and some snacks were a winner (3.5 litres was only just enough for me - sweaty). The pack of jelly babies also helped motivate our two stragglers down the path from Angle Tarn.
Waterproofs were handy to keep the wind off when we stopped at the top.
The only thing we did not anticipate was gorgeous weather so some of us were rather pink by the end of the day (the breeze meant we did not notice at the time). The insect repellent was also handy in the evening.
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Great, glad you had a good time. Will you go walking again?
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@NickNick
Most certainly, off down to St Austell next week so we are looking for something that is half a day so my wife baby daughter (who loves our weekend dogwalks in back carrier) and I can get a bit of fresh air. Any idea of where I can look for a couple of suitable routes in the area?
Being about to complete the Bowfell walk (which to be honest I had some worries about) gave me a bit more motivation to get off my arse and lose a few pounds (I have found quite a few), so I'm now running over the hill to the next village and back a few times a week. Only a couple of miles but it is much more that the just sitting in front of the laptop / TV I was doing.
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 Buy some gingerbread from Grassmere. It is absolutely amazing. I have never had anything like it.
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Port and cheese at the top of Bowfell? A touch of class  Glad to hear the walking bug has bitten. The South West Coast Path offers good scenic walking from St Austell both west and east. A good starter route from the town is to follow the cycleway/footpath down the White River valley (look for London Apprentice on the map) to the coast (approx four miles). This path leads you to Pentewan village from where you can walk southwest on the SWCP to Mevagissey (approx three miles). If you fancy something a bit hillier, inland, head north-west from St Austell into the 'clay country' - the OS map will reveal plenty of public paths. If you don't mind a longer drive from St Austell, the north coast of Cornwall is more rugged and hillier than the south. Try the five-mile stretch of SWCP between Port Isaac and Trebarwith Strand - lots of up-and-down and very few people about.
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