Lake District Activity Centre
Our enthusiastic group of holidaymakers set off bright and early for Keswick, nestled in the heart of the stunning Lake District. The journey itself felt like the start of the adventure — winding roads took us through quaint villages with honey-stone cottages, past rolling green pastures dotted with grazing sheep. Along the way, we spotted plenty of farm animals.
The afternoon brought one of the week’s most exhilarating activities: the high ropes and zipwire course. Helmets and harnesses securely fastened, we tackled wobbly rope bridges, narrow planks high in the trees, and finished with a thrilling zipwire finale. Everyone sang their favourite songs on the way down, and Mikey’s dramatic rendition of Goodbye everybody, I’ve got to goooooo! had us doubled over with laughter.
We headed to the sports hall for a packed morning of rock climbing, rope swinging, and bouldering. Harnesses tightened and helmets on, we encouraged each other every step of the way. Karl stole the show when he decided to abseil down the wall upside-down while the Gladiators theme blared from the speakers. Luke, the adrenaline junkie of the group, scaled the wall four times in quick succession. Laughter, cheers, and occasional squeals filled the hall as everyone tried new moves.
We ventured outdoors for bushcraft. Most of us weren’t entirely sure what that meant, but curiosity grew as we helped Ben carry boxes of sticks, twigs, pots, pans, a fire pit, and a mysterious giant rucksack. Soon we were learning to light a fire using flints and cotton wool — no matches allowed! Richie earned a round of applause for getting his flame going on his second attempt. We whittled sticks into marshmallow toasting spears and brewed hot chocolate over the open fire, enjoying it under a clearing sky.
A soak in the jacuzzi and a few lengths in the pool followed. The perfect way to end our busy days.
The sun was shining, perfect timing for horse riding. The drive to Calvert Riding Centre took us through lush valleys, past Barf Fell. At the stables, we met a dozen horses, from sturdy Buster to cheeky Mischief and our favourite, Fudge.
After helmet fittings, we split into two groups. Riders enjoyed a gentle arena loop before heading out on a peaceful hack through nearby fields, while non-riders led two miniature Shetlands through an obstacle course and brushed them down.
We met Ben and Hugh for archery. Traditional targets quickly gave way to balloon targets, and Luke and Liam impressed the group by hitting the bullseye on their first attempts.
Today’s destination was Lake Windermere. Packed lunches in hand and life jackets securely fastened, we boarded a sleek catamaran for a cruise across England’s largest natural lake. Ben and Nick pointed out landmarks, including a “mock castle” once rented by Beatrix Potter’s family and later used in films. We glided past wooded islands, one hosting a private holiday home, and even helped steer the boat, imagining ourselves as captains. Back on dry land, we returned to base for dinner and an evening of games, laughter, and storytelling.
Our day began at Watchtree Nature Reserve, a former World War II airfield now turned cycling haven. Instead of regular bikes, we rode tricycles, allowing everyone to enjoy the loop regardless of ability. Along the 2-mile route, we passed remnants of the airfield, a jet engine, the control tower, and rusting fuel drums now surrounded by wildflowers and birdsong. A second lap later, we refuelled at the café with enormous slices of homemade cake.
That evening, we celebrated with a farewell disco and were each awarded a Calvert Trust Certificate of Completion. It was a perfect end to a week packed with challenges, laughter, and memories we’ll treasure for years.
The afternoon brought one of the week’s most exhilarating activities: the high ropes and zipwire course. Helmets and harnesses securely fastened, we tackled wobbly rope bridges, narrow planks high in the trees, and finished with a thrilling zipwire finale. Everyone sang their favourite songs on the way down, and Mikey’s dramatic rendition of Goodbye everybody, I’ve got to goooooo! had us doubled over with laughter.
We headed to the sports hall for a packed morning of rock climbing, rope swinging, and bouldering. Harnesses tightened and helmets on, we encouraged each other every step of the way. Karl stole the show when he decided to abseil down the wall upside-down while the Gladiators theme blared from the speakers. Luke, the adrenaline junkie of the group, scaled the wall four times in quick succession. Laughter, cheers, and occasional squeals filled the hall as everyone tried new moves.
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