Summary info meeting Lakes Journey

BIG HOOF LAKES DISTRICT JOURNEY MEETING 

1. Who’s Involved & Purpose of the Meeting

  • Hosts: Kiki Ho and Clare Dyson.

  • Absent: Louis

  • Purpose: Introductory/preparation meeting for the Big Hoof June journey in Cumbria – an 8‑day trek (on foot and with horses) to:

    • Raise money for Growing Well (mental‑health horticulture charity).

    • Explain the route, logistics, kit, horses, dogs, and fundraising expectations.

    • Answer participants’ questions before sign‑up.

2. The Big Hoof & Growing Well

  • Big Hoof background:

    • Started in 2020 when Louis rode from John O’Groats to Land’s End to raise money for cystic fibrosis 

    • Since then: ~6–7 rides across Wales, Scotland, England and one long ride Italy–France–Spain.

    • Focus is strongly on mental health causes and doing the journey for something beyond yourself (horses, community, charity, not ego or achievement).

  • Growing Well charity:

    • Mental‑health horticulture charity with three sites in Cumbria: Sizer (near Kendal), Tebay, and Egremont 

    • People with mental‑health challenges come (self‑referral or via NHS) to work in teams growing veg, fruit, salad, with strong support structures.

    • Produce sold via local veg‑box schemes; they’re working on stronger NHS links for referrals.

    • Very well‑regarded locally;  a “special organisation”.

3. June Journey – Route & Structure (8 Days)

Overall concept:

  • 8‑day trek from Growing Well Egremont site (West Cumbria) across the Lake District to Growing Well Sizer near Kendal 

  • Participants do not have to do all 8 days; you can join for 1 day, several days, or the full journey.

Terrain & distances:

  • Mixed bridleways and lanes, prioritising off‑road where possible.

  • Days range roughly from 13 km / 8 miles (shortest) to 20 km / 13 miles (longer days).

  • Some days are steep mountain days, especially:

    • Crossing Hardknott Pass and Wrynose Pass (Rhinos) – big ascent and descent in one day 

    • Other days are flatter, e.g. Little Langdale → Ambleside.

Key overnight stops and features (high‑level):

  • Start: Field next to Growing Well Egremont; likely accommodation in a Methodist church nearby

  • Day 1: Egremont → Nether Wasdale (~20 km) – bridleway + lanes, camping and possibly village hall, dinner in a pub.

  • Day 2: Nether Wasdale → Muncaster Castle – hall accommodation at the castle;

  • Day 3: Muncaster → Boot / near the Woolpack Inn along the River Esk (~12 km), with options for wild swimming and detours

  • Day 4: Eskdale/Boot → Little Langdale (Fell Foot Farm) – long hilly day, ~16.5 miles with ~550 m ascent/descent; Fell Foot is where Clare’s horse lives and is at the foot of Wrynose Pass [0:20:33–0:22:18].

  • Day 5: Little Langdale → Ambleside – relatively flatter day [0:22:18–0:22:50].

  • Day 6: Ambleside → Kentmere Hall – owners linked to Growing Well; talk about the charity planned

  • Day 7: Kentmere → Sprint Mill – beautiful riverside mill/smallholding with log burner, 16 km 

  • Day 8: Sprint Mill → Kendal → Growing Well Sizer – more road heavy, including going through Kendal town, which is especially important for people bringing horses to consider 

  • Finish with a special celebration at Sizergh.

4. Participation Options & Fitness Expectations

  • If too many people, journey will be conceptually split into Section A (days 1–4) and Section B (days 4–8):

    • This split is for planning numbers and logistics, not a strict rule: you can still choose exact days you want.

    • On the sign‑up form, participants will be asked your preferred days

  • Hosts stressed that some people in past journeys sometimes misjudged their fitness:

    • Participants should honestly assess their fitness and only choose days that feel realistic and safe.

    • Inadequate fitness can become a liability for others, e.g., others carrying your tent/pack

  • Participants are encouraged to “puzzle” their ideal route based on the itinerary once received.

5. Kit, Self‑Sufficiency & Food/Water

  • Big Hoof is not a travel company; it’s a charity journey:

    • You are not paying for a fully catered trek; the expectation is self‑sufficiency 

  • Food & water:

    • Participants are in principle responsible for their own food, water, and snacks.

    • The route is designed to pass pubs and small shops; organisers will always flag:

      • Days where you must bring a packed lunch.

      • Days where pubs/shops are available.

    • You can choose to:

      • Buy food at pubs/shops, or

      • Bring your own sandwiches/stove and cook.

    • Group culture is supportive (people help each other out), but baseline expectation is: don’t fully rely on organisers for food/water.

  • Kit & weight:

    • Strong emphasis on packing very light:

      • Test whether you can carry tent, sleeping bag, mat, plus several days’ kit. [tent might not be necessary, please contact for more info] 

      • Wearing a pack for 10 minutes ≠ carrying it for 3 days.

    • Essentials: good socks, good footwear, proper rain gear, and minimal extras.

6. Horses – Numbers, Suitability & Support

  • Target is maximum ~8 horses, including:

    • Clare’s horse “Mary”, a Welsh Cob 

    • Sasha & Istia, the main Big Hoof horses, Istia is pregnant and not coming

    • People who want to bring a horse have to contact organisers first

  • Horse suitability considerations:

    • Is your horse safe in traffic and on narrow, steep, rough terrain?

    • Comfortable with streams, bridges, climbs/descents.

    • Sociable in a group field / corral; owners should think about herd dynamics.

  • Feed logistics:

    • Either owners manage feed themselves, or

    • Organisers pre‑drop generic pony nuts/feed at each stop (if owners are okay with that).

  • Horses may sometimes be ridden or led; details to be refined depending on horse and rider. “Sharing” horses is very much encouraged so we can learn from each other.

7. Fundraising Expectations

  • Overall target: at least £3,000 for Growing Well [0:33:35–0:34:31].

  • Individual guideline: participants are encouraged to raise about £200 each:

    • Example: 20 people x £10 or 40 x £5.

  • About 15% of total donated will go to The Big Hoof itself:

    • To keep the organisation running (they live off donations) and still deliver the full £3k+ to Growing Well.

  • Everyone should use the same shared fundraising link so totals are trackable.

  • It’s acceptable to self‑fund (i.e., donate your own money instead of asking others), but Kiki encourages people to:

    • Use fundraising to spread awareness about Growing Well and its work.

8. Transport, Dropping Out, and Local Support

  • Public transport:

    • Between West Lakes and central Lakes is limited (Egremont/Muncaster/Nether Wasdale side).

    • Once you reach Ambleside, buses and taxis exist, making:

      • Taking a rest day or

      • Rejoining later more feasible 

  • People can:

    • Drop out for a day or two and rejoin, especially where there’s public transport.

    • Use hitch‑hiking or lifts in some cases, but that needs individual planning.

  • Some locals offered:

    • Backup support or local help.

    • Potential help with crew / logistics even if they’re not trekking every day

Day to Day schedule
Day to Day schedule