A unique opportunity to join our guided walking week in the Julian Alps of Slovenia for only £595 per person. June 24th to July 1st 2017.

Kendal Mountaineering Services is again, offering the opportunity for people to join us on this unique trip to sample the delights of Slovenia and in particular, the beautiful Julian Alps, with Limestone peaks soaring to almost 3000 metres between wooded valleys containing turquoise rivers teeming with Marble Trout.

We will be based at the chalet in the photo which nestles at Kal Koritnica in the Bovec Basin - an area known for its pristine beauty, it's history and for the many outdoor activities that can be undertaken on your mid-week day off.

The chalet is built on 3 levels. The ground floor has a reception area and washroom with sink toilet & shower. The first floor is open plan and has a spacious lounge area with wood fire, a TV/DVD Player where you can watch a selection of videos, a balcony where you can enjoy a drink in the sun whilst taking in the surrounding views; and a comprehensive kitchen/dining area where up to eight persons can be seated at once.

Upstairs there are four bedrooms - two double rooms with outside balconies/seats and two twin rooms. Also on this floor are a bathroom comprising of a bath/shower and sink; and also a separate toilet room.

We can accommodate, two couples; and four single persons, therefore, the group size is a maximum of eight persons. A minimum group size of six persons is required to run this trip at a cost of £595 per person for the week.

So what does £595.00 buy you? Please note - flights from the UK to Marco Polo Airport, Venice are your own responsibility. From there to the chalet, we provide the transfer and also the return to the airport the following Saturday. You will be transported to each day's walk start point and collected at the end. A continental breakfast comprising fruit juices, freshly made tea & coffee, fresh fruit, yoghurt, cereals, toast, jam & butter is provided each day along with a packed lunch. Bread and lunch items are freshly made for you each day by our host - Matt.

Evening meals are at your own expense; a budget of 30 Euros per day should be sufficient for you to buy a two course meal with drinks at one of several good restaurants in Bovec; or you are welcome to use the kitchen at the chalet to prepare your own food bought from the supermarket in town.

Bovec is a beautiful town nestling in a wide valley in the Julian Alps very close to the border with eastern Italy.

The town is well resourced with all amenities banks/ATM's, bars, restaurants, street cafes, a supermarket and all manner of shops selling local goods. There is a good bakery; and the local ice cream is just divine! The town is also a hub for local activity providers. If you love the outdoors, but also enjoy the good life, then you'll really enjoy everything that Bovec has to offer!

This photograh shows the town centre, with Svinjac (1653 metres) widely regarded as the "Matterhorn of Bovec" in the distance. Svinjac, can be climbed by fit persons, in an afternoon, from the chalet.

The itinerary for your guided walking week is broadly as follows; but can be subject to change!

Day One Arrive at Marco Polo by mid-day on Saturday the 24th of June. Transfer to the chalet (about a two hour drive) with a fresh lunch provided by Matt en route. Arrive and settle in at the chalet followed by a walk to; and alongside the nearby Soca River before driving into Bovec for evening meal. Read about last year's arrival day here.

Day two, Sunday. Arise by 07:30. Breakfast between then and 08:30. Depart on walk from chalet.

Typically on day two, we will walk over the shoulder of Celo, visiting en route, the old battlements of the Izonzo Front before continuing on along the lower Koritnica Valley amidst stunning Alpine Scenery to visit further fortifications at Kluze and Herman before climbing the wooded slopes of Rombon for around 300 metres.

This walk then traverses north along the slopes of Rombon towards Bovec where we aim to arrive no later than around 5pm. The views all around the Bovec basin are very pretty. Total distance walked is around 10 km. Read the report about this day here.

Day three, Monday will typically see us attempt to walk a large part of the Soca River Trail.

The Soca rises high in the middle of The Julian Alps near to the Vrsic Pass where it issues from a submerged cave in a most impressive manner a short climb above the road head.

The Soca Trail is a total of 25 km from source to Bovec and it is not possible to cover the whole walking route in one day although a visit to the source (photo seven) is a must! As stated, our drop offs and pick-ups are provided by Matt as part of the holiday package and on this particular day, we got dropped off some 15 km from Kal Koritnica and walked all the way back to the chalet.

Walking the banks of this picturesque river through forests filled with flowers interspersed with small farms and chalets is a fantastic experience. Read more about our Soca Trail day here.

Day Four, Tuesday. This day will see us  head into one of a number of valleys in the area. Ideally, we will want to get you up reasonably high so that you can get a real feel for the truly alpine environment that exists here. Of course this depends on the weather, as being amongst high mountains the weather can make it's own plans irrespective of what the regional forecast might be.

Due to the mountain weather we have moved the trip forward a month; as last year, the weather and snow accumulations at higher levels caused us to modify our plans on day four.

We had a great day out in the Koritnica Valley on that day; and you can read about that here, but this was a relatively low level day and we want to take you higher into those mountains if possible! In June, the weather will be warmer and more settled, but be prepared to drink plenty of water and bring sunscreen with you! Temperatures in the valley could be as high as 30 degrees centigrade during the day!

On Day five,Wednesday, it's a day off walking in the mountains to allow you to go and sample all else that the area has to offer.

You make just want to take it easy, have a lie in and then get up and walk into Bovec via the river to soak up some of the towns charm and European culture and enjoy a coffee or lunch; or you may want to try some of the "other activities" offered by local providers in Bovec. On our day off we all chose to try out the exhilarating Zip-wire course in the nearby Ucja Valley in the morning and then a few of us went tandem paragliding in the afternoon. 

Other activities in the area include

• Rafting, Kayaking and Hydrospeed
• Canyoning, Rock Climbing and Caving
• Fishing, Mountain Biking.

So there are plenty of alternatives if you want an "active" day off. Please note the cost of all activities on this day are at your own expense. Activities can cost between 30 - 200 euros per person depending on what you choose to do. Read our report from this day here.

During the final few days of your Guided Walking in The Julian Alps of Slovenia we are going to try to take you higher into the mountains to experience the the true Alpine feeling of this region. Typically, on Thursday we will drive to the top of the Vrsic Pass (1611 metres/5285 feet) at the tree-line and after a visit to the nearby viewpoint above the pass, we will begin a descent into the Trenta Valley travelling first northwards towards the very head of the valley - the Zadjna Trenta.

Photo ten is taken from the summit of Vrsic - the hill with the viewpoint located just above the pass and about 170 metres higher looking north to the Trenta Valley with a carpet of Alpine Gentians on the ground. Just beautiful!

During this day, there should be excellent views of some of The Julian Alps highest peaks all around us such as Prisojnik (2547 m/8356 ft), Bavski Grintavec (2347 m/5249 ft) and Jalovec (2645 m/8678 ft) and as we continue northwards, the summit of Triglav (2864 m/9369 ft) - the highest mountain in The Julian Alps come also into view.

Its worth bearing in mind that as we start some 1200 metres (almost 4000 feet!) higher that at Bovec, it may be as little as 10 degrees C on this day - so bring warm clothing as well as your waterproofs!

Our route eventually descends through woodland to the valley floor and we continue on past Izvir Soca where there is an opportunity to indulge yourself with a well earned bottle of Lasko (the national Lager of Slovenia) before continuing a further 4 km to Trenta where we will be collected by Matt. Total distance on this day is likely to around 12 km with a descent of around 1000 m/3280 ft) Read more about day six of your Guided Walking Holiday in Slovenia here.

As with the previous day, out final day of walking (Friday) in The Julian Alps will be aimed as getting you as high as possible amongst the really big mountains as a "grand finale" and a good progression from the easier walks earlier in the week.

Our walk will most likely start and finish in the Trenta area. On our last trip, we walked in towards Triglav and then turned north up a narrow valley under a tremendous Limestone wall (where we saw Ibex) as we climbed upwards towards our high point - the col at Cez Dol (1632 m/5353 ft).

From The Cez Dol, we have a fantastic view in both directions - back towards the summit of Triglav towering over the head of the valley (photo 13) and also north along the south side of the ridge bounding the Soca Valley.

Our descent is through a beautiful meadow and then on steeply down through forests back to Trenta where the local co-operative can supply you with another well earned beer and ice cream. Read about our final day in The Julian Alps here.

Our last night will be spent in a restaurant in the locality or in Bovec celebrating the achievements of the week before one rises early on the Saturday morning for Matt to transfer you the two hours back to Marco Polo Airport near Venice.

Our Guided Walking Holidays in Slovenia give you a unique opportunity to enjoy the stunning scenery the area has to offer whilst in the care of an English Guide and chalet owner with unrivalled knowledge of all that the area has to offer.

You need to be of a reasonable standard of physical fitness to get the most from this trip and a keen hill-walker with your own good quality outdoor clothing, footwear and rucksack.

Any questions about this trip? Do not hesitate to ask.....
We are now taking bookings for our next visit and hope you can join us. Contact us here to book your place on our next Guided Walking Holiday in The Julian Alps of Slovenia. We look forward to working with you!

Navigation Skills Training Weekends with Kendal Mountaineering Services during 2017.

Kendal Mountaineering Services are offering a number of fantastic Value Navigation Skills Training Weekends throughout Spring & Autumn/Winter 2017.

At £80 per person for a two day 16 hour course, these represent exceptional value for money.

Our Navigation Skills Weekend Courses are designed to give you the skills and ability to venture into the UK's mountains in any conditions with confidence.

View Course dates here.

On day One of our Navigation Skills Training Courses, we concentrate on giving you map reading skills starting with the most basic skills such as:-
Orientating the map to aid identification of features on the ground.
Identifying features on the ground from information on the map.
Measuring distance on the map
Pacing distances on the ground
Finding tick off features
"Handrailing" ie following a linear feature such as a road, track footpath or bridleway.

Other skills we will show you on day one include:-
Using the grid system on the map to locate a specific place using 4, 6 & 8 figure Grid References.
Using a compass to take a bearing, then walking between Grid References.
Naismith's Rule - how to time between Grid References.

Day two sees us go further up the Kentmere Valley on to higher ground to consolidate skills learnt on day one and add additional skills such as :-

Using the compass to identify an unknown object or location from  a known point and
transposing between map scales - ie identifying features or objects on different map scales. We will be working between OS 1:25 AND 1:50'000 map scales.

As part of your fee for these Navigation Skills Training Weekends, we provide you with maps in both 1:50 & 1:25 scales.

You need to bring your own compass and this must be the civilian specification Silva Type 4 Expedition Compass shown, at it's current best UK price here.

Our Navigation Skills Training Weekends are also suitable for anyone wanting a Navigation Skills Refresher prior to attending a Summer Mountain-walking Leader Training or Assessment Course or Re-assessment.

Contact us here or call Iain on 07761 483364 to book your place now! We look forward to working with you. You can read about the last Navigation Skills Training Weekend we ran here.

A report about our Last Navigation Skills Training Course for 2016 and dates are up now for 2017!

The weekend of October 26th & 27th saw us run our last Navigation Skills Training Course of 2016.

The weather was perfect - too perfect in fact, but better that than the rain & gales we were having this time last year and just ideal for outdoor skills training of any sort.

On this course were joined by (from left to right in photo one) Darren who has done quite a lot with us over the last few years, Sam Glendenning - also in blue attending with his brother Matt (in green) and Nic & Julya who were on holiday in the area from Northampton-shire.

We spent the morning of the first day following the usual order - understanding the different map scales (1:25 & 1:50'000) and the information to be found on each before moving on to setting the map and then measuring distance on the map followed by learning how to pace it on the ground.

Our route took us up Hall Lane where we looked at finding tick-off features along our linear route to a point a kilometre beyond Park House where we stopped for lunch. Time soon goes by!

Following this, Iain taught the group how to find grid references in the order of four, six and then eight figures allowing them to gain a high degree of accuracy in either finding or giving a location on a map. We then started to travel across open ground using compass bearings as well as pacing. Here, in photo two, we use a gateway to avoid climbing a wall - the correct etiquette when in the countryside and a good way to avoid getting shouted at by farmers!

We often find on our Navigation Skills Training Weekend that people turn up in pairs and here, we had a couple who enjoy walking in the countryside and two brothers who also enjoy the same.

Working together on one of our Lake District Map Reading & Navigation Skills Training Courses is a good way to learn the skills and quite often, one person in a pair will pick up a certain element of the skills better than the other. Teamwork in this environment leads to a rewarding experience for all concerned and this weekend was no exception!

The final photo from our first day of Navigation Skills Training sees everyone looking a little orange due to the fantastic sunset at the end of the afternoon.
A few more photos of the sunset will be posted on our Facebook page shortly - do have a look, it was stunning!
Anyway now, the temperature was starting to drop and people were tired after an intensive day. Moments later, Iain's words were "OK folks - get us back to the Land Rover please - by the easiest route!"

Day two saw us all meet up outside of Wilf's Cafe again, but this time Darren didn't join us. Day two will always see us go higher in the mountains if possible; and the weather was still good, so we did just that - driving up to Hallow Bank above Kentmere Village and then taking the BOAT (Bridleway Open to All Traffic) leading over into Longsleddale for a way, before heading across open ground.

We firstly located a stream head, then a small enclosure at the junction of three walls - an ideal place to have lunch before heading straight up a steep slope to reach the summit of Shipman Knotts.

Photo five was taken at a shoulder mid-way up that slope just after Iain had asked the group to identify where they were on the map. The "shoulder" is identifiable by a slight widening of the contour lines on the map at this point and everyone in the group was able to identify where they were - spot on. Brilliant!

Once at the top of Shipman Knotts, some of the group made it known that they would quite like to "bag a wainwright" if possible; and Kentmere Pike was the nearest one at just over 2 kilometres distant. We "navved" our way over the top of Goat Scar to another stream head and then struck out directly for the summit of Kentmere Pike having various degrees of success walking on a bearing on what was quite a long leg!

We reached the summit of Kentmere Pike at around 3pm and whilst there was still some snow around, it was disappointing to see how much it had melted in the last week (photo six). A shame we never got to play in it before it all melted!

Matt, Sam, Nic and Julya all left this course with an improved confidence in their abilities to map read and navigate on any terrain in any conditions and we wish them all the very best with their future forays into the mountains.

Dates are now up for our Navigation Skills Training Weekends during 2017. There are six courses to choose from - three in the Spring and three in the Autumn and still at only £80 per person should we get four or more persons per course.

So, don't delay - contact us to book a place on our 2017 Navigation Skills Training Courses today! (Iain's a poet and he didn't know it!) Ah well! We do look forward to working with you in 2017

Buy the perfect Gift from us this Christmas. Treat your loved one, family member or friend to an amazing adventure or skills training course with us in 2017!

Christmas 2016 is now only a little over four weeks away! 

Are you still trying to decide what you want to buy that loved one, family friend or family member for Christmas? At Kendal Mountaineering Services, we can help!

If any of your family are into the great outdoors, like trying adventurous activities; or have already been introduced to a particular sport such as Mountain Walking, Rock Climbing, Scrambling, Canoeing, Kayaking or Caving and would like to learn the  skills to go off and do these sports for themselves - then you can help them experience these activities or learn those skills by buying them a Kendal Mountaineering Services Gift Certificate for Christmas!

Our Gift Certificates are designed to be flexible. You can check out the different activities and Skill Training Courses we offer by visiting our website and by visiting our Prices page. You do not have to make the full payment for any activity you see if you do not wish to - making a part payment towards someone's Activity Session or Skills Training Course is absolutely fine!

Buying a gift certificate is easy! Having decided what you would like to buy, simply contact us to pay for; and arrange your Christmas Gift Certificate.

Details we will require are who the gift certificate is for so that we can print their name on to it and also which Activity Session or Skills Training Course  you are paying for/towards the cost of. The value of the purchase can  also be entered on to the voucher if required.

Payment for Christmas Gift Certificates can be done either by Cheque made out to Mr I Gallagher and posted to our business address (details on the Contact us page) or by Bank Transfer in which you'll need to contact us to be given the sort code & account number.Ideally, we also need an email address so that we can confirm receipt of your payment and then email you your Christmas Gift Certificate for you to print off and present.

So what are you waiting for? Contact us today or call Iain on 07761483364 to arrange that special gift with a difference for a loved one, friend; or family member this Christmas. They won't be disappointed!

Navigation & Map Reading Skills Training Weekend in The Lake District this coming weekend. Only £80 per person! Grab a last minute bargain.

Want to learn to read a map and navigate safely in the Mountains? We've a course taking place this coming weekend in The Lake District! Short notice, we know - but the forecast is looking exceptionally good!

A two Day Map reading & Navigation Skills Training Courses - for only £80 per person!! Now, that's a bargain.

We've already got four persons booked on to this coming weekend's Map Reading & Navigation Skills Training Course in The Lake District.

This means that it is definitely going ahead!

There are still six places available at only £80 for the two day course! So, grab a bargain, join us on November 26th & 27th and be prepared early to enjoy a great winter, hill-walking in the UK in confidence whilst using the navigation skills you've learnt with us!

Our Map Reading & Navigation Skills Training Courses in The Lake District represent truly fantastic value. For only £80 per person you get two days of tuition and maps are also provided. All you need to do is to turn up with a compass (we recommend the Silva Type 4 expedition model), everything you would need for two days walking out in the mountains - and plenty of enthusiasm to learn new skills!

Our Map Reading & Navigation Skills Training Courses are run in one of the Lake Districts most peaceful, pleasant and yet most accessible places.

Our meeting point is for these courses outside of Wilfs Cafe in Staveley which is very close to the A591 - one of the main roads into the southern part of The Lake District and very close to Kendal, Windermere and Ambleside. Accommodation options are considerable locally and range from reasonably priced hotels & guest houses through to nearby campsites.

Book a Navigation Skills Training Course with us and we will help you find accommodation of your choice in the area!

Each day, we start at 9am and finish back at Staveley by 5pm giving you plenty of time to relax and enjoy the hospitality that the area has to offer.

Please note that if you do wish to buy provisions for your days out on the hill with us or would just like to grab a takeaway coffee before starting your course, then Staveley Post Office directly opposite the Entrance to Mill Yard (where Wilfs is located) offers far better value than any other cafe of delicatessen in the locality and is open from 07:00 - even on Sunday! Sandwiches can be made to order and pre-ordered by calling 01539 822339.

Here's why you should book on to one of our fantastic value Map Reading & Navigation Skills Training Courses? You'll have a great time in some of the areas most stunning surroundings, learn new skills which will give you the confidence to venture further into the areas mountains and have a great deal of fun.

These courses are suitable for anyone wishing to learn more about Map Reading & Navigation Skills - no matter what you ability might be and are great fun for couples who want to get more out of hill walking and individuals who may be aspiring to undertake Mountain Walking Leader Awards - in which case our courses are excellent as an ML Refresher prior to going for assessment or re-assessment.

If this weekend is no good for you then what about December 10th & 11th? We currently have ten places remaining on the December weekend and we'd be very happy to have you join us.

We do require a minimum of four persons per weekend course in order for them to run. We will shortly be releasing dates for our 2017 Navigation Skills Training Weekends  Details of future course dates can be found by visiting the website here.

For anyone wishing to book on one of our Map Reading & Navigation Skills Training Courses please contact us here or call Iain on 07761 483364. We look forward to working with you.

Navigation Skills Training Day in The Lake District. October 28th 2016.

So, here's a report about our last bit of work in October - right at the end of the October Half Term Holiday.

As you can see from the view in photo one, Shams Khan and his daughter Shania had a very good day for their one day Navigation Skills Training Course in The Lake District with us. In general, October was a very good month weather-wise and undoubtedly contributed to the amount of work we did during that month

Shams had been looking for a course that would allow him and daughter Shania the opportunity to learn some map reading & navigation skills, but the course needed to fit in with their plans and a one day course was what they wanted. Of course, we were able to fit this in for the pair when it suited them.

We met outside Wilfs Cafe in Staveley - our usual meeting point for our Navigation Skills Training Courses before heading off on to Green Quarter Fell.

There, we started off by discussing the various map scales used by the Ordnance Survey and the detail visible on each scale. We followed this by discussing orientating the map and then measuring distance on the map and pacing it on the ground. We then made our way up Hall Lane identifying "tick off features" on the map and locating them on the ground. Doing this exercise would keep us busy for several hours.

After a lunch stop at a bridleway cross-roads, we moved on to grid references. A grid reference allows one to find a specific location on a map using the grid lines.

Maps are divided up into 1 kilometre grid squares by lines of longitude (Eastings) and lines of Latitude (Northings). A grid reference is a point located in a grid square. A six figure grid reference will put you at the lower left hand corner of a 100 metre square within a 1 kilometre grid square. More accurate is an 8 figure grid reference putting you in the bottom left hand corner of a 10 metre square within a 100 meter square within a 1 kilometre grid square. Sound complicated? Well, it's not really; and Shams soon picked up the skill allowing him & Shania to find this rather small & insignificant pool of water - good skills!

By this point, we had also introduced the skill of taking a bearing using a compass - just as well because we had left the security of footpaths & bridleways and were now heading across open countryside.

We spent the rest of the day walking from grid reference dealing with any unexpected situations along the way such as avoiding obstructions such as walls and marshes. Walking through bracken (photo four) also presented a challenge for the pair  who performed very well during the day and leave with new skills to use in the countryside.

Shams paid just £160 for their Navigation Skills Training Day in The Lake District with Iain. our next Navigation Skills Training Weekend Course in The Lake District is running this coming weekend - November 26th & 27th. The cost is £80 per person for the two day course so grab yourself a skills training bargain, contact Iain & get booked on! Maps are provided, you just need your own compass (and please bring a Silva Type 4 Expedition Compass - nothing less will do the job properly!) and equipment for going walking in the mountains in what could be inclement weather; and don't forget your lunch.

We look forward to working with you!

Canadian Canoeing Sessions on Windermere, The Lake District. Wednesday 26th October 2016.

Well, things have quietened down for us now at Kendal Mountaineering Services after a busy October. Mind you, we have been away in India for the last fortnight! For us, the quiet season is the best time to go away!

One of our most recent bits of work was with Richard, Lorna & Lydia when we ran a Canadian Canoeing Session for them on Windermere during the October Half Term School Holiday.

Photo one sees the three as we prepared to get on the lake at Fell Foot Country Park.

This was an Introductory Canadian Canoeing Session for the three. The girls had apparently canoed in the past, but it was a new experience for Richard. We started off as two separate canoes - Iain & Richard in one and Lorna & Lydia in the other.

Paddling a Canadian canoe requires co-operation between the person in the front & the one in back. Initially, Lydia & Lorna struggled with this but eventually got the hang of it as we progressed up the west shore of Windermere where, eventually, we reached the small island of Silver Holme.

Here, we rafted up the canoes as we prepared to cross Windermere to make our return journey down the eastern shore of the lake. This was done by connecting the two canoes with a central wooden spar and then tensioning the two boats using the ropes (painters) at the front and the back. Rafting up two or more Canadian Canoes makes them much more stable/safe; and the teams in each boat can work together to make progress.

So why did we raft our two Canadian Canoes together? Well, for what was to come! Windermere at this point is about 600 metres wide; and a breeze had built up during the first half of our session.

Crossing the lake with two novices in one canoe and one in the other would have been a very risky business! Rafted, we managed the crossing without incident, but when we turned south into the wind, we found it too strong to make any real progress - so, back across the lake to the west shore we went!

We eventually arrived back at Fell Foot at about 5pm. Photo three shows a tired but satisfied group. No wonder they were tired as we had done a total of 5 & a half miles in three hours; and half of that was paddled against a headwind!

Our Introductory Canadian Canoeing Sessions in The Lake District start at just £45 per person for a four hour half day session. We do offer discounts for children and for this session, we charged £100 or a little over £33 each for Richard, Lorna & Lydia's half day session with Iain.

Canadian Canoeing is a great way to explore The Lake District's lakes & rivers and the best way to enjoy your first adventure on water where you are in control. Contact us here to book your Canadian Canoeing Session in The Lake District. You won't be disappointed!