Navigation Courses in the Lake District

Being outdoors on the hills and high fells is an exhilarating experience especially if you have planned your own route, have confidence in your gear and your map reading skills. You are free to explore and take in the vistas, safe in the knowledge that you know exactly where you are going.

Open Water Swim Training in the Lake District

Open Water swimming is one of the fastest growing sports in the UK!

The popularity of the sport has grown with the introduction of the Great Swim series closely followed by more steadily diversifying outdoor swimming events.

The great thing about open water swimming is it's very accessible to a range of people and you don't have to be an athlete to do it, you just need a sense of adventure.

Cumbria and the Lake District is a natural base for open water swimming with over 80 lakes and tarns.

Running Backpacks

How do you choose the best running backpack for you? Our approach at Head to the Hills is always to take a look at what you want to use it for and what features would be most important to you before making a decision.

About Leki Nordic Walking poles

Nordic walking is increasing in popularitiy in the UK and once you give it a go, it's easy to see why...
Nordic walking is easy to fit into most peoples lifestyle, it's simple to pick up, improves posture, promotes health and gets you outdoors. It really is one of the most accessible forms of effective exercise we know of and all you need to get started is a pair of nordic walking poles and your trainers.

Ice Grips for Shoes and Boots

Turn your winter boots, shoes or trainers into ice shoes with our ice grips for shoes.

Our Artimate Ice Grippers are constructed from robust, freeze resistant rubber and stainless steel ice spikes.

Available in a number of different styles to suit various winter conditions, our ice grippers are essential for safe and confident walking in the dangerous walking conditions we experience during the winter months.

Trail Running in Snowdonia.

I recently stopped at the excellent Tyn y Coed Hotel at Capel Curig and managed to sneak in a cheeky bit of fell running while I was there. Heading straight for the obvious choice, I decided on Moel Siabod. It is hard to miss it from Capel as it pokes its pointy summit head out from the surrounding woodland and manages to look like a friendly route while at the same time maintaining a real mountain atmosphere. Perfect for an extended lunchtime fell run...

Have Your Lakeland Cake and Eat it!

The oven glove has been thrown down to find the best cake in Lakeland.

The competition for the Lakeland cake of the year culminates with judging at the Briery Wood Hotel, in Windermere, in June.

Swimming Wetsuit Fitting Service from Head to the Hills

At Head to the Hills we provide a wetsuit fitting service for customers at our Ambleside showroom to ensure you get the right fit. Getting the right fitting wetsuit is crucial with wetsuits designed specifically for swimming, they are engineered to fit your body as close as possible to provide buoyancy, flexibility, warmth and provide maximum swimming efficiency.

If you want to own a wetsuit that enables you to swim faster and easier then book a fitting today.

Advice on Choosing Walking Socks

You'll have heard the phrase 'it's what's inside that counts!' , well that couldn't be more true than for walking socks. Choosing the right hiking or walking sock should ensure your feet remain at their optimal temperature, blister free, dry and comfortable, which means of course you, the owner, are free to enjoy your walking adventures.

Gear Guide: How To Look After Walking Boots