Lake District Sports On Land

4x4 - A steep scramble up the side of a quarry. A deep water crossing - with snorkel! Vertical drops. Gullies. Ditches. Bogs. An off-road course in Cumbria will equip you with the skills and know-how to cope with some truly formidable obstacles.

Caving - Strictly speaking, caving follows a mainly horizontal route, whilst potholing involves a vertical descent, usually with a bit of abseiling thrown in. Another popular offshoot is mine exploration.

Clay Pigeon Shooting - Perfect for combining with other activities in the area for an action packed visit, Cumbria's many clay shooting centres offer everything from an hour's fun or an afternoon competition with friends to a full day's instruction or even a specially designed event for you party.

Climbing - The sport of Climbing originated here in the Lake District, on the cliffs of Wasdale Head in the late 19th Century. Today, you can choose between beginners' courses and expert challenges, on indoor climbing walls or outdoors on an unrivalled variety of terrain.

Cycling - Combine cycling with England's steepest hills and waht have you got? Speed, excitement and aching leg muscles! But it doesn't have to be tough. Cumbria has an unparalleled network of country lanes, bridleways and cycle-paths that allow you to discover countryside and villages the motorists rarely ever see.

Fell Running - There's nothing new about extreme sports, or at least not in Cumbria. The Lakeland Fells are the historical and spiritual home of one of the oldest and most gruelling of them all - and it's still going from strength to strength!

Ghyll Scrambling - Turn a ghyll, a mountain watercourse, into your own personal playground, or better still, share the adventure with a group. This increasingly popular activity involves climbing the course of a stream, traversing rocks, squeezing through narrow chasms, even jumping waterfalls.

Hi-Wire - Most of us are content to navigate a forest at ground level. Most of us think the best way to cross a gorge is over a bridge. But some people just can't wait to start swinging through the treetops or sliding down a wire at 40mph.

Mountain Biking - Take a deep breath - it doesn't get much tougher or faster than the trail down Skiddaw, near Keswick. If you can't see the appeal of pushing and carrying a bike up a 3,000ft. mountain then turning around and scaring yourself silly on the descent, full-on downhilling might not be for you!

Orienteering - It has been called "cunning running". It's also variously known as map racing and map hiking, because you can go as fast, or as slow, as you like. But to it's many devotees, it's simply known as "O"

Paintballing - The Romans and the Border Reivers have gone, the Scots are welcome now - but the fells and forests of The Lake District and Cumbria still make a fantastic battleground! Whether you're looking for tactics and cameraderie or all out mayhem, this is the place to get your pulse racing.

Quad biking - This is where all terrain vehicles get to grips with all types of terrain. Put them to the test on technical challenges and cross country treks - slippery moorland, forest tracks, rocky river beds, steep fellsides ... and mud, lots of mud!

Riding - How better to experience the majestic countryside of the Lake District than on horseback? Branch off onto historic tracks and bridleways. See over the walls for views even hikers miss. Feel at one with the terrain, yet cover it quickly enough to reach unspoilt beauty spots.

Skiing - Okay, it's not Val D'Isere, but there's plenty of good skiing here. You'll need to pick the right day for full snow cover, but it's a refreshing alternative to planning an expensive overseas trip months in advance. Jump in the car and you'll be on the slopes before you know it!

Snowboarding - It's all about having the freedom to go anywhere, so the aesily accessible Cumbrian fells are ideal. Carve open terrain, freeride chutes or uncover a natural freestyle playground with awesome jumps and half-pipes....or if you're just looking for fun and excitement, it's fairly easy to pick up the basics.

Walking - Even people who think they know Cumbria are forever finding new treasures or fresh tests of endurance. Here is a county that includes amongst it's varied riches the woodland paths once trodden by Roman legionaries at Hadrian's Wall, the views across to the peaks of Scotland from the beautiful Solway Coast, and the Lakeland climbs and long distance hikes made world famous by Wainwright.