Cliff camping is an exciting, adrenaline-fuelled experience on offer from Honister Slate, where we provide a unique climbing challenge complete with exceptional views of the Lake District. Our comprehensive cliff camping package covers everything you’ll need for your adventure, from safety equipment to expert supervision.
Read on for a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions about this experience, where we have in-depth answers to all your queries right here.
Cliff camping is a once-in-a-lifetime overnight experience, where you will spend the night on a Portaledge which is secured 500 feet above Honister Pass. You will cross the infinity bridge to arrive at your destination, which is the longest hire wire bridge in Europe, before abseiling down to the suspended ledge where you will be camping.
Cliff camping experiences are available at the head of Honitor Pass, which is a cliff pass located in the centre of the Lake District, Cumbria’s famous National Park. This is part of the adventure site located at Honister Slate Mine, the last working slate mine in England.
We provide you with all our own safety equipment, including helmets, harnesses and sleeping bags. In addition to this, proper outdoor footwear is required, which should include a fully enclosed foot, proper grip and ankle support.
Our team advises you dress appropriately for the activity, with long hair tied back and piercings removed or covered. We recommend dressing warmly in plenty of layered clothing regardless of the season. Climbing gloves are also recommended.
Our cliff camping packages vary in price depending on how many people are attending.
One Portledge overnight for 2 guests is £500.
Two Portledges overnight for 4 guests is £800.
Our cliff camping is very safe. We only use fully tested and approved equipment, where our instructors carry out daily visual checks. There will also be a team member on hand to ensure you’re positioned properly on the Portaledge, where 24 hour access to support is made available overnight.
All of our packages have undergone a professional risk assessment, where we have procedures in place to deal with all eventualities. Your party will be briefed on proper cow’s tail rope and sit-harness usage before departure, and all harnesses and helmets will be adjusted by our experts. We also operate standard loop to loop climbing practices for optimal safety.
Our expedition leaders are first aid trained, and carry a radio with them at all times. If you have any further safety concerns then our well-informed team will be able to provide you with the reassurance you need.
Cliff camping is open to everyone over the age of 18. Those aged under 16 must be accompanied by an adult, where the minimum age for our Via Ferrata activities is 10 years, with a height minimum of 1.3 metres. We allow one adult to supervise up to five under 16s, where a disclaimer must be signed to accept responsibility for these guests. There is also a 114 kg or 18 st weight limit in place.
Our comprehensive package includes everything you need to make your experience exceptional, where we provide:
As part of the experience you will be supervised as you make your way to the camping point, where we will ensure you are securely in position. We remain on call 24/7 to handle any emergencies, and a member of our team will be in position to assist your descent at the end of the experience.
Our cliff camping experiences are entirely weather dependent, where our team will be checking the digital forecast throughout your stay. In case of poor conditions, especially if there’s a lightning risk, we will adjust your experience accordingly.
Your instructor will carry adequate water supplies, where participants can also bring extra fluids for the overnight stay if needed. Our experts will also issue sun cream usage reminders in warm weather. Our team leaders carry spare fleece layers for colder weather as part of their first aid equipment.
To book your experience, visit our cliff camping page and select how many people you’d like to book for, and your preferred date range. You will then be taken through to our terms page and our secure payment process where you can confirm your booking.
You may make one amendment to your booking if it is more than 48 hours prior to your slot time, which is subject to a £10 administration fee. Amendments cannot be made within 48 hours of your booking. Cancellation requests will be accepted at least 48 hours ahead, where you will be entitled to rebook within 12 months, where a refund will not be provided.
Honister Slate is an adventure experience site and a working slate mine, where we produce the world-famous Westmorland Green slate as part of our active mining processes.
In addition to cliff camping, we also offer a variety of fun family activities that vary in difficulty. These include:
Always read the full activity description carefully before booking to ensure it appeals to your interests and fitness levels.
In addition to our adventure activity packages, we also offer a range of other adaptable programmes and services to suit your needs. These consist of:
Team Building Days – this take place across our site, where you can choose a combination of our climbing and adventure activities or one of our tours to make up your day, where we’re equipped to work with a range of group sizes
Education & School Trips – our mine features a long and interesting history which is perfect for educational outings and school trips, where we can offer comprehensive tours and workshops, as well as a large group discount
Bait Cabin Cafe – our Bait Cabin can be found at the top of Honister Pass, where you can enjoy a range of food and drinks whilst taking in the stunning views
Honister Merchandise – to commemorate your trip, we sell a full range of branded Honister Slate products, including clothing, books and photos of your visit
Slate Shop – if you’re interested in purchasing some of our iconic Honister Slate, then you can do so through our dedicated website, where we cover a comprehensive range of bespoke products, including fire hearths, worktops, water features and paving.
Contact us today for more information about what we can offer, or fill out our query form today. Alternatively you can visit our photo gallery or our complete adventures page for further inspiration.
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