Staying Safe on the Fells Surrounding Keswick
Located a short drive away from most Keswick hotels, the fells surrounding the town are popular with many of the visitors to the area. While there is no denying their beauty or the views they offer to those who hike the trails, the fells can also be dangerous if you don’t take proper care. To make sure you enjoy your own hike without any issues, here are our top tips for staying safe on the fells surrounding Keswick.
Have the Right Equipment
The right equipment is essential for staying safe on the fells, especially as they often cover rough terrain and are in remote areas where emergency services will need extra time to get to you, should an emergency situation occur. Your essential kit should always include a map and compass, a mobile phone and GPS, a torch, a whistle, and spare batteries for all of your equipment. You should also pack extra layers – even in the summer – along with some water and windproof clothing as the weather in the Lake District is notorious for changing rapidly.
Check the Weather
Visibility is crucial for staying safe on the fells surrounding Keswick and as we have mentioned, the area is known for its changeable weather that can very quickly take a turn for the worse. While there’s no much you can do about the weather, it’s important that you check the latest weather forecast before you set off and continue to monitor it throughout the day for any drop in visibility or dangerous winds.
Use a Guide
One of the best ways to stay safe on the fells is to use a guide. Even if you are an experienced hiker, if you are new to the area, then it’s a sensible idea to either hire a private guide or book on to a guided hike of the fells. Not only will the guides already know to best routes, but they will already know the potential dangers in the area and be trained on how to keep the entire group safe. The Lake District National Park offers guided walks from the end of March right up until Boxing Day, offering plenty of opportunities to enjoy the fells in a safe manner.
Pack a First Aid Kit
A personal first aid kit won’t take up much space in your pack and it will help keep you, and potentially others in your group, safe in the event of an emergency. When it comes to personal first aid kits, the key thing is to remember to include any of your essential medication or a spare inhaler if you suffer from asthma. You should also remember to swap out certain items depending on the time of year it is. For example, in the winter it’s a sensible idea to include a foil blanket, while in the summer it will be far more beneficial to pack some extra sunscreen, antihistamines, and rehydration sachets.
Know Basic First Aid
There’s no use in packing a first aid kit if you won’t know how to use in the case of an emergency. Knowing some basic first aid can help you stay safe as even a minor injury could turn into a bigger problem on the fells where helps isn’t always at hand and the emergency services will require extra time to reach you. Taking a first aid course is a handy skill to have in everyday life it is especially useful if you are someone who frequently goes hiking in the beautiful but potentially dangerous fells around Keswick.
Making sure that you know how to treat minor injuries such as a sprained ankle and being able to spot the first signs of dehydration might seem like a simple enough skill, but on the fells, they can be life-saving.