Day two of our Lake District adventure and the morning saw us take advantage of the resort’s very nice swimming pool.

After a refreshing swim and some quick lunch, we drove the twenty minutes to the popular town of Keswick, and paid a visit to Keswick Climbing Wall and Outdoor Activity Centre. 

As it was a not-untypically rainy day, the indoor climbing wall was proving very popular. We arrived at 2pm for our pre-booked session to find the centre very busy with people of all ages.

We met our instructor, Emma, who was to be our tutor for the hour. We (myself and the two older girls) were to be taught climbing. Well, they were to be taught climbing, and I was taught how to be their support by tying them on to the harness in the correct way, and using the safety rope to stop them from falling.

The 7 year old was particularly taken with learning to tie the safety knot, which started off by making a head, strangling it, and then poking it in the face. Lovely! Great way to remember it though.

We spent a full hour with Emma in a private session, practicing the knots and the climbing technique she showed us. I had a little chant to remember that helped me handle the safety rope the best possible way. I did sometimes forget but I was pretty good by the end of the session.

It was a lot of fun, and I am now deemed competent enough to help my children climb on my own, which is great. Never stop learning!

When our hour was up, the girls wanted to try bouldering, which is lower than the climbing but without a rope, in an area with very bouncy crash mats. They quite enjoyed this but I think they regretted deciding not to carry on with the climbing a bit longer.

My problem when it comes to doing activities like this with the older children is that the twins get fed up and cause all sorts of havoc. At Keswick Climbing Wall, they’ve just opened a new children’s play area called Rookery Woods, which has lots of outdoor play equipment, traditional games, and a mini-archery area. As this was under the cover of the trees, the rain didn’t put too much of a dampener on the fun.

The twins loved this, especially the very fast zip wire. They spent well over an hour taking it in turns. Dad was shattered. The older girls loved this as well, and Mum and Dad may or may not have tried it out too.

The mini archery was good fun with two stations, and rubber-ended arrows. With supervision and a bit of help, even the 4 year olds were able to do this.

By far the twins’ (four years old) favourite part of the afternoon was doing the sheep trail. This is a hunt for wooden sheep around the activity complex, writing down the letters on their trail sheet. Don’t ask me why. They thought it was the best thing ever. They’re telling everyone that this was their favourite bit of their holiday.

You can see our trip to Keswick Climbing Wall and Outdoor Activity Centre on our Lake District video

Keswick Climbing Wall also have a range of outdoor activities, such as kayaking, orienteering, ghyll scrambling, and a 170m zip line. You can do single activities, or book an activity day. Please contact them directly to find out session times and current prices.

The centre has toilets and vending machines, and great views over the surrounding countryside. There is a free car park for customers.

For more information please visit Keswick Climbing Wall

Disclosure – we were guests of Keswick Climbing Wall for the afternoon. All opinion is our own.