Experience the great outdoors with Graythwaite Adventure

We offer award winning *proud smile* outdoor adventure experiences on the Graythwaite Estate. 12 months of the year we offer land-based activities including 4×4 off-roading, clay shooting, archery, axe throwing and bushcraft experiences. During the summer months, we offer water sports, so that’s hire of kayaks, paddleboards and canoes, along with lessons, as well as RIB boat tours. To see the landscape differently from the top of the off-road course or the water is really quite special.

We offer only private experiences whether it be couples, families, a group of friends or a corporate event meaning we tailor the time we share with guests to best suit them.

We think together with the beautiful location on one of the Lake District’s largest private estates, where you can see red deer and roe deer roaming, ospreys flying above and phenomenal views over Windermere, our background in hospitality and event management means we know how to look after guests. Personal touches, the level of service and attention to detail are vital ingredients and we like to go above and beyond to exceed people’s expectations.  Acting as ambassadors for this great place, we’re always happy to help people plan the rest of their day and time in the Lakes. There’s so much out there to explore and we love sharing suggestions and our local knowledge.

*big smiles* For us, mornings are a beautiful time on the estate. Before guests arrive, we’ll often head down to the lakeshore, there’s a mist above the water and the sun’s rising over the fells on the opposite eastern shore. We’ll get out the camp stove, make a coffee and chat about the day ahead. If its good weather, we’ll perhaps have time for a quick paddleboard and just be; the calm before the day starts and to soak up the surroundings.

The next highlight has got to be guests arriving. Everyone arrives with a level of anticipation, wanting to have fun. We love seeing people’s reaction to what they see in front of them; the natural scenery and loving the place they’re in. Sometimes you can see people noticeably relax, it’s a great place for a digital detox and it’s a privilege to be part of that.

Some guests arrive understandably nervous depending on what they’ve booked and their level of experience, and sometimes the activity can push people out of their comfort zone. We’re a nurturing team, we chat through any anxieties around the activity, help calm nerves, or embrace the excitement! There’s nothing quite like helping people overcome fears however small they may be. It’s great to instruct in a way that resonates with people and to watch their confidence grow. To see the joy on people’s faces when they achieve something *smile*. It’s the reason we only offer private experiences; it makes it about individual guests rather than a group.’

We absolutely love to welcome three generations of a family. With bushcraft for example, we can have children, parents and grandparents all taking part in the same activity, learning the skills, about the woodland and local habitat. They often comment that this is the rare time all holiday that everyone is together and present, without the distraction of screens. Sometimes the activity is just about real quality family time. For us to be able to help create and almost give this time to a grandparent is a really special thing. Plus, there are some areas of the estate where you can’t get phone signal anyway! *laughs*.

Finally, *smiles* there’s the end of the day. Watching the sunset with a sundowner or on a blue-sky evening, jumping on the boat with the team to motor across to Bowness for a pizza and a pint, rounds off a perfect day. What makes our experiences is our team, and it’s great to spend time with them where we can all share stories from the day.

Graythwaite Estate is the largest family-owned estate on the shores of Windermere. The Sandys family have been on the land since 1509, with the hall where the family resides being built around 1660. Since then, there have been various extensions, with each generation of the family putting their mark on it. The garden side of the hall is a Victorian Gothic style, with sandstone arches and balconies brought in from St Bees. The garden itself was designed by the famous garden designer Thomas Mawson in 1896, similar to the gardens at Langdale Chase. The garden remains pretty much unchanged, designed as a spring garden.

The estate has passed from generation to generation. Over the years it’s progressed from traditional forestry and agriculture through to now where tourism plays a big role with almost 30 of the estate’s properties being holiday cottages. The next big change is rewilding; what was traditionally open pasture grazing land is being rewilded, including the planting of thorn bushes and oak trees together with the introduction of an ancient breed of cattle roaming the woodland. Native species like Pine Martens are being reintroduced and there are currently discussions about the reintroduction of beavers in the future. It’s an exciting time to be on the estate, the family act as custodians of the land and are hands on to ensure everything works hand in hand with each other.

We’re very fortunate indeed to do what we do, where we do it and to be able to share a small slice of this beautiful area with guests.