The Lake District, if you don’t know already, is one of the most iconic spaces in the UK that is full of rewarding, heart-pumping and absolutely magnificent views. As a northern girl myself, I have had my fair share of experiences with scrambles around the lakes and with a partner who is a climbing enthusiast, this was something that could not be avoided so getting comfortable with the idea of essentially free climbing up mountains was a must. It’s such a great way to spend the weekend and just to live a healthier lifestyle!
I have decided to put together a little guide and just an overall story experience of Jake’s Rake and everything that I want to talk about but no one to talk about it with! Hopefully, it includes some useful tips and recommendations so you feel more equipped when embarking on Jake’s Rake. If you’re travelling in the UK, stopping off in the lakes, and particularly Jake’s Rake, is a stunning way to spend your day.
Jakes Rake
Now this was my first ever scramble and I can tell you it was the most rewarding and hardest one I have done. You begin the whole hike walking up a whole array of huge rock steps and when we wanted it, it was very sunny and quite warm, which made it safer in retrospect as you are not standing on any slippy rocks but also made it a little more challenging, which I liked.
There are loads of little spots you can dip your feet in as water flows down by the site of this relatively steep hike up towards the scramble. The walk itself is very scenic and full of all kinds of people. I saw a mother who carried her 2-year-old son on her back the entire way up, I was so impressed and also embarrassed when I had to stop for my break because she was just pushing herself all the way up and it was mint.
When you’ve reached the top of this little hike, you should be met with a huge lake that you will likely see a few people swimming in depending on the time of year and is a great spot for a little cool down. If you make yourself to the other side of the river, you will find yourself at a point of steep inclines. At first, I was so intimidated, as again, it was my first scramble but I didn’t realise how high up it actually was.
I went to this with 4 other friends, my partner being one of them. I think I was placed 3rd for a reason but I was so glad I was in the middle, as it gave me enough confidence to move on up even if I felt a bit scared but allowed me to watch my friends go up and copy what they did. The scramble itself went very smoothly and there were roughly around 3 or 4 points where you could stop, stand and admire the view comfortably or even catch your breath again.
If you did decide you wanted to do this with more protection, we stumbled across hooks and a pair of gentlemen that were doing it with all of the proper climbing equipment, which I would more than recommended depending on the weather conditions on your overall confidence level.
There were a few dodgy bits where you had to come out of the tunnel-like scramble and expose yourself to the outside, which even thinking about it now left me with anxiety; however, there were so many good hand and food slots, grips and chances for you to lean with the mountain that it was all in all a very moderate scramble. As it was very very dry from the really good weather, I was a lot more concerned with the foot and hand holds, leaving little to no risk of slipping, which made it very seamless getting right to the top.
Overall Recommendations and Tips
Dry Weather
I don’t think I would have done this scramble if it had been raining or had been really wet the day before. I enjoy scrambles a lot more when the odds aren’t stacked against me so I would genuinely only recommend this walk during the dry summer and autumn days.
Bring Some Snacks
We took our time with the whole walk to admire the views, have little chats and have time for a dip and we brought some pre packed sandwiches, fruit and other snacks that came extremely useful during these little breaks. Not to mention you will get to enjoy a delicious sandwich while gazing up at the incredible view.
Pack For A Dip
As you have your choice of the glorious lake you walk past or a few hidden little spots, the biggest mistake I made was not packing for a dip but also not leaving enough time to. This way you can cool off your muscles that have done over time but it’s like a well-deserved reward from the incline and decline.
Avoid Taking Pets
While I would say animals are better on their feet than us and I would say they would be really good to take leading up to the lake, if you are looking at the jack’s rake, I wouldn’t recommend you take your pets. As it’s relatively steep from the get-go It’s definitely not something that your dogs can do without a lot of assistance, and it wouldn’t be safe.
Take a Camera
While your phone is a must in all these kinds of situations, in case something unforeseen happens, if you have a little camera, I would recommend you bring it. The views are absolutely insane especially when on a clear day. I managed to get some great pictures of the landscape but there is something about phone cameras that just don’t do the views justice so if there was ever a hike to take your camera, I would definitely recommend this one.
Lots of Water
No matter if it’s a cold winter day or a hot summer morning, bringing a substantial amount of water is a must and for good reason. It was a godsend having two large bottles of water when I went and as it was boiling, I needed them plus a little extra. We took quite a few breaks on the way up and I think it was because of the heat; we just needed more time to recharge and also didn’t want to rush the whole day and the water really carried up all the way to the top.
Final Thoughts
When deciding which Lake Distinct walk to take on if you are a relatively confident hiker, I would strongly recommend this one. It’s steep, get’s the thighs burning and it has a moderate-level climb. I would recommend this walk in the spring and summer.
