How It All Began
One evening, while Rachel and I were engrossed in our favourite TV show, she casually asked if I fancied a packrafting trip. Without hesitation, I replied with an enthusiastic “Yes!” A little while later, I realised I knew very little about packrafting — so I set about doing some research.
Soon, our living room floor was covered in maps, the excitement growing with every route we considered. We planned our upcoming adventure, eager to explore from a whole new perspective.
What is Packrafting?
Packrafting is the art of combining hiking with paddling using a lightweight, portable raft that packs down small enough to fit in your expedition bag. These foldable boats allow adventurers to access remote waterways on foot and then experience the thrill of paddling through beautiful, often untouched landscapes.
Changing Our Plans
Initially, we planned a route in North Wales for its close proximity to home. But as our trip drew closer, we kept changing the plan — and at the very last minute, decided on the Lake District instead.
The weather forecast for our dates in the Lakes looked incredible. While the rivers we’d considered were too low for paddling, the lakes offered perfect conditions. Thanks to my familiarity with the area, we settled on Buttermere and Crummock Water as our route.
Our plan: paddle across Crummock Water, hike up to Red Pike, follow the ridge to High Stile, descend to Buttermere, and paddle back across to our starting point.
Packing for the Trip
We weren’t sure how wet our packrafts would get — turns out they dry really quickly. To be safe, we packed both rafts in the same bag in case they were soaking after paddling.
Rachel carried all the sleeping gear and the tent to minimise the number of pack/unpack stops. Andy’s bag weighed 17 kg (plus spare water), Rachel’s was 12 kg — a fair split as Andy is used to carrying heavier loads.
Day 1 – Paddling Crummock Water & Hiking to Red Pike
The trip began with stunning views over Crummock Water. Using our inflation bags, we quickly set up the packrafts. Rachel took to the water naturally, while Andy took a little time to find his rhythm — but within an hour and a half, we’d covered the 2.5 km paddle, faster than expected.
With time to spare, we basked in the sun, drying our boats, and Rachel even had time for a quick swim. Packing up again, we began our hike to Red Pike.
The valley offered easy walking at first, but higher up we ended up pushing through knee-deep heather and bilberry bushes. Eventually, we found a clearer path and a stream to top up our bottles for the night. Near the summit, Andy’s mood dipped due to hunger, but Rachel quickly fixed that with a flapjack.
At the top, we decided to camp just beyond the next summit, High Stile, instead of pushing further. With heavy packs, it was a welcome decision.
Day 2 – Ridge Walking & Final Paddle on Buttermere
The morning brought sunshine and breathtaking views, though a chilly breeze. After packing the tent and leaving no trace, we headed for High Crag.
We added an optional peak, Seat, before descending to Scarth Gap Pass at the end of Buttermere. Out came the packrafts again for our final paddle. The wind was in our favour, making this leg much easier (though tricky for filming drone footage!).
Trip Summary
Bodies of water paddled:
Crummock Water
Buttermere
Peaks summited:
Red Pike (755m)
High Stile (806m)
High Crag (744m)
Total distance: 28 km
Weather: Glorious sunshine
It was an unforgettable trip — the perfect combination of water, mountains, and wild camping. Packrafting has definitely earned a spot in our future adventures — next time, maybe in a tandem!
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