Two Great Pastimes In The English Lake District

You can now ascend the dizzying route to the top of Honister Slate Mine, going up the oen and only via ferrata ("iron road") in England. This is an Italian-inspired cable system, coomon in the Dolomites for dangerous acents, to which you are securely attached by a rope and harness.

For the inveterate thrill-seeker, this offers a new dare-devil activity. You go up ladders, cross a narrow bridge made of a couple of old railway lines, bend double in old mineshafts and gaze at the soaring Lake District mountains, all the while ascending 1800 feet of old mine workings to the top of Fleetwith Pike.

Opened a couple of years ago, the Lake District via ferrata has been an amazing success with adventure seeking trippers and the more adventurous tourist. All expeditions from Honister are fully guided, and you have to wear life-preserving miner's helmet with head torch.

Mark Weir, the owner, end product of a long line of Honister miners, says: "I just wanted to get the man on the street from the comfort zone out into something different. It's definitely adrenaline-fuelled with added natural beauty.....and it's proven popular with both walkers and families looking for lifelong memories." Well, there's no danger of forgetting your trip, with views you'd normally get only in a plane!

The acsent goes slowly, but the thrills come quickly - ranging from sheer drops and stunning views to a sense of achievement and awe at the engineering feats from Victoria days. At one point, you clamber along the cliff face and find yourself hanging over the edge. And to complete the thrill, a narrow bridge spans a drop of 300 metres!

There's no better way to see the tarns and streams of the Lake District than the via ferrata. Children from 10 years and over 4ft 7in tall can go along, with adults who are resonably fit. See the website at www.honister-slate-mine.co.uk/via_ferrata.asp

Another super activity in the Lake District is mountain biking. For mountain-bikers there is currently a very special, purpose-built trail in Grizedale Forest, run by the forestry commission: it has lots of singletrack, boardwalks and beams.

Grizedale also has very smooth and easy fire breaks along with some older tracks, with a bouldery and technical aspect. There's one track which comes out of the forest onto the splendours of Bethecar Moor. If you take this route you'll see some really fantastic views before you have to focus on a speedy descent where spiky slickrock lies in wait.

Biking is permitted on any walk path or trail classed as a byway or bridleway, which abound in the Lakes, though it's helpful to pick out the best and most suitable. Fortunately, websites like Mountain Bike Cumbria provide all the information you need.

One of the best centres fro Lakes mountain biking is Staveley in the south-east Lakes; a great benefit is that it's on the railway line to Windermere and has a big bike shop and a great cafe. Some great bike trails start here, with moderate loops around the Kentmere valley and the extreme Garburn Pass - only recommended for the true expert!

Some Lakes mountains have trails over the highest summits, a skill called bike-mountaineering. You need to prepare for big climbs and long pushes, but the rewards are immense! There are long "top-of-the-world" bike trails which traverse miles along the majestic ridges of the Helvellyn range as well as a truly awesome descent along the flank of Skiddaw - voted the best downhill route in Britain.

Back o'Skiddaw, as it's known round here, has lonely wilderness trails, but even around the gentler edges of the Lake District the trails can be just as steep and entertaining. But however challenging mountain biking gets in the lake District, you're never far from away from the local cosy pub or relaxing bed and breakfast.