The Big Fell Pony Adventure

An epic 7 night wild camping adventure from £1,650 per person

From our basecamp on the edge of the Western Dales we join up all of our wild camping routes to create a truly unique and immersive experience. Setting off from our basecamp at a Fell pony stud on the edge of the Western Dales, we adventure through the Howgills, camping in Bowderdale (reputedly the longest uninhabited valley in England), following ancient pack horse routes and crossing pack horse bridges into the eastern Lake District. Passing through the RSPB Nature reserve at Haweswater, our journey takes us over Mardale common and High Street, the old Roman Road and highest peak in the Eastern Lakes where Fell pony men held bareback trotting races up until the 1950s. 

Sleeping in tents and cooking over fire, the ponies carry all the basic equipment from pots and pans to mattresses and sleeping bags. All you need to bring is a small rucksack or day bag and suitable all weather clothing & footwear while we take care of everything else.

DAY 1

• Arrive in the afternoon/evening at basecamp on the edge of the Howgill fells

• Meet and make friends with the ponies

• Pack the kit ready for the morning

• Communal evening meal cooked on an open fire

• Settle down for the night in our award winning Robens technical tents

Yarleside, Howgill Fells

Yarleside, Howgill Fells

DAY 2

• Breakfast

• Load the packs on to ponies

• Lunch break at the river and let the ponies rest

• Afternoon trek over Yarleside to Bowderdale & make camp

• Communal evening meal cooked over fire



The Howgills (approximately 40 square miles) are home to the Bybeck herd of Fell ponies that run out as a semi-feral herd.

DAY 3

• Breakfast

• Load the packs on to ponies

• Trek to old packhorse bridge and make camp

• Communal evening meal cooked over fire

DAY 4

DAY 5

Mardale Common

DAY 6

High Street

Wild cooking

What we provide

  • Mountain tent

  • Sleeping bag and mat

  • Kitchen and cooking/eating utensils

  • Breakfast, lunch and evening meals

  • Communal shelter

  • Water (we carry a water filter)

Stargazing under dark skies

What you need to bring

This is an all weather expedition so you will need

  • Small rucksack or day bag

  • Warm clothing (layers work well)

  • A waterproof and windproof Jacket

  • Sturdy footwear (no sandals please, you will know about it if a horse accidentally steps on your foot)

  • Combat trousers are ideal; as they are strong, light and fast drying (do not bring denim jeans)

  • Hat

  • And spare changes of clothes stored in a plastic bag to keep them dry.

  • Torch and spare batteries

  • Wash kit and towel

  • A sense of adventure

Howgill Fells

Howgill Fells

This is a walking adventure not a riding trek so no previous experience with horses is necessary, however a certain level of fitness is required as we will be walking up to 8 miles a day over fells that stand at over 2000ft. With the ponies you can be as hands-on or as hands-off as you like, each expedition we lead will have 2 trained mountain leaders and horse handlers so you don’t need to worry.

Award-winning Robens technical tents, mattresses and sleeping bags

Get in touch to find out more and book an adventure.

Read the Howgill fells wild camping blog.


We tailor our trips to ensure maximum comfort and an extraordinary experience that will remain with you.