Adrenaline junkies can experience a unique new thrill by spending the night perched on a cliff face 500ft up in the Borrowdale Valley.
Cliff camping is the latest extreme adventure offered at Honister Slate Mine where daredevils will somehow try to nod off in their luxury snug sleeping bags while stationed on a tiny platform jutting out from Fleetwith Pike.
But first they face a James Bond-style trip to reach their al fresco accommodation, crossing the mine’s rope bridge and then abseiling down the side of the crag to the porta-ledge. Their reward is an unforgettable night and a Borrowdale bacon buttie hand-delivered in the morning.
“This is a one-off experience for real adventurers, although they will be clipped in at all times,” said Prentice Wilkinson-Weir, son of Jan Wilkinson who co-owns the mine with her brother-in-law, Joe Weir.
“We must stress that the experience is really weather dependent and people will get a refund if they are not able to go on the cliff camping experience,” added 23-year-old Prentice, who has just returned to the family business after five years studying international business management and marketing in Manchester.
He plans to experience cliff camping for the first time this weekend, but his brother, Tiger Weir, aged 21, has already tried it out with his partner Rochelle Turner.
She said: “It was pretty cool — very, very high up and exhilarating. It all depends if you are comfortable with heights. We weren’t too bad. We were quite comfortable with it.”
Five people have already signed up for the latest attraction at the slate mine, which has a reputation for extreme adventure as it is also the home to the Via Ferrata cliff face trek and climb. Cliff campers will receive a Cumbria food hamper which will be roped down to them.
If an overnight stay is too much, a champagne brunch or afternoon tea with a view to remember is offered as an alternative. A member of slate mine staff will be on call via radio 24/7 in case of emergency.
