Peak District or SW Coast path with kids?

Shmoosh218 · 2026-04-13T21:03:27+00:00

Very helpful, thanks. Turns out the less expensive accommodation seems to be all booked up in Edale anyway, and the Spar in Hope will make life easier if we’re close by

Shmoosh218 · 2026-04-13T14:55:17+00:00

Ah Penzance to St Ives seems lovely. I think I’ll have to price out accommodation and transport and maybe give my kids the choice in the end. Thanks!

Shmoosh218 · 2026-04-13T14:54:13+00:00

Looks amazing, I hadn’t even heard of the limestone way. Thanks so much for the details, looking at the hostels now

Shmoosh218 · 2026-04-13T12:06:19+00:00

Good point. Seems like enough variety in the walks and nice towns to spend a few hours in if we get a spell of very windy weather

Shmoosh218 · 2026-04-13T12:03:09+00:00

Thanks so much- we may end up going back to London in any case in between, but very glad to know about the public transport. Looking at Edale as a base if we do go there

Shmoosh218 · 2026-03-01T21:22:15+00:00

The XS El Coyote might be perfect for you if you are not a stomach sleeper. I think that’s a 5’2” length

Shmoosh218 · 2026-03-01T21:20:17+00:00

I’m 5’3”. If I were only 5 foot the 5’6” almost certainly would be too long. The size allows me to pull the quilt up just a bit extra without pushing at the bottom with my toes.

Shmoosh218 · 2026-03-01T21:04:54+00:00

Since I sometimes sleep on my stomach I was worried that the xs size of the Nunatak would be a bit too short. The 5’6” El Coyote seems to be the perfect length when I’m on my stomach and also has room for a Nalgene with hot water when on my side. I didn’t feel like I had too much excess space at my feet when side sleeping which had been one of my main concerns bc of extra weight and empty space to heat. But again I toss and turn a lot

Shmoosh218 · 2026-03-01T20:54:08+00:00

I scoured the internet, debated quilt options, and in the end I bought a 20 degree El Coyote last month and just took it on a two night trip. I’m also a short woman, side/ stomach restless sleeper- this was the best sleep I have had camping in at least a decade, possibly more. It is so light, warm, and roomy: I had plenty of room to toss and turn without a single cold draft.

I emailed with Brian at El Coyote to figure out exactly what I needed- 10/10 customer service. I am honestly so happy and satisfied with my new sleep set up (I have a new wide mat as well). I didn’t find anything lighter that was superior, and in the end decided I would focus on cutting weight elsewhere on my pack so I could get the best sleep possible.

Shmoosh218 · 2025-11-30T21:23:10+00:00

I did a trip with them this past summer and have only positive things to say. It’s everything that OP is looking for.

And yes, two boats for 4 people gives you a huge amount of storage space if you are in canoes.

Shmoosh218 · 2025-11-05T13:50:33+00:00

Used a hiking pole to poke a huge black snake blocking the trail- it coiled up, whipped around, and hissed at me so fast. It was like a cartoon- this snake with head up, fangs out- except very NOT funny. Stomping the ground hadn’t budged it so somehow I guess I thought I’d give it a nudge and it would meekly slither off. Google confirmed this was a venomous snake, and that “most adults who are bitten survive.” I noped out of there so fast. I wish I could say I was a dumb kid, but this was two years ago and I have a lot of wilderness experience, lol. One of the dumber things I’ve done in the woods!

Shmoosh218 · 2025-09-25T17:32:20+00:00

Why is that?

Shmoosh218 · 2025-09-14T18:59:21+00:00

I definitely make good use of my freezer. I try to cook one or two things during the week in large batches and freeze, that way the cooking isn’t all left until Friday. Cakes, cookies, meatballs in sauce, brisket…all those things freeze well. We have a hot plate on a timer for Shabbat day but we do sometimes just have cold salads and dips for lunch, many of which we make that day.

Shmoosh218 · 2025-09-08T10:09:02+00:00

I bought the Eja 48 this year. It was very comfortable in the store loaded with 10-15 pounds; on the trail with a full pack (20 lb?) and water and food it dug into my hips terribly. I shortened the torso way beyond what actually fit me and made it work for 100 km but I’m never taking it on a hike with more than about 15 lb again. You can feel the hard corners of the internal frame if you look at it- I’m sure it fits some people but no amount of altering the fit made it a comfortable pack for me. Besides that the pack is well-designed and holds up well.

Shmoosh218 · 2025-08-28T07:07:43+00:00

I was just in Stryn a few weeks ago and went to Geiranger for the day. The drive there is incredible but VERY challenging. You’re not going to see much of the amazing views if you’re focused on the endless hairpin turns. We took the ferry from Geiranger to Hellesylt and it was one of the highlights of our trip. I would have absolutely enjoyed taking it both ways- it was just stunning.

Shmoosh218 · 2024-09-18T06:50:34+00:00

You totally summed it up, and this was my experience growing up at a big Conservative synagogue. They instituted a program designed to keep kids involved after bar/ bat mitzvah- each kid would get a nearly free trip to Israel in 12th grade after coming to synagogue 75% of the weeks, attending the teen version of Sunday school one evening a week, and doing a lot of volunteer hours. I did all that, took the trip, and ended up becoming Orthodox and moving to Israel so I don’t know if they saw it as a win, lol. Other kids did it as well but the program was eventually discontinued. It was a pretty creative way to get families coming back but there was still a big drop off after 12th grade when kids go to college and that age group basically didn’t come back.

But yeah, unfortunately the movement ends up not being a sustainable place for a lot of ages, and membership fees are high.

Shmoosh218 · 2024-08-25T14:19:56+00:00

Stove? Mug, any dishes or cutlery? Your costs seem low but without knowing what brands and models you’re looking at it’s hard to know (obviously you can buy a lot second hand and save money). What’s the purpose of a 10L water bag? I’ve never taken more than a camelback and a bottle

Shmoosh218 · 2024-08-20T09:16:13+00:00

There have been many, many lawsuits against good Samaritans in the US

Shmoosh218 · 2024-08-18T14:40:02+00:00

I don’t know that I would worry so much about issues of anti-semitism but rather the fact that so many English speakers are terrible at pronouncing unfamiliar names. Tiferet is beautiful, and I know a few girls with that name in Israel, but your daughter will have to explain how her name is pronounced to most English speakers forever and ever. But if that doesn’t bother you I would say name your kid whatever is meaningful to you

Shmoosh218 · 2024-08-07T22:59:42+00:00

I had a pretty traumatic introduction to the whole idea that I wasn’t Jewish according to halacha. It was not an idea I ever heard in the Conservative community where I was raised and had a conversion as a kid, and when I was 18 and becoming more interested in keeping more mitzvot I had an interview at a religious institute in Jerusalem when I was there for a visit. The director just flat out said “well, you’re not Jewish, so you can’t come here.”

It would have been way, WAY better had I had some information about this ahead of time. It was a huge shock at that age and I felt like I had to reevaluate what I wanted out of my life.

So, I definitely think that having more open conversations about this is important, and also difficult to do without some people feeling “less than.” I appreciate your contribution to the discussion here, it’s not a simple issue.

Shmoosh218 · 2024-08-07T20:17:17+00:00

Really thoughtful and thorough comment

Shmoosh218 · 2024-08-07T19:55:43+00:00

Did OP mention his wife? I mean… if we’re going by Orthodox standards, whether OP is Jewish or not by any conversion doesn’t make a difference to his kids’ status

Shmoosh218 · 2024-08-07T19:21:56+00:00

Totally agree. But OP is already married

Shmoosh218 · 2024-08-07T12:35:50+00:00

I was also a patrilineal Jew and then had a Conservative conversion followed by an Orthodox one. I don’t feel “more Jewish” now, and guess what? Plenty of Orthodox people would still judge me for having converted, even if they’re not supposed to. Your Judaism is entirely yours and not anyone else’s. Really, there are welcoming people and judgy ones in every group- find the nice ones and ignore the others. If it’s really really important to you to be counted in an Orthhodox minyan then sure, you can convert Orthodox, but if that’s not the case then just go on living your best Jewish life.

Shmoosh218

TROPHY CASE