Wainwright’s Walks

Julia Bradbury returns to our TV screens this Autumn as the presenter of the hugely popular ‘Wainwright’s Walks’ series, where she retraces the footprints of England’s most famous fell-walker, Alfred Wainwright. The first five programmes, produced by Skyworks, were broadcast on the BBC in the Springtime and also provided much of the content for the recent Frances Lincoln publication, Wainwright’s TV Walks, introduced by Cumbria Tourism Chairman, Eric Robson.

Alfred Wainwright is one of Cumbria – The Lake District’s most legendary characters. His handwritten and hand-drawn Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells, compiled between 1952 and 1966, have been a source of reference and inspiration to fellwalkers for the past 40 years.

Although not a native to Cumbria, Wainwright first visited the Lake District as a 23 year old in 1930 and was determined to move to the area, after describing the visit as “the week that changed his life”.

Wainwright achieved his goal in 1941 and, just over a decade later in 1952, began the huge task of walking every single one of the 214 fells in the Lake District and recording the walks with pen and ink drawings – a task that took him 13 years, travelling only by foot or by public transport from his Kendal home.

Cumbria Tourism Chairman, Eric Robson features on the ‘Haystacks’ programme where he speaks passionately on the unique talents of Alfred Wainwright:

“Nobody has interpreted map and landscapes better than Alfred Wainwright. He devised a unique way of turning a 3-dimensional image into a two-dimensional image that was still understandable and you can actually see your way through the mountains with them.

“His Pictorial Guides were works of philosophy and poetry. He encapsulates all those things in his writing.”

Why not follow in Wainwright’s and Julia’s footsteps and test your endurance on one of the walks, or if you’ve got a few days to spare, try his famous Coast to Coast Walk – 190 miles from St Bees on the Irish Sea to Robin Hood’s Bay in the North Sea, and consistently voted one of the UK’s top long-distance walks.

Blencathra
Blencathra is one of the northern fells and boasts two of the Lake District’s finest ridges, Sharp Edge and Hall’s Fell Ridge. Sharp Edge to the right is widely recognised as being one of the most difficult walking obstacles in the Lake District, and can seem particularly intimidating on approach from the secluded haven of Scales Tarn. There is another route to the left that is slightly more forgiving, should you decide that you are not quite ready to face the exposed Sharp Edge. Either way, the rewards from the 2,847 feet summit are breathtaking with stunning views over the village of Threlkeld and all around. Click here to see Julia challenging the treacherous Sharp Edge.
Visit www.lakedistrictoutdoors.co.uk for example walks and handy maps.

Castle Crag
Caste Crag is a North Western fell and the smallest ‘Wainwright’ in the Pictorial Guides. At just 951 feet, (the only Wainwright below 1,000 feet) it could be assumed to be an easy climb, particularly as there is a lot of low level walking from the edge of Derwentwater and through the valleys of Borrowdale. However, Castle Crag has steep faces and imposing crags on both sides, and a surprisingly sharp ascent to the grass-covered summit where there are grand views all around the Borrowdale Valley. Click here to see Julia walking Castle Crag.
Visit www.lakedistrictoutdoors.co.uk for example walks and handy maps.

Haystacks
Haystacks was Alfred Wainwright’s favourite mountain, standing at just under 2,000 feet (1,958 feet) and overlooking the village of Buttermere at the South Eastern end of the Buttermere Valley. There is a memorial to Wainwright inside the church in Buttermere, with superb views of Haystacks in the background. Haystacks’ summit is home to a variety of rock formations and tarns, and one of the largest - Innominate Tarn, is the final resting place of Wainwright’s ashes. In his ‘Memoirs of a Fellwanderer’ book, he wrote: “if you, dear reader, should get a bit of grit in your boots as you are crossing Haystacks in years to come, please treat it with respect. It might be me." Click here to see Julia reading from Wainwright’s memoirs by the edge of the wonderfully undisturbed Innominate Tarn.
Visit www.lakedistrictoutdoors.co.uk for example walks and handy maps.

Scafell Pike
Scafell Pike is the highest mountain in England, standing at a proud 3,210 feet, and is one of a horseshoe of fells surrounding the head of Eskdale. Scafell Pike has a claim to the highest standing water in England – Broad Crag Tarn – around a quarter of a mile south of the summit. The most popular route of ascent is from Wasdale Head at the North end of Wastwater to the West of the Pike, but there are more difficult routes for seasoned fell-walkers. En-route to the top of Scafell Pike, there are countless opportunities to see the very best of everything the Lake District has to offer as a top walking and climbing destination; from wide valleys and rocky ridges, to silent tarns and steep ravines. Nothing can beat the sense of achievement and sheer elation at the summit of Scafell Pike which, being the highest point in England, naturally has stunning and extensive views over the Borrowdale Valley and Wastwater, and to hundreds of other fell-tops and major peaks, including Blencathra to the North. On a clear day, it is possible to see as far as the Isle of Man, Snowdonia and even Blackpool Tower! Click here to share Julia’s delight at reaching the highest point in England.
Visit www.lakedistrictoutdoors.co.uk for example walks and handy maps.