The Lakeland Fells
The view looking up Wastwater - Sunday 12/05/02
After several years travelling up to the Lake District at Weekends I was ticking off the number of Peaks I had climbed in Alfred Wainwrights guides when I realised that I had almost completed three quarters of the fells in Book 2 the Far Eastern Fells
Prior to this I walked in various places in the Lakes, it just was decided at the last moment and off I went, no proper plan, I did enjoy myself but I needed some sort of structure to my walks. After some thought I decided to concentrate on one book and get it finished. About the same time I was given a book called " Walking the ridges of Lakeland" by Bob Allen, this stirred my imagination by setting out ridge walks linking most of the fells, I was hooked even more.
I soon finished Book Two then started on Book One then Book Three and on the 2nd Oct 2002 and I had only 9 peaks to go. On Oct 6th 2002 I climbed Mellbreak on a glorious day,
The Seven Guide Books to The Lakeland Fells were written by Alfred Wainwright and comprise of details of 214 Lakeland Fells- These guidebooks are a must for anyone who loves the Lake District
| Book One | The Eastern Fells | Completed 20th Sep 1998 | 35 Peaks |
| Book Two | The Far Eastern Fells | Completed Oct 16th 1999 | 36 Peaks |
| Book Three | The Central Fells | Completed Mar 17th 2002 | 27 Peaks |
| Book Four | The Southern Fells | Completed 28th Oct 2001 | 30 Peaks |
| Book Five | The Northern Fells | Completed 14th Sept 2002 | 24 Peaks |
| Book Six | The North Western Fells | Completed Mar 17th 2002 | 29 Peaks |
| Book Seven | The Western Fells | Completed Oct 6th 2002 | 33 Peaks |
On October 6th 2002
I climbed Mellbreak, the final summit of the 214 in Wainwrights "Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells
The highs and lows of the Ascent of the Wainwrights -
It took me 5 years - I travelled 15000 miles, the majority of it spent on the M6 but it was worth every moment, one of the joys of tackling all the summits is that it takes you to all the areas of the Lake Districts, not just the popular scenic ones, you discover the quiet areas away from the crowds and see lots of beautiful places. These are the summits that you may not always think of visiting, but once you go to climb that quiet and remote fell you'll be glad you went.
The actual first Wainwright was Wansfell climbed for the first time around 1960, but I did not really start properly until around 1997 when my actual total was around 15, after that I started to take it more seriously, after all as you get older you realise you had better speed up a bit if you want to get all the things done that you promised yourself when you were younger.
The most scary time - Climbing Sharp Edge on Blencathra, it was not as easy as I expected.
Most rewarding sight was reaching my car in the gathering darkness on Dec 1st 2001, I had climbed Whiteside,Hopegill Head, Grisedale Pike, Eel Crag, Wandhope, and Grasmoor, the plan was to find the path down to Rannerdale but I quickly realised that this was no time for adventurous routefinding, it was 2.45 pm, starting to snow and the light is fading, I had forgotten the torch and was getting tired, this was a time to keep my nerve and get down the safest and quickest way possible, I retraced my steps as far as Coledale Hause and followed Gasgale Gill back to Lanthwaite Green.
The most worrying time was just after leaving the summit of Cold Pike, I was alone and I slipped on an icy slope and twisted my ankle, the pain was intense, it was 2.45pm on 18th Feb 2001, there was no-one around and I was well off any sort of footpath, I limped along slowly and about an hour later I was relieved when some other walkers came up behind me, I did not feel quite so alone, the foot and mouth epidemic started 2 days later and all fellwalking was stopped until June, I could not walk anyway as my ankle took a long time to heal.
The silliest thing was my Olympus Miju Camera falling from my pocket down the toilet at Dungeon Gill. I did'nt think I could move that fast- 500milseconds and it was out, dried quickly and it still takes good pictures.
The most difficult fell to find was Armboth Fell, you know you are on it but just where is the actual top, I must have done about 10 miles crisscrossing the fell until I was satisfied I had visited it.
The best day was climbing Scafell via Slight Side, next was all the other days no matter what the weather.
The final Wainwright was Mellbreak climbed 6th Oct 2002 worth saving to the last and what a view!
Pictures from my Camping Weekend in the Lake District 4th/ 5th and 6th of October when I completed the Wainwrights
Weather -Friday 4th -Windy and cloudy- Saturday 5th- Low cloud on the fells - poor visibility
Sunday - 6th- Glorious day for the finale
Looking up Ennerdale towards Anglers Crag on 4th October
Mellbreak from near Loweswater Church
Grasmoor in the distance from Hen Comb summit with Mellbreak in between -06/10/02
Crummock Water and Buttermere from the summit of Mellbreak
No 214 - Mellbreak- Its been worth every step and I want to do it again!
A pint at the Kirkstile Inn Loweswater with Mellbreak behind
Tools of the trade - Brasher Boots- Leki Walking Pole and Karrimoor Rucksac
What next- Well there are the Mountains of Wales -Volume 1 written by John and Anne Nuttall- 188 summits grouped together in 49 walks, there are the Munro's and I quite fancy a try at the Tour de Mont Blanc next year
If anybody fancies a walk please contact me
"As I climbed Mellbreak a flight of wild geese flew overhead migrating south, they were well over 3000ft high, a classic 'V ' formation with geese occasionally changing position and rejoining the group in a different position, what a beautiful sight, a reminder that we are entrusted with this beautiful planet, can we be trusted to care for it in the way it deserves?"