THE WAINWRIGHT FELLS

These are the 214 fells in the Lake District as described by Alfred Wainwright in his seven Pictorial Guides. This was our initial inspiration go walking and became our first challenge to see if we could climb them all. Being the first two members of our club, Shaun and Tetley have the advantage as they have been walking longest, and indeed they completed them, as too did Dad, on 24th July 2007. The final summit was Silver How, above Grasmere. Grizzly is now proud to say that on 24th June 2009, he reached the summit of Knott, his final Wainwright summit. Allen too, is now proud to say that on 19th August 2010 he reached the summit of Grisedale Pike, his final Wainwright summit. Little Eric's progress is also shown below.

For further information these are the dates that each member, completed all the fells in a particular book -

Last updates: 9th May 2012 - Barf & Lord's Seat from Whinlatter Forest Park Centre

Uncle Eric had never climbed these fells before, so Dad kindly offered to repeat this walk in his company. A day with good sunny periods & little wind so it for once nearly felt like spring. The views were magnificent. Terrific as we drove through the Lakes. Wonderful reflections on Windermere, Rydal & Grasmere. Parked at the Whinlatter Forest Park Visitor Centre, our start point. Walked along past the buildings and past a junction numbered 15, and on to a second junction where we went left uphill over a stream and then round a right hand hairpin, to come to angled crossroads, where we sat on Bob's Seat and looked at the superb view over to Keswick and the fells around. Now left uphill the path curving left round another hairpin and to another junction where we turned right along a track eventually to a junction numbered 8. Along here there had been good views of Barf our first summit and of Bassenthwaite Lake, Armathwaite Hall standing out clearly at its northern end. Here took the right fork descending by the forest and latterly entering the trees, to then branch right to a stile. Over this we forded Beckstones Gill and then climbed the good clear path to Barf summit. A flat bare area of rock surmounted by a flat cairn marks it. A large military aircraft flew over the lake, and Dad, snapped off a photo or two. Then again we followed the clear path that descended into a shallow col before climbing on to reach the bare flat top of Lords's Seat. A fence post and few stones marking it. A superb viewpoint, not only of the Lakeland Fells, but over the Solway Firth to the Scottish mountains, and today too the Isle of Man. Descended to the stile seen below and on along the track, to come to junction 5 where we took the path right by the trees. It was time of lunch, and eventually a sloped rocky area on the left provided a place to sit. We gathered in a circle to have our sandwiches, and chat about the day so far. Walking on the path led to junction 3 at Tarbarrel Moss, where our route was left along the wide forest road. This led to junction 2, where we went on ahead downhill quite steeply to the road, and left along this for the short walk to the car. Dad and Uncle Eric went to Siskins Cafe for tea and unsurprisingly Dad had a piece of cake too. Although we had only done this walk a few weeks ago, we were happy to do it again as the views are so extensive and wonderful and Dad got a few more pictures for the inevitable story! Uncle Eric too, ticked off another two Wainwrights.

15th April 2012 - Barf & Lord's Seat from Whinlatter Forest Park Centre

A lovely sunny day, if rather cold, and it did cloud over later, neverthess the views were magnificent. Terrific as we aprroached along the A66 of Blencathra then the Coledale Fells and those above Derwentwater. We never ever ever tire of seeing these fells round here. The verge parking just beyond the visitor centre, our start point has been fenced and is being grassed over, so Dad parked at the visitor centre for the princely sum of £6.90. Ready and settled in the rucksack, we walked along past the buildings and then ahead at a junction numbered 15 and on to a second junction. Here it was left, uphill, over a stream and then round a right hand hairpin, to come to angled crossroads, where there was a seat, so we all sat and looked at the superb view over to Keswick and the fells around. Then Dad noticed the plaque on the seat that read Bob's Seat, to we just had sit on it and have our picture taken! Now left uphill, the path curving left round another hairpin and to another junction where we turned right along a track eventually to another junction numbered 8. Along here there had been good views ahead of Barf our first summit and over to Bassenthwaite Lake. All the tracks were forest roads, in excellent condition and great to walk on. At this junction we took the right fork descending by the forest and latterly entering the trees, to branch right a short distance to a stile. Over this we forded Beckstone Gill, and then climbed the good clear path to Barf's summit. A flat bare area of rock surmounted by a flat cairn marked it, and we sat here for our photo. Our pal Little Eric was pleased as he bagged the summit too. Then followed the clear path that descended into a shallow col before climbing on to reach the bare flat top of Lords's Seat. A fence post and few stones marking it. No one there but just a minute after two couples arrived. The first saw us and this led to Dad saying we had done the Wainwrights. The couple were in the final throes of this challenge having just 10 or so to do, and as they left to walk to Barf, Dad wished them well. Then chatted to the second couple who were taken with the idea of the us climbing the fells. The lady asked if there was a a blog, so Dad told them the website address. It was bitterly cold in the wind up here so they moved off to keep warm, and soon after we did too, descending to the stile seen below and on along the track, to come to junction 5 where we took the path right by the trees and down to junction 3 at Tarbarrel Moss. We had been close to this before when we had climbed that Birkett. Went left now to the next junction 2, where it was right downhill quite steeply to the road and a short walk to the car. Dad changed then went to see the ospreys sitting on the nest. The camera shots are in HD and so clear. Where else now but to Armathwaite Hall, where Dad had a meal in the Brasserie. Leek and potato soup and then the barbeque rib with chips and salad. Arthurus was serving, who Dad had not seen for a while. He made a real fuss and after other people had gone chatted a while, mostly about walking as Arthurus likes climbing the fells too. Dan took over, who had served Dad afternoon tea recently, and so more chat ensued. Before leaving he saw Johnny. He and Sunshine are off on holiday next week to Rumania and Dad wished them well. Finally there was just time for a few words with Mia, and Kim on reception, Dad wishing Kim good luck for her driving test next Thursday. A nice day and good to be on the hills again.

Allen

For all updates from 2009 see - Allen's blog

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