Great Lakeland Challenge Launches

The Wainwright Society is challenging walkers to take part in the ascent of 214 Lake District peaks during May to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the publication of the first of the great man's Lakeland walking guides.

Dubbed 'The Great Lakeland Challenge', the idea is for individuals or groups of walkers to ascend one of the fells between 14 and 21 May this year. With 214 peaks to choose from, the Society reckons there's something for everyone from biggies like Scafell Pike, England's highest mountain at 3,209 feet, down to Castle Crag, which is less than 1,000 feet.

The Wainwright Society wants those taking part to write a short report about the ascent. These reports will be brought together in a book together with photographs and Wainwright drawings.

Registration for the event costs just £10 including a £3 donation to the Lake District Tourism and Conservation Partnership, which raises money for footpath repair and other environmental projects. Payment of the fee will also include membership of the Society for the remainder of 2005. The event is free to existing Wainwright Society members.

It's a nice idea and in keeping with Wainwright's own sentiments: 'You will be following in my footsteps, wherever you go, and I hope you find the enjoyment I found: I am sure you will', he wrote.

There's a list of the Lakeland fells on the Wainwright Society site together with details of how to enter online. You'll be able to see which fells are still 'available' on the site before you make your choice.

Facts

Since Wainwright's Pictorial Guides were first published in May 1955 almost 2 million copies have been sold.

The fells, which all feature in Wainwright's popular guides, have a combined height of more than 450,000 feet, nearly sixteen times the height of Everest.