My first 3 Wainwright's - An unfashionable route.

Distance: 8.2 miles
Total Ascent: 1605 feet

I decided recently to take up fell walking. With living on the edge of the lake District it seemed the natural thing to do. I also figures that the best way to start it all was to climb all 214 Wainwrights. 

The best place to start seemed to be the ones closest to me. They are of moderate height and easily accessible from my house. In fact the whole Lake District in no more than a 90 minute drive from my front door.

Other than the occasional ascent of the Outlying Wainwright known as Dent (it's literally on my doorstep) the last fell of any note I have climbed was Catbells and that was when I was 11 and probably fit enough to climb Everest. I am now 33, slightly overweight and do far too little exercise, so walking the fells is not going to be as easy as it was back then.

New To Fell Walking

Living in West Cumbria, you would think by the age of 33 I would have climbed half of the Lake District peaks by now. Unfortunately, for one reason or another I have climbed the grand total of 2 fells. One when I was 10 (or 11) and the other, Dent, which is within minutes of my house.

Inspired by programs such as Coast and Countryfile. I figured I was missing something quite interesting and something good for my general fitness. I literally have no excuse to not to climb the Lake District fells. The nearest are minutes away and the furthest no more than a 90 minute drive.

I've spent a few months soaking in information and getting some basic kit together and I am now ready to go.

My 1st target is to climb all 214 fells featured in Wainwright's Pictorial Guides. This might take me a while!