A fantastic and challenging fell run over the Easter weekend in the Lake District.
Statistics
Distance: 15.4 miles
Elevation: 5774ft
Wainwrights (WR) completed 8 (Total accumulation- 8/214)
Category of the Lake District: Eastern Fells
3D- Video link: https://www.relive.cc/view/2308349523
After completing the Coast to Coast in 2017 (198-mile walk) and passing through the Lakes during the lands’ End to John O groats trip in the summer of 2018 (1040 mile cycle ride) I had my eyes set onto exploring every nook and cranny of rugged fells in the Lake District. Thus, I finally set my next challenge of starting off the Wainwright bagging in the lakes.
 |
| The 214 wainwrights of the Lake District |
The route I had planned was not for the faint-hearted; it started from Glenridding and instantly began with a long climb towards the first Wainwright of Birkhouse Moor (WR 1) followed by going over striding edge that led to the top of the second Wainwright; Helvellyn (WR2) (950metres).
 |
| The beginning of the first climb towards Wainwright 1; looking over Ullswater |
 |
| Striding Edge; a few scramble with sudden drops either side! |
After taking in the views of Helvellyn I ran up and down the undulated fells of Nethermost Pike (WR3), High Crag and Dolly WaggonPikee (WR4). After this, it was an incredibly steep descent down toward Grisedale tarn and a slow scramble up towards Seat sandal (WR5). If you were having a nice leisurely run around the lakes this part of the run wouldn’t have been planned as it was almost 500ft of climbing in little over .3 of a mile but I was enthusiastic to bag as many Wainwrights as possible in my first outing. This was definitely energy zapping in 23 degrees and I soon began to run out of water; fortunately, I was back down Grisedale tarn where I could rehydrate (note to self-remember water filter next time).
 |
| A posing sheep on the ascent towards seat sandal: Dollwaggon to the left, st Sundays straight ahead of the sheep and Fairfield to the right |
After a quick recharge of the batteries with a few snacks and tarn hydration, I suddenly had Fairfield (873metres) to climb; I had done this fell before when I raced the British Fell relays but it was much tougher as I had already got a significant amount of elevation in my legs. It was a pretty bonkers route as you constantly had large climbs and short, steep descents which never gave the legs a full recovery before you began to climb again towards Fairfield (WR6).
Once summited Fairfield I was on the other side of the valley where I sharply scrambled down the crags where I soon had to run back up another fell towards St Sunday (WR7) and Birks.
 |
| A quick snack near St Sundays crag; looking over towards Grizedale tarn and Seat Sandal |
It was a brilliant start of the Wainwright bagging; the Eastern Fells of the Lake District are stunning and I cannot wait for my next adventure to explore more of the Wainwrights!
