🥾 Laura the Explorer: Take me to the Lakes
Rolling fells, mountain views, and a nice dose of nostalgia.
I’d move to the Lakes if I could. Maybe one day. There’s just something about the moment you cross into the national park that soothes your soul, cleanses your mind, and calms your body.
Yep, even if you’re half way up a Wainwright gasping for air catching your breath, I promise…
⛰️ Wainwright wandering
Wainwrights are the 214 fells outlined by Alfred Wainwright in his seven volume Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, published between 1955 and 1966. They’re all mountains, are all situated in the Lake District, and all bar one stand at a height of over 1000ft.
‘Wainwright bagging’ has become a pretty popular phenomenon as of late, with the popularity of outdoor Instagram influencers growing, as well as the likes of people providing walking guides or reviews of the fells on YouTube.
So what’s the buzz?
Well, besides the phenomenal sense of achievement for people who like ticking things off their to do list - to which this ambition adds 214 items, woohoo! - the monumental task of climbing over 118,000ft and 320 miles (yes, really) is pretty exciting to anyone with an eye for adventure, or an appreciation for the natural landscape of Northern England.
Seriously, the views are something else…
Now I’ve conquered a few fells in my time, but I’m still in the middle of my journey in Alfred’s footsteps. If there are a few things I’ve learned though, they would be…
🎒 Prepare for all eventualities
Wainwright wanderers head out into a whole variety of terrain. From the rough, rolling fells, to thick woodland, stony paths or boulder fields, those Wainwrights are going to test your perseverance, footing, and most of all your preparation.
Mountain rescue teams are dotted all over the Lake District for a reason - and operate on a charitable basis, so drop them a few pennies if you can! That being said, they’re hopefully a service you’ll never need, and you can help yourself by heading out prepared.
Plan your route, check the weather, and prepare for the fact it might change whilst you’re out and about. The Lakes are a mountainous region and the weather can be unpredictable and change rapidly, especially in winter months.
As the basics, take a good, supportive rucksack, waterproofs, and sturdy, comfortable, waterproof footwear. Make sure you have plenty of water, and a decent stash of food for your trip - I’d at the very least never head out without something sugary, but that’s partially on personal preference at this point.
🚶♀️ Easy like Sunday Morning
Nope, I’m not about to tell you to head out on a Sunday. Although, let’s be real, Sunday walks are a beautiful way to round off the week.
No, I’m about to tell you to start small - baby steps.
Some of the more challenging or higher routes are going to challenge even the most confident of fell walkers or runners, so it’s advisable to start off with a smaller fell like Latrigg (near Keswick) to find your feet.
I found this out the hard way when at the young, naïve, and overconfident age of eighteen I set out to climb Scafell Pike (yes, the highest of all the Wainwrights, and the second highest mountain in the UK) with barely any recent experience or training, and no clue what I was getting myself in for.
It took me longer to descend than it took me to get up there in the first place.
Safe to say, you’ve never seen disco legs like it.
🥰 Soak up the benefits
So, you’ve got your kit, you’ve checked the weather, planned your route, and you’re pretty gosh-darn confident you can meander up the trail you’ve chosen on the day you’ve chosen to do so.
Well, congratulations! It’s time to soak up those benefits of Wainwright wandering.
The. Views.
Yes, I mentioned them before. Yes, I’m mentioning them again. They’re beyond beautiful and they’re a real key motivator to hitting those summits - and, of course, don’t forget about the view points along the way!The satisfaction of the summit!
There’s no better feeling than finally hitting the summit after the last slog - whether it’s the scrambly route up to Scafell Pike, or just a long stretch of fell with a horizon you can’t quite see until the last minute.The mental reset.
This one should probably be a post in and of itself, and maybe one day it will be, but for now it’s the final - and arguably most important - point. The feeling of being out there in the wilds of the Lakes, whether alone, with a partner, or with your friends or family, is so relaxing. Take a quiet moment just to appreciate being away from the buzz of your normal life, and breathe.
And on that note? brb - I’m off to the Lakes.
Want more tips for getting out and about safely? Check out Adventure Smart.
Want a smart, easy way to navigate around the mountains on your smartphone? Check out All Trails.
Want to share a favourite Wainwright or Lake District walk recommendation? Or feeling inspired to get out into the hills? Head straight to the comments!