The routes I used on the Scafell Pike walks were based on those in A Wainwright’s guide ‘Lakeland Fells Book 4, The Southern Fells’ and are covered by Ordnance Survey Explorer maps OL4 and OL6. I was based at Windermere during this time.

This was my first attempt at walking up Scafell Pike, on May 3rd 2007. I decided to try a route starting from a little place called Seatoller in Borrowdale.

This was my second attempt at walking up Scafell Pike, on May 4th 2007. I decided to try probably the easiest route which starts from Wasdale Head. There were a lot of people on this ‘tourist’ route. It’s not nearly as good as the route from Borrowdale and is a ‘tiring and uninteresting grind’ as the guide book says. However, you can get to the top and back pretty quickly and there are still good views to be had.

I then left Windermere and headed for York and then Swindon...

First a visit to the York National Railway Museum. This place is marvellous - if you ever wondered how a steam locomotive works (I know I have) then this is a great place to start to learn.

Down to Swindon to visit the GWR Museum. Also a great place with a lot of stuff about the old railway works there.

Anoraks set to stun. This the White Horse at Uffington which appears on the cover of the XTC album ‘English Settlement’ of course. Also, I drove on the Magic Roundabout which has been said to be the inspiration for the XTC song ‘English Roundabout’ although I believe the band have denied this in the past. I got some funny looks from other drivers as I had no idea what to do when I got in the middle. It has to be the most confusing intersection in the world but it works fine for locals according to www.swindonweb.com/life/lifemagi0.htm.

After I got back home I found a report of a rescue on a section between Scafell Pike and Scafell on the day I did the last walk. The section is actually not recommended for walkers. While walking up, when at the top and when coming down I and other walkers had witnessed this rescue from afar and wondered (hopefully) whether it was a training exercise. Unfortunately the rescue was for real and the outcome was not good. With this in mind, thanks go to my Mum and Jacky’s family (particularly Anne-Marie) for keeping in touch with me from when I decided to go off on these walks without any previous fell walking experience.
www.mountain.rescue.org.uk/news/