4 Wainwrights achieved- Yew Barrow, Red Pike, Steeple, Great Scoat Fell

How does a nine mile walk end up becoming an all day marathon? Mr Wainwright and his eclectic choice of fells has a lot to answer for.

The day started cold but bright. We were heading for Wasdale lake where we would start our list of Wainwright bagging with an ascent up Yew Barrow.

I think the theme of this holiday so far has been “maps tell you only half the story”. What on a map can look like a reasonably straightforward route with a few contours can turn out to be a heart in the mouth scramble, hauling yourself up rocks, looking down on some very scary drops. And so it was with Yew Barrow. To be honest, I’m alright with an uphill scramble, but we were high up and close to the fell edge; looking down over the lake and valley was rather disconcerting.

Anyway, we made it to the top and all good until we had to climb down Stirrup Crag in order to reach our next summit, Red Pike.

Stirrup Crag turned out to be heightist. Fine if you’re over 6 foot as your feet can find somewhere to put themselves as you try to ascend sheer rock but when you are barely 5 foot, this is not always possible. And my legs were just not long enough. After trying in vain to get down the crag and scaring myself senseless , I had to suffer the indignity of sitting on Steve’s head in order to make any progress.

Eventually we said good riddance to Stirrup Crag and hello to Red Pike. All fine there but my legs were beginning to feel quite fatigued and it was with a sinking heart that I realised the next Wainwright -Steeple -wasn’t the lump with the small cairn on it reasonably close by but a bloody great outcrop a significant distance away. By this time we were barely half way round our circuit and it was already gone 2.30pm.

Again, Steve’s timing of breaking bad news to me really needs to be worked on, as he tried to “persuade” me that we could fit in a Wainwright tomorrow on my promised rest day. I actually think the look I shot him could kill, and I haven’t heard any more on the matter, although that could be due to another reason of which you will hear more of later.

Steeple was begrudgingly achieved as was another surprise addition Great Scoat Fell. This was a teeny tiny fell where I found a little stone dedicated to Trev, a serviceman who I’m guessing passed away. After I read it, I tucked it away again back in the cairn. RIP Trevor.

At last it was time to make tracks back to the car. The path was long and tedious. But not dangerous thank goodness. Until a bit later.

It’s all a bit of a blur but I remember asking Steve “is that safe?” As he crossed a brook at a point I thought didn’t look safe. The next thing I was aware of was a big splosh and some expletives. Steve himself was fine but his walking poles were not. He appeared to be holding 4 miniature ones as opposed to 2 normal sized ones. They both apparently snapped when he lost his balance and fell off a slippery rock. Personally I think they sacrificed themselves and saved him from a watery doom. Or he’s been eating way too much. Whatever, my day off is now going to be spent shopping for walking sticks.

You’ll be glad to hear we made it home with our further mishaps but my goodness that was a long and arduous hike. Be warned, what looks fine on paper isn’t always so in real life. Wainwright didn’t say that, I did, but I think he would agree.