subject: Wainwright Walks In The English Lakeland [print this page] If anyone undertook research to identify which famous individual is most closely associated in the popular mind with the Lake District it is probable that the top name would be that of William Wordsworth.
It is possible that Beatrix Potter might catch the votes of many people if the study concentrated on solely the past century, but for unequalled intimate association with the Lakeland fells surely Alfred Wainwright must hit the top position.
Having been born in Blackburn and grown to adulthood during the depression years Wainwright, like many others in the East Lancashire towns, frequently at weekends walked out on the Pennine moors to escape from the smoke of the towns, but then during a walking holiday he discovered Lakeland and his life was transformed.
After several years, and having qualified as a local authority accountant, he was appointed to a job in Kendal and from then on was to be seen walking the Lake District hills in every available few hours.
It was in 1955 that he produced his first 'Pictorial Guide To The Lakeland Fells', describing 'The Eastern Fells', spanning the area bounded by Dunmail Raise and Thirlmere on the west to the Kirkstone Pass and the Ullswater to the east.
Over the succeeding decade six more volumes appeared and with the issue of "The Western Fells" in 1966 the main series was complete, although he subsequently produced similar volumes in slightly different format, dealing with areas outside the boundaries of the national park, including the Howgills.
He added an extension to the series of seven, 'The Outlying Fells of Lake district', particularly for "old age pensioners" who did not want to stop walking but were looking for some less demanding routes.
The last one of these walks however, the Bannisdale Horseshoe, he refers to as being a "gruelling test for old age pensioners" worthy of great rejoicing at its end, and then quips that "those who perish on the way" can at least "be content with the lesser gratification of knowing that they died with their boots on".
His sketches, maps, and compass diagrams to show key points around 360 degrees of view were highly distinctive; there was nothing just like the 'Wainwright Guides'.
Nothing was left to chance or guesswork. He had walked all the paths, some repeatedly, and had supplemented his memory with photography and notebooks as well as rough sketches. The books that resulted encouraged many to explore the "Wainwright Walks", and as they did so they had his wise and cautionary words before them: "Watch where you're putting your feet."
Four or five decades then passed, and the books began to lose their relevance as wooded areas both grew and were felled, paths were diverted, cairns were taken down or new ones built, erosion changed the hillsides, and considerably more.
From around 2003 Chris Jesty walked all the paths again and the 2nd editions of the Wainwright Guides include his updates whilst retaining Wainwright's drawings, comments, and Wainwright's distinctive style throughout.
