The End of a List

Two hundred and fourteen.

A random number to most of the worlds populace, but to those odd few who are fans, followers or addicts of one  Cumbrian personality, then it is hardly random.

Reading this you are likely one of those ‘few’ who know I am not talking about Wordsworth, Beatrix Potter, Turner or Heaton Cooper – but Wainwright.

So, 214, the Wainwright hills.

Up which many hike, climb and scramble and thousands do the whole 214.  I am under no illusion that this is an elite club.  BUT I am now one of you.

The start!

On Sunday I scrambled and walked up craggy heights  to Eagle and Sergeant’s Crags.  Steep hills which loomed darkly above a valley bursting with signs of spring.

An acute hike duly rewarded with quick gain to compensate for complaining  muscles.

Way up Eagle

That would have been a great finish to 214 but Sergeant was only number 213.  I had managed to miss out Ullscarf, which I wish I’d squeezed in on  the Coast to Coast.

Long way down Shirley!

Not really sure how Greg would  have enjoyed yet another detour off the ‘low route’ just so I could ‘bag’ yet another AW.

Anyway, 214.  Ullscarf is a relatively easy stroll over to the other side of the horseshoe around Stonethwaite.  Pretty flat and waterlogged  but it puts you very much in the middle of everything.  The air was hardly crystal clear, but enough to see south to Windermere, in one direction, the tops of the Langdales, Fleetwith, Derwent water and Skidaw all hung around peripheral vision.

Flat walk to Ullscarf

The wind had considerably increased in knots by the time we had reached that final hill we were all fairly glad it was a wide, flat top.  There was a slight problem of pouring champagne with out it being blown away!

So now I can stop walking up hills!  Hurray!  I think not.  Just wondering what challenges to set myself now.  Any suggestions?  Please don’t make it another list, I know there are plenty.

214 down… 0 to go!

The route