30 Wainwrights @ 30                                                      UK Ultras

On High Hartsop Dodd: the ridge to Little Hart Crag

© Copyright Michael Graham and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Following in the great fell running tradition of celebrating ones passing decades on the hills Andy Blackett (Durham Fell Runners) devised this challenge to mark his 30th birthday.  The object is to visit in one continuous run any 30 of the 214 summits Alfred Wainwright illustrated in his seven-volume Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells.  No specific route or set of summits is stipulated and other runners are encouraged, if they so wish, to come up with their own combination of peaks in a different area.  Although it is hoped it will be of most interest to younger runners, the challenge can, of course, be completed by anyone of any age.

Andy completed his 30@30 in a time of 9-51 on his birthday in January 2012.  He was joined by his wife and friends on various legs including Jim Mann who ran with him for the full route.  His traverse included 30 of the Wainwright summits located on or near the Ullswater watershed which appear in his first two books - The Eastern and Far Eastern fells.  Andy started near Pooley Bridge and finished west of Dockray clocking up a total of some 36 miles with 3000 metres of climbing.  A full account of Andy's run can be found on his blog - see the link below.

Route

The above route starts at Park Foot caravan park, near Pooley Bridge (GR 469 233) and finishes at High Row, west of Dockray (GR 380 219).  Use in conjunction with OS Explorer (1:25000) map: The English Lakes North-east area.

Schedule

Andy's blog includes a schedule of summits and actual times - see link below.

Completions

This is an informal route without registrations or time limits; the only stipulations are that (any) 30 Wainwrights must be visited in one go and times must be from road to road, not summit to summit. Andy Blackett would be interested to hear of either a repeat of his 30@30 or a different set of Wainwrights.  Contact: twitter@andyblackett or via Andy’s blog - see below.

Links and Further Information

□   30@30, 30 Wainwrights on my 30th Birthday - Andy Blackett's account of his run which includes a schedule of his Wainwrights and actual times.

□    List of Wainwrights - Wikipedia entry listing details of the summits covered in each of his seven books.