Lakes Sea to Summits                                      Western Lakes      

Great Gable from the corridor route (Tony Wimbush)

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This is a coast to coast, station to station, sea to summits traverse of the Western Lakes contrasting some of its best known areas with some of its remotest. The route was originally conceived as a v65 celebration. It took the form of a solo, unsupported run with the objective of taking the early train from Silecroft to St Bees, ticking off 10 Marilyn summits and arriving back at Silecroft before dark. This got delayed by a few years due to injury and poor weather by which time realism had set in so road and fell support was recruited! For the uninitiated Marilyns are defined as hills/mountains having at least 500' of ascent on all sides, so demanding climbs are guaranteed throughout. An unrelenting string of big ascents over Pillar, Kirk Fell, Great Gable, Scafell Pike and Scafell form the crux of the route. Their rocky paths then gradually give way to predominantly wild, trackless terrain as the route arcs its way back to the coast at Black Combe with its impressive backdrop of sea and sky. Perhaps on a par with the Joss Naylor Lakeland Challenge, it takes in some 17,000' climbing and nearly 47 miles that include some of the most arduous terrain in the Lakes. The inaugural traverse was finally made by Tony Wimbush in 2018 in 17-52 with hill/road support from Rachel Hill, Sean Lennon and David Nicholls. Future completions can be formally logged - see below.

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Route

The objective is to start at St Bees station, grid reference  NX 970 119, and finish at Silecroft station, grid reference NY 131 819.  The 10 Marilyns listed below are to be visited,  the route between Scafell Pike and Scafell must be via Foxes Tarn.  Use Explorer maps (1:25000): 303 Whitehaven and Workington, OL4 & OL6 English Lakes North-western & South-western areas.

Schedule

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Click to view/print a 17-52 schedule. This is in an Excel format so it can be customised to your chosen start time and used to record actual times.

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Completions Log

Finishers are invited to add their name to the completions log.  Please use the Schedule above to record actual times.  Add your name, date, club and age category plus details of hill and road support (if applicable) and email to gofar99@gmail.com. There are no time limits or rules except Foxes Tarn must be visited between Scafell Pike and Scafell.

Why not share your experience on facebook to encourage and inspire other runners to have a go!

Links and Further Information

• Enquiries and further info -  email: info@gofar.org.uk

• ​The Relative Hills of Britain, Alan Dawson, (Cicerone Press, 1992) - tables of Marilyns for England and Wales.

• Marilyns - Definition and lists

• Summergrove Halls -.  Located outside Whithaven,  the accommodation offers cooked breakfasts from 6 am and kitchen facilities for self-catering.