take a walk with wainwright to the lion & the lamb...
For decades now, generations of fell walkers have flocked to the lofty peaks of the Lake District in Cumbria with a Wainwright guide book tucked away in the pocket of their waterproofs.
Between 1952 and 1966, Alfred Wainwright or AW, combed 214 Lake District summits to devise seven unique Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells with all the instructions carefully printed in long-hand and the topography superbly hand-drawn.
Now in the centenary year of his birth, technology has caught up with the master fellwalker of the Fifties. A unique take on "Sat Nav" for walkers has been devised to help visitors stay on the right path while winter walking on one of his favourite hills - Helm Crag, Grasmere, better known as the Lion and the Lamb.
download 'Wainwright podcast' mp3
The new technology is to be used alongside another fashionable hill walking accompaniment of the modern day - the Ipod or MP3 player. It creates the effect that the late, pipe-smoking fell wanderer himself is guiding you on one of his favourite Lake District walks - with his craggy voice giving the instructions through your earphones as you walk over 1,100ft into the stunning scenery high above the pretty Lake District village. The podcast has been developed following the success of BBC2 television series Wainwright Walks in the summer. Presented by Julia Bradbury and watched by six million people it has sparked a new wave of interest in Wainwright and fell walking.
Cumbria Tourism arranged for Nik Wood-Jones, the official Wainwright voiceover to walk what the author himself speculated was the "best known hill in the country." Wearing full Wainwright garb, Mr Wood-Jones walked Helm Crag and then recorded the famous writer's thoughts and observations; exactly as they appear in the original 1958 guide book. To play the podcast simple press the play button in the top right hand corner, or follow the instructions to download it.
Eric Robson, Chairman of the Wainwright Society and Cumbria Tourism, said: "Many people go walking in the Lake District with a Wainwright guide book for company and this is their chance to experience what it might have been like taking a walk with Wainwright by your side." "The idea that this priest and poet of the Lakeland Fells is telling you which path to take while reading his love letter to the fells directly to you is a novel approach to 21st century hill walking."
Cumbria Tourism linked up with the Wainwright Society and guide book publishers Frances Lincoln with the blessing of the Wainwright Estate. John Nicoll, of Frances Lincoln, said: "Wainwright is rightly regarded as the master fellwanderer and in these days of GPS technology and Ipods; his hand-written and hand-drawn books remain as popular as ever. "To bring both generations together and create the effect that Wainwright himself is leading the way seems a great way to enjoy his guide books."
Voiceover Nik Wood-Jones, an actor based in London, said: "To have the opportunity to walk Helm Crag and follow in his footsteps, as the man himself, was a wonderful experience and I hope it introduces more people to his fantastic books and the stunning Lake District which inspired him."
It is hoped that as well as keeping Wainwright's work alive in his centenary year, it will encourage people who have never walked a Lake District hill or are unsure about how to interpret the Wainwright Guides, to find the confidence to do so in the company of the master.
To book accommodation in Cumbria - the Lake District, please visit the Where to Stay section. To buy Wainwright books online visit our eshop .
To find out more about the Wainwright society go to www.wainwright.org.uk . For more information about audio tours of Wainwright's Lake District peaks and to download introductions to some of the walks visit our Wainwright audio tours page.
Cumbria Tourism's PR section wishes to thank John Greaves who runs the Raise View House guesthouse in Grasmere for his support during the production of the podcast. John kindly accommodated Wainwright voiceover Nik Wood-Jones by offering a room with a dramatic backdrop of the famed Lion and the Lamb, which helped Nik get into character during his stay.
