Place Fell on walk 208: 14 years in

WALK 208: Place Fell (2,154 feet above sea level, number 314 of my second round). 8.33 miles, 2,350 feet of ascent.

The view east from near the summit of Place Fell; featuring Joe, not quite regretting it.

It was on the 19th July 2009 that I took Clare up Walla Crag (walk 1), and then on the following day, Skiddaw and its satellites (walk 2). The idea of doing all the Wainwrights had already crossed my mind, I admit, but it was only on that holiday that it became a firm commitment — at least to do the main 214 once each.

Fourteen years have therefore passed from that day, and here I am nearly through a second round: and having added the Outlying Fells, of the 330 rather than just the original 214. Meaning I found reasons to more than treble the original workload. But hey, they were not hard reasons to find. Not when there is scenery like that offered by Ullswater as a draw; and that’s before even having gone up any hills.

Place Fell, today’s bag, was the last remaining Wainwright I had to bag a second time from volume 2, The Far Eastern Fells. Prior to 2009 I hadn’t ventured into this region of Lakeland at all, and there has been a great deal to discover there over these fourteen years. The area requires some long hikes to cover in full, but they will be rewarding ones: the scenery is high quality and this is also the best part of the district for wildlife. Deer, fell ponies and a golden eagle have all been seen at some point. Read all about my latest visit and see more photos on the walk 208 page.

Boats on Ullswater: the best-looking of all the lakes in my humble opinion.

After today I have bagged 314 of the 330 Wainwrights on my second round so have 16 to go. Today’s walk also picked up two Birketts (Sleet Fell and High Dodd) and with 124 of those left, I can find plenty of reasons to return to this region, and Lakeland as a whole, over the years to come. (I’m really not embarking on a third Wainwright round though: it will take a lot of persuasion to get me up Yewbarrow again, for one.) The next walk should be August some time.