After blogging about my antics in the the Lake District this year, my friend Hannah has been inspired to get outdoors and explore the countryside. She has been working hard to improve her fitness and has challenged herself to climb England’s fourth highest mountain, ‘Skiddaw’.
She has never climbed a mountain in her life, so ‘Skiddaw’ will be her first. She could have picked a small one, but she wants to push herself. She is also taking this opportunity to raise money for the charity ‘Dementia UK’.
Having not ventured out to the Lake District since 2002, let alone not climbed any of the Wainwrights, she has asked me to be the guide to make sure she will get up and down in one piece, which I gladly accepted. (Any excuse to go to my favourite region of the UK!)
To read more about Hannah’s Story and if you would like to donate, click here.
As part of Hannah’s training she has been hitting the gym, but wants to up her game and go for some long distance walks. Knowing I will don my walking boots at the drop of the hat, it was a no brainer to buddy up with me and undertake more challenging treks.
Before deciding on The Cotswold Way for my through hike back in March 2022, a contender was The Jurassic Way. The route starts in Banbury, Oxfordshire and ends in Stamford, Lincolnshire. It follows an ancient limestone ridgeway for 88 miles, mostly through Northamptonshire, our home county; a perfect choice.
It passes The Catesby Tunnel, the Welland Viaduct and Rockingham Castle. Follows parts of the Grand Union Canal, the green rolling hills of Northamptonshire, Braunston (an important location for the boatmen living on the narrowboats during the industrial revolution) and the ceremonial county of Rutland.
Unlike my usual through hiking adventures, this one will be done over the summer period, leading up to the Skiddaw challenge on the 1st of October. I will blog our progress, although it will be more of an ad hoc basis, to fit in with our shifts.
Stu's Camino 