Volunteers recreate Wainwright Pennines walk

Posted by Journal Extra on Apr 15, 10 11:10 AM in Clubs/Societies

Keen walkers have recreated a walk originally designed by Alfred Wainwright 72 years ago.

Volunteers from the Wainwright Society have reshaped the walk, which takes in Hadrian's Wall and Tynedale, to take account of modern routes and rights of way.

They have also produced a guidebook to accompany the new route, and will launch it at a special day when the volunteers will hike the first part of it.

In September 1938, Alfred Wainwright made a solitary walk through the Pennines to Hadrian's Wall and back. He put his account of it in a drawer but came across it decades later and published it in 1986.

This new illustrated guide, written by members of the Wainwright Society, passes through all the major towns and villages visited by Wainwright on his original walk. It is 247 miles long and is divided into 18 stages.

The society also hopes the new route will bring economic benefits to the area through such as pubs, and bed and breakfasts, as well as benefiting charity.

David Pitt from the society said: "90% of the book's royalties will go to a Waymarking Fund that the Wainwright Society has just established.

"Its purpose will be to provide funds for the waymarking of the route. The remaining 10% is to go to the Great Northern Air Ambulance."

The society launches the Pictorial Guide of the Pennine Journey this Saturday, April 17, at Settle Station in North Yorkshire at 10am.

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