Marshall Plan

Mo had bought a copy of Stuart Marshall's, 'Walking The Wainwrights'. It describes their completion in 36 circular routes. Mo had been asking a few questions about my route planning: 'Why didn't I include Seat Sandal in our Helvellyn route like Stuart?' and 'Surely it' would have made much more sense to include Stone Arthur in our Fairfield Horseshoe walk as Stuart recommended?' and 'Why is it going to take us more than 50 walks to complete all the Wainwrights whilst my mate Stuart could do it in 36?'. I'd had a peek through the book and the routes. There appeared to be some long days detailed there, although to be fair, he does describe how some of them can be split into multiday walks. Stuart describes the rules he followed when planning the routes, the key ones being:

• No mountain top is to be traversed more than once.

• No part of any route must duplicate any other route.

I think this probably explains how some of Stuart's routes need to be ambitious when including some of the awkward outliers.

I was a bit more pragmatic with my planning. If my route included a Wainwright I'd already done, or went along a path I'd previously walked along, then that was fine by me, if it made the whole experience more enjoyable. I didn't start the Wainwrights with any specific rules, but some implicit ones developed over time. These were:

• The route had to be kind to my knees.

• No route should have any scramble, sharp ridge section or stream crossing that would make Calse panic and go into hysterics.

• It should include a suitable scenic stop for Mo to have a brunch and lunch stop.

In reply to Mo's enquiry as to why I'd not included Seat Sandal in a Helvellyn circuit as in the Marshall Plan, I told him the greatest challenge of life is not to be quick, but to be happy.

Descending out of Seat Sandal's mist, we watched a Buzzard fly below us over Grisedale Tarn, struggling against a strong wind. It displayed a freedom absent of silly human rules.

Fairfield

We started the climb up Fairfield's steep west shoulder. This was the second time I'd climbed this route in two weeks. Stuart Marshall would be having kittens at such inefficiency. The sun had burnt off the mist around Seat Sandal and Fairfield's tops and there was an excellent view back down on to Grisedale Tarn. 

The summit plateau of Fairfield was busy with walkers criss-crossing to their descent routes. Fairfield is a hub of many wonderful circular routes. To only do Fairfield once on a Wainwright campaign make no sense to me. Enough about route planning.

 Stone Arthur

The route from Fairfield over Great Rigg, and down to Stone Arthur was gradual enough to be kind to my knees. Near to Stone Arthur a sheep sat imperiously on the top of a crag with a wonderful backdrop of the Coniston fells behind her (see banner photo of page). She looked like the Gatekeeper of Stone Arthur.

Stone Arthur is more of a rocky outcrop than a peak in itself. It is a popular destination to those who want an elevated view over Grasmere without the additional effort of climbing to the top of the fells. 

When we finished the walk, the RAF were kind enough to provide an aeronautical display. A fitting finale to a walk unsuitable for a Marshall Plan.