The Lake District National Park, in England’s north-west, has inspired countless poets, authors and artists, hillwalkers, nature lovers and day trippers. With its rugged peaks, green valleys, seemingl

The traditional Lake District village of Threlkeld nestles at the foot of Blencathra – so you can make this a car-free weekend.

Ascent 903m/2960ft 12.3km / 7.6 miles / 4 hours

14.5km / 9 miles / 5-5.5 hours Ascent 777m/2550ft

It’s been a long mile, trudging uphill in the rain, across uninspiring fields, past rickety ruins of long-abandoned farm buildings, mud slowly working its way up my waterproof trousers. Sometimes walk

That wasn’t all that enjoyable really,” mutters Chris Akrigg, peering back up a cascade of 200 vertical metres of boulders towards the barren, rocky summit beyond. That hilltop was Chris’s starting ga