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Does anyone have any information on this route, checkpoints, etc. of this circuit?
I know it visits 3 or 4 youth hostels in the Lakes including High Close, Eskdale, Borrowdale.
I think its 35 miles and 11,800 feet. I have around 14 hours for the fastest solo round.
Can anyone give me more info as I fancy a shot at it. It'll be like a half-BG, as there is no way I'm ever doing the full whack!
Ta.
It was planned by the South Ribble Orienteers, they may be able to provide more information.
http://www.sroc.org/
I have the map, with the checkpoints on, somewhere. I think the record is 7 or 8 hours. A certain Billy Bland. I helped pace him on that one, back in the mid 80's. I will try and find my map.
Taken from 'Lakeland Trails' by Tony Wimbush :
Eskdale YH
Slight Side
Scafell
Scafell Pike
Esk Hause
Glaramara
Longthwaite YH
Tray Dub bridge
Thunacar Knott
Blea Rigg
High Close YH
Lingmoor
Pike O'Blisco
Crinkle Crag
Charnley Crag
Lingcove Bridge
Eskdale YH
36 miles 10000'
Cheers, Ali
Thanks.
I have managed to locate a map, from 1984! I have contacted SROC and await reply. The name Tony Wimbush rings a bell - doesn't/didn't he run for St Bedes AC outside Bradford?
The website said 14 hours for the record and 10 hours for a team! I thought that was a little slow... 8 hours sounds better!
I quite fancy it for a bit of training for the coming seasons long events - plus it seems do-able even at this time of year, provided you get an early dark start on a section you know well.
I was wondering where you'd got to Marrow - you'll have to explain the old aviator and forum name sometime though...
I assume that visiting the hostels was an important part of the challenge. I could be very tempted to cut out Longthwaite!
I aint planning on skipping the hostels. In fact I'm hoping to get some scran and a cup of tea at each of them!
You mean its not a purist unsupported attempt? :D
I guess not! I planned to run the route alone, but I presume taking on food along the way is classed as 'supported'. What if one was to leave food at strategic points and pick it up along the way...Quote:
Originally Posted by gej
Yesterday I completed this route.
Starting around 7am from Elterwater Youth Hostel, I visited Eskdale Youth Hostel then Borrowdale Hostel, High Close Hostel and back to Elterwater. It took me 10 hours and 47 minutes. The above list of checkpoints is not the full list; there are 23 checkpoints plus the three Hostels to visit.
I only had a previous schedule from someone's successful attempt back in 1986 to go on - Brian Jackson did it in 11 hours and 3 minutes.
It is a fantastic route and I got one of the best days of summer to do it in. I ran solo, supplementing provisions with some food at Eskdale Hostel and a Snickers and can of Coke at Borrowdale Hostel.
I can't believe it's not more popular, for BG training or just as a more 'do-able' traverse of some of the lakeland fells.
That brings back memories of us (Keswick) setting the record for the route as a paired relay - must have a look to see what the time was. I may also have to work out what year it was:eek: . Certainly a challenging route to do, well done.
Brilliant effort Noor. BG for you soon now you are getting a taste for the long stuff!!:D
Quote:
Originally Posted by theNoor
I'd never heard of it - it does sound like an excellent route and I would have probably used it for BGR training if i'd have known.
Perhaps you should write an article for fellrunner about it? Did you take any photos en route?
Yes well done Noor.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dux de lux
He did say it was good training for the BG so that must be next ;)
Book your weekend early Noor it gets busy!
Bill
No, there's not much information on it, but that was what made it a little more special.
No, I have no interest in a BG - that just sounds really tiring.
No, I didn't take any photos but I really, really wish I'd taken my camera; so many views and so much to take in, but I just didn't have the time to stop.
I was thinking about something for The Fellrunner, but I am awaiting the inspiration to write.
you should write something for the YHA mag, Noor. There's always time to take pictures. It might mean an extra 15 - 30 minutes but I reckon its worth it.Quote:
Originally Posted by theNoor
look forward to reading about it in the fellrunner anyway. I'll have plenty of time for reading over the next few months
Good one Ben
I was a member of SROC when we ran a couple of teams over that course back in the 80's. Fancied a trot around it myself this summer but it never materialised. Would be interested though to see a complete list of checkpoints as I have no record of it now. Can you post it or e-mail me?
Cheers
Tim
The Relay Reord was acheived by Keswick AC on 1st June 1986.
7 hours 45 mins.
The Trophy currently resides on the wall of the common room at Borrowdale Youth Hostel (I'm not sure why, perhaps John Broxap was working at the hostel at that time). Other team members included Billy Bland, Dave Spedding, Pete Barron, and Mike Fanning. I'll put the full team up here at some point. I think it is 6 pairs which must include 2 women. Anne Bland and Winky O'Neill were in the the team.
If anyone wants a copy of the map that goes with the route I have access to a few copies. PM me if you 'really' want one.
Apologies. Billy Bland wasn't in the team.
The full team consisted of:
Len I'Anson, Dave Spedding, Pete Davies, Chris Knox, Pete Barron, Dave Wilkinson, Rod Pilbeam, Jon Broxap, Mike Fanning, John Robinson, Winky O'Neale, and Ann Bland.
I think the only other club to hold the record was South Ribble Orienteering Club (11 hours 2 minutes in 1985).
I think it is about time another club or clubs tried to break the record.
Did somebody mention me then? Did I really run that fast? :o Think its about time another club had a go at the record too- any takers?
MMMmm this sounds interesting. I've pm'd you sideburns. Anyone else know anything about the relay? Are there defined legs or can you have changeovers anywhere? Also, is the Noors list of checkpoints in the Fellrunner the same as those visited in the relay? Finally, how big and shiny is that trophy!?Quote:
Originally Posted by sideburns on the summits
Dan I've sent you some details.
Here's another point of interest, a few weeks after our stunning achievment, Billy set off in a heatwave (we had thick mist) to establish a new individual record of........................7hours 36minutes! But we still just about held our heads high as the individual route does not have to visit as many controls so is slightly shorter and has less climb.
Route details now at http://gofar.org.uk
Perhaps this might prompt some further attempts following Ben Ab's round. Looks like a great training run for the BGR etc.
did this yesterday. I used my garmin to measure the route. I made it 39.3 miles so significantly more than the 'official' distance. I took 11 hours 12 mins. I went well over the first half but struggled a bit with very stiff legs after Eskdale (going AC) and going into a strong headwind, so the ascent of Charnley Crag took absolutely ages. Apart from that it was good a day out, if not a classic. Thanks to the Bg support for use of rope at Broad Stand.
John, well done. Yet another "string" to the bow.
Ian.
You wait 54 years for a visit to England's highest peak, and then two come along in one weekend.
In August 1968, when there was no FRA, and the inaugural Ennerdale Horseshoe fell race had just been won by a local shepherd called Joss Naylor, a group of 20 boys and 3 adults from Aspley Heath Primary School battled a SW gale and horizontal rain along the path from Esk Hause to Scafell Pike. We all survived, despite our inadequate clothing, but I didn't make another visit to Scafell Pike until last Saturday's race. I was staying at Eskdale Youth Hostel, and noticed a poster about the Charnley Way, which I knew of but had never considered doing; but I realised that the Eskdale loop of the Way roughly coincided with one of the ideas I had for a possible walk on Sunday.
The Eskdale loop starts and finishes at the YH, visiting Slight Side, Scafell, Scafell Pike (via Foxes Tarn), Esk Hause, Esk Pike, Charnley Crag and Bow Fell: 22km with 1500m of climbing, according to the poster. Conditions were more benign than 54 years ago: moderate winds, clag only on the highest summits, and light rain from Ore Gap to the finish. It took me 9 hours and 40 minutes, which must surely be a SKT (slowest known time); the previous day's exertions were telling, not that I was ever trying to move at a fast pace. This included about 3 hours 30 minutes from Bow Fell to Eskdale YH. I had a bit of fun finding the route off Bow Fell to Three Tarns [don't do the Langdale Race without a recce!], and the bog-trot down the Lingcove valley seemed interminable.
I do remember meeting Gerry Charnley at one of the events he organised, just a few months before he died on Striding Edge, so it was good to visit the cairn on the obscure little crag that has been named in his honour. But I wouldn't want to search for that in the clag!
Bowfell can be confusing in mist... on more than one occasion i've came off without checking the compass and found myself heading towards Ore Gap instead of Three Tarns.
The huge sail like rock just to the east of the very top points almost directly towards the Langdale Pikes - I find this helpful when the clag is down.Quote:
Originally Posted by Travs
Is the Gerry Charnley cairn on Esk Pike marked with a plaque?
It's not on Esk Pike, it's on the second rocky knoll due south of Esk Pike: grid ref 236070. There apparently is a plaque (see https://www.sroc.org/menu2/2014/Apr/Charnley%20Way.htm), but I didn't see it. I was definitely in the right place, but as my wife often tells me, I can't see things directly in front of my nose. :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike T
I found this on Stridingedge.net:
"Looking across Pike de Bield to the Scafells. Further along from Pike de Bield is a large cairn (marked 'memorial cairn' on 2nd edition Wainwright's), the brass plaque on it says 'Gerry Charnley 1929 - 1982."
It is strange he did not take a photo of it. My Wainwright is a first edition re-issue.
The plaque disappeared a few years ago.
Ah, so on this occasion it wasn't just me being blind. At least the cairn is still in good condition.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Navigator