Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

Which Wainwright fell?

52 replies

loopyapp · 23/07/2021 22:36

Hello everyone!!

I hope someone can help me.

My eldest is going into year 8 in Sept and they've been given a list of challenges to complete in readiness for next year.

One of them is to walk a Wainwright fell. I am a single parent of 4, two of which have a wide variety of additional needs and the youngest is only one.

Are there any of them that can be feasably done with a baby in a sling on my bacl, an ADHD 10 year old and a 6 year old with well medicated epilepsy and Arnold chiari malformation (he fatigues quite quickly and is prone to pain in his arms and legs).

Thanks in advance folks.

OP posts:
Original poster
loopyapp · 24/07/2021 17:25

I found it!! I logged in via Google rather than the app :)

OP posts:
overthethamesfromyou · 24/07/2021 18:24

Aaah, that's lovely Thanks

overthethamesfromyou · 29/07/2021 17:17

I want to know if you made it?

Stillgoings · 30/07/2021 15:35

They've not been with us yet. Loopy had a poorly son so we didn't get there on Monday as planned.but hoping we can get them up soon 🤞

RaskolnikovsGarret · 30/07/2021 15:40

No way should you have to do this. Your poor son - of course he feels peer pressure to do the challenges, which then feeds into your mum guilt, and attempting the walk could adversely affect your whole family.

My DDs are neurotypical, but with three at that age and alone, I’m sure I wouldn’t have wanted to do the walk.

Is there any way you can ask the school to send a revised list of easier and more accessible challenges? This doesn’t sound fair at all.

Maybe I’m overreacting, but I’m shocked and furious on your behalf.

Angry Flowers
Original poster
loopyapp · 30/07/2021 15:45

@Stillgoings

They've not been with us yet. Loopy had a poorly son so we didn't get there on Monday as planned.but hoping we can get them up soon 🤞
I'm so so sorry!!!

All PCRS were negative but the 6 year old has had a grim case of tonsillitis. I considered leaving him with granny but he has just wanted his mam all week. X

OP posts:
RhubarbRocks · 30/07/2021 15:52

Late to this but have you considered Gummers How? South Lakeland so you aren’t far to there from Carnforth and it is supposedly Wainwright’s easiest. It’s in his outlying fells book.

The car park/entrance is half way up. The views from the top of Windermere are lovely and make you feel you have achieved something.

I was easily doing it aged 5 and my 80 year old dad can manage it too. You can be up and down in an hour.
www.wainwrightroutes.co.uk/gummershow_r1.htm

Original poster
loopyapp · 30/07/2021 15:55

[quote RhubarbRocks]Late to this but have you considered Gummers How? South Lakeland so you aren’t far to there from Carnforth and it is supposedly Wainwright’s easiest. It’s in his outlying fells book.

The car park/entrance is half way up. The views from the top of Windermere are lovely and make you feel you have achieved something.

I was easily doing it aged 5 and my 80 year old dad can manage it too. You can be up and down in an hour.
www.wainwrightroutes.co.uk/gummershow_r1.htm[/quote]
Oh now... This is some good Intel!

OP posts:
notacooldad · 30/07/2021 16:25

Late to this but have you considered Gummers How?
When mine were Bout 5 I told them that they were rock climbers when we did this one!!🤣🤣

AttaGirrrrl · 30/07/2021 16:30

Late to this, but yes, Gummer’s How is dead easy and you can park half way up.

Original poster
loopyapp · 30/07/2021 18:35

Just to be clear though you still all dont think I should be doing it with the kids alone? For context we've walked beacon fell, warton crag (6 year old with epilepsy didn't walk this one) and the pepper pot (numerous times with baby in the sling too)

OP posts:
GCAcademic · 30/07/2021 18:41

Ah, I was just going to suggest Beacon Fell, but see you have already done it.

Original poster
loopyapp · 30/07/2021 19:00

It has to be a wainwright sadly

OP posts:
RhubarbRocks · 30/07/2021 21:04

Only you can know if it is right to do it by yourself with the children, but just to reassure you there are always plenty of people on Gummer’s How (except once in the most appalling storm when even I turned back!) so I’m sure there would be someone to help if things went awry. There are no drops/anywhere to fall off (I am terrified of heights and have no issues on GH). But you should do what you are comfortable with and not because the school says you have to. If you want any more info feel free to message me.

Original poster
loopyapp · 30/07/2021 21:21

@RhubarbRocks

Only you can know if it is right to do it by yourself with the children, but just to reassure you there are always plenty of people on Gummer’s How (except once in the most appalling storm when even I turned back!) so I’m sure there would be someone to help if things went awry. There are no drops/anywhere to fall off (I am terrified of heights and have no issues on GH). But you should do what you are comfortable with and not because the school says you have to. If you want any more info feel free to message me.
Thank you so much, busy and easy sounds ideal. I cant deny that the part of me that feels really insecure in the face of all the well off still together parents is rolling in the shame of knowing 50% of his class mates will be doing the fun or challenging ones and he will be open to mockery for doing a "lesser fell"

I am still sure picking an elite school was the right thing to do for their education but this is an element of that experience I really resent

OP posts:
AttaGirrrrl · 31/07/2021 13:22

I doubt the kids will even know what would count as a ‘lesser’ fell. You’ll get stunning photos from Gummer’s How and there will be plenty of people around. It’s a fun one as there are scrambling options, and sometimes an ice cream van in the car park Grin

FWIW, I’m a teacher locally and the only thought I have about single parents (including myself) is ‘you go mama!’ We can often tell the boys that have been brought up by single mums as they tend to be respectful towards women and fierce feminists Flowers

AttaGirrrrl · 31/07/2021 13:24

Oh, I’ve just realised that Orrest Head is also a Wainwright. It’s steep but short and it’s now part of miles without stiles as it’s such a good path. Easy parking in Windermere and always packed with people.

My DC did this as a school trip in Y1 so should be manageable for yours.

www.walklakes.co.uk/walk_192.html

SweatyBetty20 · 31/07/2021 13:36

I’m wainwright-bagging at the moment and have been ticking off some of the smaller ones recently. Great Mell Fell and Little Mell Fell are good and easy, and not too far from a road, as is Latrigg. Helm Cragg isn’t too bad - it’s not small but it’s easily navigable and the view from the top is astounding. From the bottom it looks pretty imposing but it’s easier than it looks and would give him a great sense of achievement.

Original poster
loopyapp · 31/07/2021 16:28

Thank you Attagirl and sweaty Betty

I think we might be good for monday.. Fingers crossed

OP posts:
SweatyBetty20 · 31/07/2021 20:31

Have a great time @loopyapp! Couple of tips from me - download the OS maps and locator, and the What Three Words app on to your phone just in case you get lost. If the mist comes in it can be a little disorientating.

Original poster
loopyapp · 31/07/2021 20:45

@SweatyBetty20

Have a great time *@loopyapp*! Couple of tips from me - download the OS maps and locator, and the What Three Words app on to your phone just in case you get lost. If the mist comes in it can be a little disorientating.
Thank you :) x
OP posts:
garlictwist · 01/08/2021 07:55

Castle Crag is the smallest Wainwright and only about 200m tall. Think it's in Borrowdale from memory.

Seems an odd challenge to set a child though as it involves such heavy parental involvement!

Original poster
loopyapp · 01/08/2021 19:07

@garlictwist

Castle Crag is the smallest Wainwright and only about 200m tall. Think it's in Borrowdale from memory.

Seems an odd challenge to set a child though as it involves such heavy parental involvement!

That isn't even the most extreme. He is to achieve as much of an iron man challenge as he can over the 6 weeks. So 26.5miles ran, cycle 112m and swim 2.54m ... Help me
OP posts:
liarsandlovers · 01/08/2021 20:07

A very strange homework, given you don't live in the Lakes!

Both are a little further for you, but either Low Fell or Sale Fell (both near Cockermouth) are VERY easy fells: short and accessible.

Original poster
loopyapp · 01/08/2021 20:24

To be fair we arent far. We are along the Lancs and lakes boarder.

Thank you so much for your suggestion - the boy wants to do a few if we are doing easy ones

OP posts: