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Castlerigg

Blencathra

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When walking the fells with a book by Wainwright, also take a proper OS map with you.

For all Wainwright's snide comments about the OS I found I was misled when following one of his maps and needed the OS map to clarify where I was and how I'd gone wrong.

Regarding Blencathra, I'm glad they've kept the name, but `Saddleback' is also an accurate description of the shape the mountain makes, and I wouldn't be at all surprised to find it's been a local name. I remember when there was an outcry over the new name Cumbria. Although it was indeed a new name for the three former counties, the composite name Cumbria occurs in Wordsworth and so has good provenance.

Cumbria land of the Cumbrogi 'fellow Welsh' i.e. North Welsh

Sweep wrote:
When walking the fells with a book by Wainwright, also take a proper OS map with you.

For all Wainwright's snide comments about the OS I found I was misled when following one of his maps and needed the OS map to clarify where I was and how I'd gone wrong.

Regarding Blencathra, I'm glad they've kept the name, but `Saddleback' is also an accurate description of the shape the mountain makes, and I wouldn't be at all surprised to find it's been a local name. I remember when there was an outcry over the new name Cumbria. Although it was indeed a new name for the three former counties, the composite name Cumbria occurs in Wordsworth and so has good provenance.

Thanks for that Sweep, I was walking up there in May and we definitely had an OS map with us at all times. Blencathra/Saddleback will always be synonymous with Castlerigg for me as I spent quite a long time there just watching the shadows drift across the surrounding fells. The Wainwright book mentioned contains 18 of his favourite walks and is a rather large hardback so I wouldn't be taking it out and about.

PS:
I should give the charity shop a mention which is above average - spacious and tidy with the downstairs section devoted just to books. Helen & Douglas House (specialist hospice care for children and young adults) Regent's Street, Swindon.