As a child I lived and grew up in the Ribble Valley of Lancashire (Tolkien’s “Shire”), one of the most rural and least densely populated areas of the UK. In matter of fact, I’m not a northerner as the geographical centre of the United Kingdom is just north of Dunsop Bridge a few miles from where I lived. I attended secondary school in the small market town of Clitheroe. I read for my Geography degree in the lovely city of Lancaster and spent one year completing my PGCE training in Liverpool. After these two places, which already seemed large to me, it was logical to move for work to the biggest place in the country beginning with ‘L’. In all honesty I wanted to broaden my horizons and experience. His approach to the fells is purist in nature, though he admits he is not an out-and-out peakbagger. I feel fine. The hills and mountains will be there long after I’ve gone. As long as I know they’re there then I am happy until my next visit. I survive by holding onto my last outing or ascent mixed with walks in the more pastoral south. In any case, the Downs and Chilterns aren’t far away! A London-based geography teacher has produced a unique map of the Lakeland fells that pays homage to two renowned, but very different, artists. The result is a stylised map, colour-coded in line with Wainwright’s different volumes of his Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells, with each area depicted in its distinctive hue. In addition to the 214 fells listed by Wainwright, the map includes the sections of the Coast to Coast Walk, the Cumbria Way and the very end of the Dales Way that fall into the area covered.

He said: “Growing up in the Ribble Valley I was blessed with an immediate environment that was very beautiful. I really appreciated it as a kid, but when we started going to the Lakes on many weekend trips I just fell in love with the place. We all complain, but to be honest, there’s not much wrong with the place and I think as a nation we should be proud of what our capital can offer when compared to other cities in the world. Volume four of seven, which cover all 214 fells described in the Wainwright Pictorial Guides, which make them the perfect companion to the books. At some point, as already stated, I need to present money to the Fix the Fells project and with the John Muir Trust opening a new shop in Pitlochry, I will be giving the Trust as well as Scottish MRT some cash as 75 pence goes to each charity from the sale of every MunrOverground. If I get to Lakeland I will undoubtedly go scrambling and walking on the fells and a visit to Pitlochry gives me a fabulous chance to get on the hills above Blair Atholl. The Lake District is my favourite location. I think it’s because of my own broad ranging knowledge that endears me to the place so much. It is such a diverse and contrary to belief a massively human landscape. I love how the human interactions with the landscape has woven an amazing fabric of landscape across the fells. From the geological history, which is almost second to none in terms of its variety, to the human history dotted across the area, it’s a really amazing area. As became evident on my own map, the Lake District is roughly the same size as Greater London but within that small area are 17 major valley lakes, iconic properties, mountains greater than 3000′, but with geological characteristics that make them as varied as the Badlands of Dakota to the Alps of Europe. I have travelled quite a lot and from my own knowledge of the planet, I doubt there is as varied an area of ground on earth with as much interest and shear diversity of beauty. It’s not the greatest landscape in terms of scale, but it’s certainly one of the most intimately beautiful.In later life, especially at secondary school I began walking with the school’s walking club run by my classics teacher who, has it happens, is also a published author on George Mallory. The enthusiasm of people like that teacher (who I still correspond with) and others around me really got me into fell walking. I used to fellrun at school with Pendle and the nearby Forest of Bowland the constant targets. I have to say we used to run in all weathers through fog, snow and rain, but we loved it. The walking wasn’t mountain spectacular around home, like Lakeland or Scotland, but you can walk for ages and not meet a soul.

I love to go alone onto the fells, but I also enjoy the camaraderie of walking in a group, usually members of the Online Fellwalking Club (OFC).After a fantastic day on the fells, there’s nothing better than returning to an iconic Lakeland pub like the Kirkstile for a meal, a few pints of local Mellbreak golden ale and the conversation turned to the days exploits. I think that’s what most people long for! How do you travel? When in the week do you go, what time of day? How long does it take, and what’s the usual cost?

Going on regular hiking trips can be expensive (particularly travelling costs and accommodation). How do you manage this? How do you justify the expense to yourself? A new planning map for the 21st century - designed to show all of the 214 "Wainwright Fells", with their names, as clearly as possible on a high quality topographical base map. You donate some of the profits to Fix the Fells. How has that been working? What do Fix the Fells do? Do you feel you’ve been able to create a good balance of city life and hiking, or ideally would you want to spend more time in the countryside? When did you get into hiking? Is it something you’ve done all your life or did you get into it at a later stage?

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Once started, it took a few hundred hours work I guess, as the idea developed and evolved into the final map I have now. So I suppose, 10 years thinking about it and a few weeks at the computer!” If nothing else, my map projects are giving me the excuse to visit the hills and walk in places I’d perhaps never consider. People are also suggesting maps for me to create such as Dartmoor, the Yorkshire Dales, Ireland and one which includes the walking areas of the UK – lots of projects to be getting on with there then. To be honest, I also want to map the Himalaya.