First climb of Britain's new via ferrata

Fleetwith Pike in the Lake District is the first (and we have little doubt only) mountain in Britain that will ever be equipped with a full-length via ferrata route. Trail was there for an exclusive first climb, before the wire was even finished.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• via ferrata
• fleetwith pike
• trail
• honister
• borrowdale
• slate mine
• UK
• walking
• hiking
• walks
• rambling
• countryside
• Country Walking
• Live For The Outdoors
• LFTO

[smyb60]

u need to bear in mind that the average joe does not get this and needs some incentive to think about this as an "alternative". Yes - most of of the outdoor fraternity can/will pooh pooh this sort of thing (I was like that too) but anything that can encourage the youth of today to look at these sort of options is a good thing - and I think 20 quid is a bargain. i will give this a go with my lad next time I get a chance, and i will get as much out of it as some of my E3 climbs of the past

[jonahprs]

Looks ace!

I understand some of the comments above.... but this via ferrata will help give "average joe's" a sense of altitude and exposure whilst walking. Something like this might just inspire people to start hill walking though. It's not just about "getting to the top", it's about enjoying the excitement of the perceived danger of the experience....

[Giovannisenzaterra]

@retrac925 you don't know me ,since i've been a 'premier de corde' as (Rene Desmaison called it) on the Deant du Geant and also arrived to the top of Mon Blanche too,non to mention all the classic ways I did in my own mountains Apuan Alps non to mention the ski alpinism up to tthe top of Gullle de Toula on the Mon Blache group too,just among the thinks I enjoyed when I was young.Sorry for my wretched English.

[retrac925]

@Giovannisenzaterra

?? Many words we use in UK come from other languages and vice versa. So have a good pic-nic on your weekend and ensure you remove your pyjamas from your bungalow before you take a taxi or a kyak along the fjord, observing the roch moutonnee en route

[MrAndysoul]

@gordonhutchinson this is his own private property he bought the slate mine from McAlpines some years ago and has renegotiated the mining rights to the mountains all the money generated goes to keep his slateminers employed through the winter when there are no tourists

there are many shear drops you can walk along in the lakes without safty equipment if you dont like to pay

[MrAndysoul]

Rest in peace Mark

your zest for life and living on the edge was an inspiration

Andy

[Giovannisenzaterra]

Via ferrata in Italian?

[rizzyg2]

I did this course, and seeing the people building this is really quite scary! The experience was really really amazing though, and I would love to do it again! I'm 15, but was 14 when I did it, and it's really suitable for all ages, with several opportunities to back out during the course if you're not enjoying it! It was honestly one of the most rewarding things I've ever done!

[ChadHorney]

I'd really like to see Via Ferrata on places like Aonach Eagach, or even Crib Goch.

When I was hiking in Austria, I really noticed that almost all high alpine paths, even those with only mild exposure, had a fixed cable which you could clip onto if you wanted to.

[smyb60]

whatever it takes ... indeed. And if ritid69 can't be more specific then ... well, so what.

[ringadingadan]

Looks more like a walk than a Via Ferrata. But hey, whatever it takes, eh?

[ritid69]

it will be like a morge up there....hahahahah mark the mine...what a muppet.....OMM