TWO fell-walking dogs and their proud owner are celebrating after 'bagging' all 214 Wainwrights.

Carolyn Hastings, 56, embarked on the challenge with Welsh border collie Jack and collie/Jack Russell cross Skye to raise money - and awareness - for the animal shelter that was so close to author Alfred Wainwright's heart.

Retired police officer Carolyn, of Kendal, adopted her dogs from the Kapellan kennels, at Grayrigg, run by the charity Animal Rescue Cumbria, which AW chaired.

She brought home eight-year-old Skye in November 2010, and seven-year-old Jack on New Year's Day 2013.

Fuelled by gravy bones, biscuits and chews, Skye climbed her first Wainwright, Black Fell, in January 2011; while Jack's was High Hartsop Dodd, in January 2013. The trio bagged their final peak late last year with a direct ascent to Maiden Moor's 1,887-feet summit,

Carolyn said she was "excited" to have climbed all 214 fells and mountains in Wainwright's Pictorial Guides. "It's a really good way of forming a bond with your dogs," she said, "because we've had many happy hours on the fells together enjoying the weather, the good bits and the bad bits, so it forges a good bond."

Jack was very nervous when Carolyn adopted him, and although he still has phobias his confidence has grown. "He just comes into himself when he's out on the fells because I suppose that's his natural habitat, being a Welsh border collie. He just loves being out there, particularly in snow."

Carolyn has also felt the benefits of so much outdoor activity, having been seriously ill 11 years ago and undergoing a kidney transplant. "It changed my attitude to life," she said. "By doing this we are exploring all the time, going to different places. It keeps us all fit and healthy."

The retired police officer recalled just one memorable mishap, when Skye smelled a deer and disappeared at Rest Dodd, above Hartsop, returning with an injured front leg. "We walked slowly off the hill and got her straight to the vet's when we got back down. I could have carried her but she's 22kg and I don't think I would have got down."

Most of the memories, though, are happy ones, especially of Jack chasing snowballs on Wainwright's beloved fells. Carolyn is now planning their next challenge - to climb all the Wainwrights by every single route charted in AW's guides.

If you would like to donate, visit www.animalrescuecumbria.co.uk