WALKERS hoping to enjoy the soaring views available from one of the region's most famous fells can now employ the services of a sat nav system, featuring one of Alfred Wainwright's famous descriptions.

After downloading a specially-recorded podcast on to an iPod or MP3 player, walkers will get the impression they are ascending Helm Crag, also known as the Lion and the Lamb, accompanied by the famous fell-lover himself, reports Caroline Barber.

In reality, the croaky voice of Alfred Wainwright, who famously hand-wrote seven pictorial guides to the 214 Lake District summits, is played by London-based actor Nik Wood-Jones.

Mr Wood-Jones provided the official voice-over of the successful BBC2 series Wainwright Walks to Walk.

Speaking about the recording, coined flat-cap sat-nav', Eric Robson, chairman of both Cumbria Tourism and The Wainwright Society, said: "Many people go walking in the Lake District with a Wainwright guide book in their pocket but this is the nearest anyone will ever come to experiencing what it must be like taking a walk with Wainwright by their side."

He added: "The idea that this priest and poet of the Lakeland fells is telling you which way to go and reading his love letter to the fells' directly to you is a novel approach to 21st Century hill walking."

The podcast was produced by Cumbria Tourism with the Wainwright Society and publishers of the guide books, Frances Lincoln, and involved recording Mr Wood-Jones dressed in full Wainwright garb and giving directions and modern-day reference points as well the author's observations.

It is also hoped the podcast, which had the blessing of the Wainwright estate, will help people to find their way safely on the fells this winter.

John Nicoll, of Frances Lincoln, said: "Wainwright is rightly regarded as the master fell wanderer and even in these days of GPS technology and iPods, his handwritten and hand drawn books remain as popular as ever.

"To bring both generations together and create the effect that Wainwright himself is leading the way seems a great way to enjoy his guide books."

Alfred Wainwright, who compiled the guides between 1952 and 1966, died in 1992 but never recorded his walks by voice for people to enjoy.

Walkers can download the podcast for free from www.golakes.co.uk/wainwrightpodcast.