A MAMMOTH 102-mile tour of the Lake District fells has been re-traced by members of the Wainwright Society.

They followed in the footsteps of Alfred Wainwright and his pals who devised the 133-peak Whitsuntide tour back in 1931.

Over three weeks members re-walked the route visiting every summit and landmark on Wainwright’s itinerary as part of the society’s annual challenge.

The challenge finished last Saturday when members strode along the ridge from Calf Crag to Helm Crag and descended into Grasmere. It was exactly 80 years ago that Wainwright planned to be walking this section as part of the final day of his tour.

A sum of £2,000 was raised and has been presented to the Lake District Calvert Trust – the society’s charity for 2011.

The trust was established in 1974 to enable people with disabilities to benefit from outdoor activities in the countryside. It has a residential activity centre located at Little Crosthwaite, near Keswick.

Wainwright and three friends from the Treasurer’s Office in Blackburn took six days to complete the tour. Wainwright, who went on to write his famous pen and ink guide books, described the challenge as ‘arduous’ adding that ‘the reward will be well worth the work’.

Members of the society followed Wainwright’s hand-drawn itinerary and map.

It emerged after his death in 1991 having been kept for 60 years by the only surviving member of the party, Eric Maudsley.

Derek Cockell, of the Wainwright Society, said the weather had made this year’s walks hard work, although, they had been ‘enjoyable’.

“The weather was not good and on the last walk we crouched down to eat our lunch in heavy sleet but all of the walks were completed despite the weather,” he said.

“The other challenges have been walking from the Wainwright books but this was different because it was a walk which Wainwright devised which we never would have heard of if a copy of his hand-drawn itinerary and map had not have been kept by Eric Maudsley.

“It was a very successful challenge and it was a lovely bonus to raise £2,000 for the Calvert Trust, who were able to join us on the last leg on the final walk.”

He said the society would be selling another Wainwright calendar, which will be on sale from July, which he hoped could raise £9,000 for the Calvert Trust.