Bill Birkett's list, 'Lakeland's Great Routes', cribbed from his enjoyable history of Lake District climbing, 'Lakeland's Greatest Pioneers: A Hundred Years of Rock Climbing' (London: Robert Hale, 1983).
Birkett picked 11 figures to represent the history of the Lakes:
- W. P. Haskett-Smith
- O. G. Jones
- F. W. Botterill
- S. Herford
- H. M. Kelly
- A. T. Hargreaves
- R. J. Birkett
- W. Peascod
- A. R. Dolphin
- A. Austin
- P. Livesley
What follows is Birkett's selection of the 'most significant and historically important' routes these pioneers put up between 1882 and 1978, plus others he deems to represent 'the very best climbing' they achieved. I've added in a couple too.
Dates are given for some key routes, and refer to the route immediately below. I've not added many, as the dates begin to overlap in the postwar period and become confusing.
p.s. Note that some UKC names are inaccurate, e.g. 'Dry Grasp' should be 'Dry Gasp'.
(ED: In progress - not quite finished yet...)
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| User | Percentage | Latest Log | |
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| 1st | Hidden | 68% | 11 Sep, 2014 |
| 2nd | Martin Bennett | 63% | 3 Sep, 2021 |
| 3rd | Hidden | 50% | 8 Jun, 2023 |
| 4th | Shaw Brown | 37% | 2 Mar, 2021 |
| 5th | Climbingspike | 36% | 2017 |
| 6th | Rog Wilko | 35% | 17 Jun, 2017 |
| 7th | Hidden | 34% | 27 May, 2014 |
| 8th | lithos | 31% | 23 Apr, 2022 |
| 9th | Hidden | 29% | 24 May, 2018 |
| 10th | Chris Pearson | 25% | 31 May, 2003 |
Map of routes in this ticklist
Note: Only showing summits, scrambles, winter routes, and low grade climbs
Distribution of grades - Trad
Top 12 photos of this hilllist
Gimmer String
© Nadir khan
Botterill's Slab
Jade making her way up Botterill's Slab in the cloud.
© JohnHartley
The Wasdale Crack
great night on napes needle
© tjmillen
Slip Knot
Unknown climber on Slip Knot
© Skyfall
North West Arete
Summer days at Gimmer
© davelongbottom
Tophet Wall
The first 'climb to BASE' exit of Tophet Wall.
© Tom McNally
North West Arete
Evening Light on Gimmer. Sean B sneaks one last route in.
© neil the weak
Botterill's Slab
Jade emerging from the mist on Botterill's Slab
© JohnHartley
Das Kapital
Matt pulling into the crux groove on an attempt at Das Kapital
© JohnHartley
Needle Ridge
Eliza and Matt moving together on the upper section of Needle Ridge.
© Tom McNally
Tophet Wall
Tophet wall pitch 1
© Brand
Gimmer String
© Nadir khan