Dunmail Raise Outing - The Stories Behind the Photos

As indicated by t'Y, we had travelled up to Dunmail Raise (reputed to be the site of the grave of Dunmail, last King of Cumberland 945 A.D.) to offer roadside support to Martin Walsh of Bowland FR who was attempting to complete the Joss Naylor Lakeland Challenge. Although aged over 65, and therefore allowed 24 hours for the crossing, Martin had set himself the younger man's target of a sub 18 hour outing.

We were aware that as well as Martin, we were likely to encounter the Tony Marlow squad as he crossed the road, to start the third leg of his Bob Graham attempt.

Despite our reputations, t'Y and I arrived in good time to meet Martin, despite him checking in more than 20 minutes ahead of schedule. As Martin was being thoroughly processed by his team, Tony checked in looking good and strong. Martin was strapped together with the now obligatory blue Kinesio tape and set off with a large team of Bowland supporters, with t'Y and me tagging on for a brief ride. Tony's squad, including Albert and TYC were not far behind and we stepped aside part way up Steel Fell to let them past.

Soon after Steel Fell summit t'Y and I started to drop back and we eventually lost contact with both squads, although we could still see the Bowland lot and were able to continue to use them as pathfinders. Approaching High Raise the fell population increased leading us to enquire and find that there was a 'Ten Peaks' event under way, which came up Wyth Burn and proceeded via High Raise. We didn't really find out what the event involved, other than, presumably Ten Peaks, but we did conclude, by reference to our maps, that Wyth Burn is the correct spelling for the stream, but the two words are fused to describe associated features, as in 'Wythburn Church' - could crop up in a pub quiz.

We  travelled north along Greenup Edge for a short while, then followed Wyth Burn down to the road. We turned south down the road and as we approached the crest we saw yet another group, waiting to process a young man attempting to take the Lakeland 24 hour record. Anything known?

Both Martin and Tony appear to have achieved their aims, but as yet, I have no detail. Info anybody?

A grand long morning out, good to feel a part of so many derring doos.