The 26 Lake, Meres and Waters is a ultra distance challenge which is co-ordinated by the Achille Ratti Climbing Club. The route involves visiting all the 26 Lake, Meres and Waters (excluding Kentmere Reservoir), as shown on the 1958 (revised 1960) edition of the one inch Ordnance Survey Map of the English Lake District. The distance of the challenge is approximately 100 miles with approximately 20000 feet of ascent.
The challenge was devised and first run in the early eighties by two friends, Peter Schofield and Leo Pollard. They were followed by Alan Heaton of Clayton Le Moors Harriers and by Joss Naylor, both again in the early eighties. More recently, thirty years after the original attempt, Dave Makin and Andy Pooler, two members of the Achille Ratti Climbing Club, completed what was only the fifth circuit of this classic Lakeland route. In July 2012 members of the Achille Ratti Climbing Club completed the route as a relay to celebrate the passing of more than 30 years since the original run.
The 26 Lake, Meres and Waters that must be visited are:
Loweswater. Crummock Water. Buttermere. Ennerdale Water.
Wast Water. Devoke Water. Goat’s Water. Low Water.
Levers Water. Coniston Water. Esthwaite Water. Elter Water.
Grasmere. Rydal Water. Windermere. Skeggles Water.
Haweswater. Small Water. Blea Water. Hayeswater.
Brothers Water. Ullswater. Thirlmere. Derwent Water.
Bassenthwaite Lake. Over Water.
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