Alfred Wainwright memorial

The memorial sits quietly in Blackburn, a modest tribute to Alfred Wainwright, the fellwalker and guidebook author who became a legend among anyone who's ever hiked the Lake District fells. If you've got a copy of his hand-drawn fell guides, you'll recognise his distinctive style immediately - there's something rather moving about visiting a physical marker to a man whose work has guided thousands of walkers up mountains and across moorland.

It's not a major attraction with queues and visitor facilities. You won't spend hours here. But if you're heading to one of the nearby caravan parks - Northwood is just 3.2 miles away, or Dale Hey Farm a touch further at 5.1 miles - and you've got an interest in walking or Wainwright's legacy, it's worth a small detour. The memorial offers a moment of quiet reflection rather than spectacle, which feels entirely fitting for a man who preferred pages and paths to tourist attractions.

Wainwright died in 1991, and his impact on how we explore the Lake District remains enormous. Coming here before or after staying at one of the local parks gives you a sense of the person behind those meticulous guides. Bring a Wainwright book if you have one - there's something rather nice about standing at his memorial with his own words in your hand. It won't take long, but it's the kind of small stop that lingers with you.