Trust marks gift of Lake summits

One hundred years after the National Trust took possession of one of the greatest gifts to the public, it is commemorating the generosity of Lord Leconfield, who handed the charity 13 Lakeland summits for post-war Britain to enjoy.

Landowner Charles Henry Wyndham, 3rd Baron Leconfield donated Scafell Pike, England’s tallest mountain, “in perpetual memory of the men of the Lake District who fell for God and King, for freedom, peace and right in the Great War”.

One of the largest ever donations to the trust, Lord Leconfield’s bequest has ensured that each year, hundreds of thousands of visitors can freely walk the stunning Lake District mountains.

To pay tribute, the National Trust plans to rededicate the mountains through repairs, including resetting the memorial plaque at the summit of Scafell Pike, events and exhibitions. Samantha Herbert