Nik Wood-Jones was the voice of Wainwright in a BBC2 series

Cumbria Tourist has released a "flat nav" podcast using an Alfred Wainwright sound-alike giving directions up Helm Crag in Grasmere.

Actor Nik Wood-Jones records the famous writer's observations exactly as they appear in his 1958 guide book.

The podcast aims to keep Wainwright's memory alive and give confidence to those unsure about map reading.

Between 1952 and 1966 Wainwright combed 214 Lake District summits to devise seven hand-written and hand-drawn pictorial guides, which are still published today.

Love letter

He died in 1991 but never recorded one of his walks.

Eric Robson, Chairman of the Wainwright Society and Cumbria Tourism, said: "Many people go walking in the Lake District with a Wainwright guide book in their pocket but this is the nearest anyone will ever come to experiencing what it must be like taking a walk with him by their side.

"The idea that this priest and poet of the Lakeland fells is telling you which way to go and reading his love letter to the fells directly to you is a novel approach to 21st century hill walking."

Mr Wood-Jones also provided the voiceover for the BBC2 series, Wainwright Walks.

The actor said: "To have the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Wainwright, as the man himself, was a wonderful experience.

"I hope it introduces more people to his superb guide books and the stunning Lake District which inspired him."