Lake District walk on Christmas day to tackle loneliness

36-year-old Jay Mistry started with his Christmas walk when, in 2019, he was on his own for the festive day and thought about climbing Scafell Pike. 

After sharing his idea in a Facebook post the response was good and eight people joined him.

He said: "Last year I put it out again, and loads of people said they were on their own, had nothing to do and were up here (Lake District) on holiday. It turned into a fantastic day that brought people together."

Jay Mistry and the group of people who joined him last year. (Image: Mark Smith)

He added: "We had people who would spend Christmas on their own or having family difficulties and it kind of gives people a sense of community and camaraderie for those hours."

This year is his third time organising the walk and he is making it more accessible for people.

Dressed as Santa, he will have more than 25 people joining him, including people from all over Cumbria and some others from London. 

Jay Mistry dressed as Santa. (Image: Mark Smith)

Jay shared that his life as an environmental engineer can be very busy.

"I work a lot between Christmas and New Year, and my family is in America on holiday, so I'm on my own, and that's where the idea came from," he said.

Although he is based in West Yorkshire, he spends most of his days in the Lake District and sees it as his 'second home'.

"I suffer a lot with my mental health and I always find the cure is being in the fells. It just brings people extra special memories being in the mountains in Christmas day."

The meeting point is in Moot Hall in Keswick at 10am on Christmas day then heading up to Latrigg.

The walk is estimated to last four hours.