Sir Chris Bonington will lead the politicians up Sharp Edge

A group of politicians will today hold a summit meeting with one of the elder statesmen of British mountaineering.

The parliamentarians will join Sir Chris Bonington on a scramble up Sharp Edge to the top of Blencathra, close to the Everest summiteer’s Cumbria home.

The MPs and peers are all members of the recently established All Party Parliamentary Group on Mountaineering, and have volunteered to join Sir Chris on the British Mountaineering Council-organised walk.

BMC chief executive Dave Turnbull will also join the ascent, reckoned by Sir Chris to be one of his favourites.

The ascent of the 868m (2,848ft) northern Lake District peak will also give an opportunity to press the case for mountaineering, climbing and hillwalking with representatives of the Westminster legislature.

Tina Gardner of the BMC said: “Sport England has identified climbing and mountaineering as one of the fastest growing sports in the UK.

“The purpose of the event is to raise awareness of the benefits that mountain-related activities bring to the wellbeing of the nation; the importance of our mountain landscapes and heritage; and also the contribution that climbing, hill walking and mountaineering make to local economies, especially the positive impact tourism has on rural economies including the Lake District.”

Dave Turnbull added: “This is the first event of this type. We are delighted with the positive response from parliamentarians who will be able to hear from the climbing community about the importance of mountain-related pursuits to the community as a whole.

Sharp Edge, the politicians' route up Blencathra

He thanked the group’s John Mann and David Rutley for formally establishing the group and said: “We look forward to continued dialogue with parliamentarians through the APPG.”

The BMC said it is keen to talk to MPs and peers about the potential impacts on outdoor pursuits and the environment by the coalition Government’s Red Tape Challenge, claimed by the Ramblers as making a farce of the Government’s claims to be the greenest ever.

The BMC also wants to press for progress on coastal access improvements under the Marine and Coastal Access Act passed by the last Labour government.

Ms Gardner said: “The BMC has campaigned long and hard for the coastal access improvements around the English coast, but so far Government has only started work on six 30km stretches and the BMC is keen to hear how this will be rolled out around the country.

“The BMC is actively engaged in the Government’s Red Tape Review and seeks assurances that regulations which are of importance to the climbing and hillwalking community are not unduly removed without discussion with the BMC.

“The BMC will also be voicing the views of its membership over protecting the future of public forests, calling for public access and conservation to go hand in hand.”

Politicians who have signed up for the Blencathra walk are: David Davis, Lord Greaves, Lord Haworth, Lilian Greenwood, Nia Griffith, Denis MacShane, John Mann, Jamie Reed, David Rutley, Derek Twigg and Rory Stewart.