HOW refreshing that something worth watching has come to the TV.

I am talking about the BBC4 series, Wainwright Walks, which is now being shown on BBC2 and presented beautifully by the delectable Julia Bradbury.

How nice to see a novice fell-walker like Julia trekking up the mountains rather than some hairy-faced bloke, and she is obviously very fit as one barely sees her panting.

Hopefully, the BBC will continue to produce more of the master's mountain treks and scrambles with Ms Bradbury showing the way.

I covered lots of the mountains and fells as a teenager, and on becoming a father a few years ago started all over again by introducing my children to the delights of climbing the Lake District's fells to a point where we started alternative and more challenging ascents.

Wainwright once mused: "Why do men climb mountains?" A simple answer to that is, firstly the challenge of getting up there, secondly the view, as long as there is no cloud, and thirdly the peace and tranquillity one finds at 3000ft leaving all the troubles and woes of the world far below.

The programme is also invaluable for anyone who for whatever reason cannot get up to such places, but can take pleasure by seeing the areas from the armchair.

I do not think this series will spoil the Lakeland fells, as some people think, with hordes of bodies trekking all over the place.

The mountains can be dangerous, and one either loves them or hates them, but to show them no respect can be fatal.

Bob Waite Holgate, York.