A MOUNTAINEER is hoping to raise thousands of pounds for charity by tackling the highest peak in each of England’s 39 traditional counties.

Alan Hinkes, from Northallerton, North Yorkshire, will begin the challenge next Friday and hopes to complete it within seven days.

The aim of the challenge is to raise funds and awareness for Mountain Rescue, a charity which helps hundreds of trapped and injured hikers in the UK every year.

Mr Hinkes, who was among the first mountaineers to conquer all 14 peaks of more than 8,000 metres, expects a tough time on his expedition.

He said: “My aim is to do them all in less than a week, but the final plan and timings have yet to be confirmed.

It should be fun, but arduous.

Either way, it will be quite a challenge.”

Mr Hinkes, 56, first came up with the idea of climbing the 39 peaks in the late Eighties, and has been waiting for an opportunity since. It is understood that he will By Andy Walker TALL andy.walker@nne.co.uk ORDER: Alan Hinkes, of North Yorkshire, is ready for a challenge be the first person to complete the feat.

He said: “I’m doing the summit of every traditional English county, of which there are 39. A number of administrative boundaries changed in the Seventies, but others date back to before 1066.”

Some of the peaks will take only a few minutes for Mr Hinkes to conquer, while others will take several hours.

He said: “Hopefully, it will enthuse and inspire people to get out and enjoy the hills and exercise.

“Mickle Fell, the highest in Yorkshire, could take a while, because it is fairly remote, up in the north of the county.

“Burnhope Seat, in County Durham, is much more accessible. There is also Cheviot, in Northumberland, and three in the Lake District – in Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire.”

The first peak on Mr Hinkes’ itinerary is Whernside, part of the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge, on August 27.

The lowest peak is Boring Field, in Huntingdonshire, which is 263ft high.

Mr Hinkes plans to hold the challenge’s grand finale in the Lake District, when he will tackle Scafell Pike, the Old Man of Coniston and Hellvellyn.