Jurassic Peak as walker plots dino-themed mass hike

A keen hiker is encouraging other walkers to join him in the Peak District for a fundraising walk dressed as dinosaurs.

Jay Mistry, 38, from Huddersfield is hoping "hundreds" of inflatable dinosaurs will take part in the group jaunt across Mam Tor in April to raise money for charity.

He said: "If you can get out, make people smile, and fundraise at the same time, it's the best of both worlds."

Mr Mistry wants to raise money for The Christie Charity which looked after his mother before she died in September, and Mountain Rescue.

Mr Mistry, who has been arranging Christmas day group hikes in the Lake District since 2019 posted his idea on social media and said it had gone "absolutely nuts."

"I think we've [already] got some unicorns, some T. rexes and some dogs dressed up as well.

"Also we'll be doing some litter picking to help the environment as well as getting out there and having some fun."

He has stressed anyone attending should park "sensibly" after roads around Castleton recently became blocked due to irresponsible parking.

The walk will start at the Mam Tor National Trust car park at 08:00 GMT on 5 April.

Mr Mistry said he started arranging group hikes as a way of conquering loneliness at Christmas and enjoys getting out on foot as a way of looking after his own mental health.

"I'd had a few rough years and my parents, at the time used to go to Florida every year at Christmas," he said.

"I used to be on my own and I was single at the time and I thought there has got to be people out there who are on their own Christmas Day who want to go for a walk."

He had nine people attend his first event in 2019 at Scafell Pike.

"Then we had 17, then 64 the next year, then 74 and then 84, it's a tradition now," he said.

By the end of this month, Mr Mistry will have climbed every mountain in England and Wales over 2,000ft.

"For me it's just an escape," he said.

"I just love being in the mountains, I run a small business and it's quite stressful at times and being on top of a mountain or being out with people and having a laugh, its just the best feeling in the world really."

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