The Southern Fells

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Wainwright defined the Southern Fells as being those to the south of Langdale, Wasdale and Borrowdale, which means it also gets to include Eskdale.

And there's some fine fells there, including Bow Fell and England's highest mountain, Scafell Pike.

Wainwright bag count: 25 out of 30

View Wainwrights by Walk

Read the stories of each walk I did where Wainwrights were bagged

A Coniston to Langadale walk

Capturing three fells on a walk between Coniston and Old Dungeon Ghyll

Carry On Up The Crinkles

A tour of Crinkle Crags, as well as Cold Pike and Pike O'Blisco.

Highest mountain in England

On its own, Scafell Pike is quite an achievement. Throw in it's neighbour, Great End, and you've got a double whammy of very big fells.

Rossett Pike and Hard Knott

Two fells with no real connection other than that they were visited on the same day.

Slight Side on its own

What was supposed to be the start of a bigger walk, became a trip up and down one fell due to bad weather.

The Bow and the Esk

A traverse of Bow Fell and Crinkle Crags is a classic walk in the Langdale area of the Lake District. But sometimes the weather has other ideas.

The Eskdale-Wast Water Two

Two glorious fells in the isolated Eskdale, both of which have a cracking view of Wast Water.

The Old Man and Me

Dominating the skyline of the village of Coniston, is a fell known affectionately as the Old Man. It's surrounded by two other fells, all easily visited in one day of walking.

The Southern Eskdale Fells

Eskdale, oh beautiful Eskdale. If you've never been, you really should. And when you do, pay a visit to two delightful fells.

Wandering round Wetherlam

Four of the Southern Fells in the Coniston range, including the mighty Wetherlam.

View Wainwrights by Name

Want to plunge in and just read about a particular fell? This is the section to look at.

Grey Friar

Published 5 February 2023

Not a place to visit in mist, so it was a good thing the weather was nice.

Great Carrs

Published 29 January 2023

An eight minute walk and a memorial.

Swirl How

Published 22 January 2023

A spikey ascent route, but glorious views from the top of Swirl How.

Wetherlam

Published 15 January 2023

Kicking off a four summit tour of the northern Coniston fells.

Hard Knott

Published 11 April 2021

A small but distinctive fell that’s rather awkward to get to.

Rossett Pike

Published 4 April 2021

My final fell in Langdale turned out to be one that liked to hide in the cloud.

Crinkle Crags

Published 28 March 2021

Five crinkly rocky summits, maketh one rather long fell.

Cold Pike

Published 21 March 2021

It’s not cold and there’s no fish on it.

Pike O’Blisco

Published 14 March 2021

One of Langdale’s lesser known fells. But that’s no reason not to give it a visit.

Coniston Old Man

Published 1 December 2019

Overlooking the village below, the Old Man is a popular destination for visitors to the area. And has some interesting history too.

Brim Fell

Published 24 November 2019

A fell that’s more one passed over on the way to the Old Man, rather than visited deliberately.

Dow Crag

Published 17 November 2019

Dow Crag – a dark, moody fell that’s apparently much loved by wasps.

Great End

Published 12 August 2015

Could there be a place with better views than Scafell Pike? Yes. There could.

Scafell Pike

Published 5 August 2015

Sometimes you just have to lace up your hiking boots and head on up to the highest point in England.

Slight Side

Published 10 July 2012

Slight Side is one of those fells that fits firmly in to the category of “always the bridesmaid and never the bride.”

Illgill Head

Published 5 July 2012

After Whin Rigg comes Illgill Head. Wainwright says so so it must be true.

Whin Rigg

Published 3 July 2012

With an exceptional view of Wast Water and the North Sea, when Whin Rigg comes calling for you, make sure you don’t ignore it.

Harter Fell (Eskdale)

Published 28 June 2012

The larger, taller, more popular neighbour of Green Crag.

Green Crag

Published 21 June 2012

The 26th highest out of 30 in Wainwright’s Pictorial Guide to the Southern Fells, the 489m high Green Crag isn’t exactly a massive fell.

Esk Pike

Published 2 November 2011

I wonder how many people go to Langdale, look at a map or their trusted copy of Wainwright and go “That’s it! That’s the one! I’m going to do Esk Pike!” Hmm. Probably not many.

Bow Fell

Published 20 October 2011

Wainwright tells his readers to “rank Bow Fell amongst the best half dozen” of Lakeland fells. And with a recommendation like that who wouldn’t want to head straight up there and admire the view?

Lingmoor Fell

Published 17 October 2011

No one’s going to shake your hands or slap your back having done Lingmoor. It’s ascent is not the stuff of legends. But the views when you do get up there, well they are legendary.

Holme Fell

Published 3 October 2011

“It is characteristic of many of Lakeland’s lesser heights that what they lack in elevation they make up in ruggedness” said Wainwright on his pages on Holme Fell. And he wasn’t wrong there. Holme Fell may be diminutive coming in at a mere 317m in height but boy are its slopes rugged.

Black Fell

Published 29 September 2011

Chances are you’ve not heard of Black Fell. But you should have.

The Southern Fells - the trail highlights

Old Rusting Wire

Published 20 August 2023

The twists and turns of the metal. The browny rust that it has become over the years. Those sharp pointy bits that will take your eye out if you get too close.

Also about The Southern Fells

Video The Search for Scafell…

Published 10 July 2013

…and a saunter up Slight Side

All Aboard to Eskdale!

Published 19 June 2012

For me, travelling to a walking trip is as much fun as the actual walking. It’s part of the trip. Full of memories.

Wandering around Eskdale

Published 12 June 2012

Over the elongated bank holiday weekend I went on one of my periodic trips to the Lake District.

Video The Battle of Bow Fell

Published 26 September 2011

In his Pictorial Guide to the Southern Fell Wainwright told his readers to consider Bow Fell one of the best half dozen fells in Lakeland but after failing to ascend it on a visit in May, on the the 16 September 2011 Catherine and myself headed to the Lake District in order to have another go!

Looking for a dungeon? In Australia?

Published 19 April 2011

Sorry Bing, but I’m after a famous pub in Cumbria where grizzled mountain walkers all congregate telling tales of Bow Fell and Crinkle Crags, and not a dungeon in the Australian town of Ghyll…