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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
Read the stories of each walk I did where Wainwrights were bagged
Capturing three fells on a walk between Coniston and Old Dungeon Ghyll
A tour of Crinkle Crags, as well as Cold Pike and Pike O'Blisco.
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.
Two fells with no real connection other than that they were visited on the same day.
What was supposed to be the start of a bigger walk, became a trip up and down one fell due to bad weather.
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.
Two glorious fells in the isolated Eskdale, both of which have a cracking view of Wast Water.
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.
Eskdale, oh beautiful Eskdale. If you've never been, you really should. And when you do, pay a visit to two delightful fells.
Four of the Southern Fells in the Coniston range, including the mighty Wetherlam.
Want to plunge in and just read about a particular fell? This is the section to look at.
Published 5 February 2023
Not a place to visit in mist, so it was a good thing the weather was nice.
Published 22 January 2023
A spikey ascent route, but glorious views from the top of Swirl How.
Published 4 April 2021
My final fell in Langdale turned out to be one that liked to hide in the cloud.
Published 14 March 2021
One of Langdale’s lesser known fells. But that’s no reason not to give it a visit.
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.
Published 24 November 2019
A fell that’s more one passed over on the way to the Old Man, rather than visited deliberately.
Published 17 November 2019
Dow Crag – a dark, moody fell that’s apparently much loved by wasps.
Published 12 August 2015
Could there be a place with better views than Scafell Pike? Yes. There could.
Published 5 August 2015
Sometimes you just have to lace up your hiking boots and head on up to the highest point in England.
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.”
Published 5 July 2012
After Whin Rigg comes Illgill Head. Wainwright says so so it must be true.
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.
Published 28 June 2012
The larger, taller, more popular neighbour of 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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
Published 29 September 2011
Chances are you’ve not heard of Black Fell. But you should have.
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.
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.
Published 12 June 2012
Over the elongated bank holiday weekend I went on one of my periodic trips to the Lake District.
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!
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…