Lakeland Fellranger Walking the Southern Fells

• Location
• Description
• Contents
• Introduction
• Sample Route
• Maps
• Reviews

FROM FIRESIDE TO FELLSIDE

Packaging the Lakeland fells into neat fellwalking areas is not an exact science but the forces of nature are to be congratulated in giving some semblance of order to the high ridges. The one grey area in the region lies south and east of the Scafells where a wild tangle of upland merges with the Coniston fells. Here the Romans have come to our aid, in laying their military road from Ambleside to Ravenglass over the high passes of Wrynose and Hardknott – a deliciously juicy route adored (and feared) by motorised travellers to this day.

Wainwright found it expedient to combine the fells south of Borrowdale with the higher fells of this southern group and turn a blind eye to the superb tramping to be found down the Duddon to Black Combe, denying the existence of a mid-western group altogether! The matter is now resolved; there are eight divisions of the Lakeland fells, including a mid-western group.

This guide

This guide therefore introduces a new consortium, a happy band of 23 fells: an intriguing mix of the wildly popular Coniston Old Man and Wetherlam, and the wild and solitary Stainton Pike and Black Combe. Hitherto unceremoniously divorced, none are unworthy of inclusion and all are here explored on trailworthy routes for the discerning fellwalker that should give you every cause to take a new look at, or break away from, the familiar areas of central Lakeland.