Discover the Lake District’s most rewarding mountain days with this inspirational, large-format collection of 50 outstanding walks across the region’s fells. From famous summits such as Scafell Pike and Helvellyn to quieter and lesser-known hills, each route offers a challenging and memorable day exploring the dramatic landscapes of the Lake District National Park.

The routes range from 6 to 23km (4–14 miles) and typically take between 5 and 10 hours to complete. All are graded for difficulty and designed for walkers with a reasonable level of fitness and some hillwalking experience. With circular routes that can also be tackled as backpacking outings, this guidebook provides inspiration both for those new to the Lake District and for experienced walkers keen to rediscover familiar fells by new routes.

• 50 inspiring mountain walks across the Lake District, each designed as a rewarding ‘Great Mountain Day’
• Routes range from 6 to 23km (4–14 miles) and typically take 5 to 10 hours, graded by difficulty for confident hillwalkers, optional low-grade scrambling on some routes
• Clear route descriptions supported by 1:40,000 Harvey mapping and the author's distinctive hand-drawn fellscape diagrams
• Includes classic summits such as Scafell Pike, Helvellyn, Great Gable, Blencathra, Catbells, Coniston Old Man, Great Gable, Pillar and the Langdale Pikes, alongside quieter but equally rewarding routes
• Features well-known rounds such as the Fairfield, Mosedale, Newlands and Coledale Horseshoes
• Walks accessible from key Lake District centres including Ambleside, Grasmere, Keswick, Patterdale and Coniston, with practical information on parking, public transport and refreshments

Combining inspiring photography, clear mapping and carefully chosen routes, this large-format guidebook helps you plan unforgettable days in the Lake District mountains. Whether you are aiming for classic summits or discovering quieter corners of the fells, it offers everything you need for memorable mountain adventures.

Best Walks in the Lake District - Quick Facts

Location: Lake District National Park
Routes: 50 great mountain days across the Lake District fells
Distance per walk: 6–23km (4–14 miles)
Typical duration: 5–10 hours
Difficulty: Moderate to challenging; suitable for walkers with hillwalking experience and a good level of fitness
Navigation: 1:40,000 Harvey maps and clear step-by-step route descriptions, with hand-drawn fellscape diagrams
Highlights: Classic summits including Scafell Pike, Helvellyn, Blencathra, Great Gable and the Langdale Pikes, plus classic horseshoe routes such as Fairfield, Mosedale, Newlands and Coledale
Base locations: Walks accessible from centres including Ambleside, Keswick, Patterdale, Boot and Wasdale Head
Best season: Late spring to autumn for the most reliable conditions; winter walking requires appropriate skills and equipment

Author Highlight

“Each circular route, between 4 and 14 miles in length, is tailor-made to suit walkers early in their fell-walking careers – those confident in their country-walking fitness and prepared, when the elements conspire, to test their mountain navigation with map and compass – as well as more experienced walkers. What excitements lie in store! Feel yourself invigorated by breathing the good clean mountain air, stamping on firm rock, treading winding ridge-top trails, and gazing at richly patterned fellsides and across high-ridged horizons. From these and many more sensations progressively comes a oneness with this special place, as good things come to those who walk. In time Lakeland’s mountain heritage becomes yours, treasured within unique memories of Great Mountain Days.”

- Mark Richards, author of Best Walks in the Lake District

Foreword by Sir Chris Bonington
Preface  

Introduction  

About the guide   
Caring for the fells   
Fix the Fells   
Weather to walk?   
Before you start  

The Routes

1     Lingmoor Fell    
2     Pavey Ark and Harrison Stickle    
3     Loft Crag and Pike o’Stickle    
4     Bowfell and Rossett Pike    
5     Pike o’Blisco and Crinkle Crags    
6     Wetherlam    
7     Dow Crag and Coniston Old Man    
8     Dow Crag, Brim Fell, Swirl How and Grey Friar    
9     Black Combe    
10     Harter Fell (Eskdale) and Hard Knott    
11     Scafell Pike and Esk Pike    
12     Scafell and Slight Side    
13     Illgill Head and Whin Rigg    
14     Great End, Scafell Pike and Lingmell    
15     Pillar, Scoat Fell, Red Pike and Yewbarrow    
16     Kirk Fell and Great Gable    
17     Buckbarrow, Seatallan and Middle Fell    
18     Crag Fell, Caw Fell and Haycock    
19     Steeple, Scoat Fell and Pillar    
20     Mellbreak    
21     Whiteside, Hopegill Head, Grasmoor, Wandope, Whiteless Pike and Rannerside Knotts    
22     High Crag, High Stile and Red Pike    
23     Haystacks    
24     Fleetwith Pike, Dale Head, Hindscarth and Robinson    
25     Green Gable and Great Gable    
26     Rosthwaite Fell and Glaramara    
27     Eagle Crag, Sergeant’s Crag, High Raise and Ullscarf    
28     High Spy, King’s How and Brund Fell    
29     Catbells, Maiden Moor, High Spy, Dale Head and Hindscarth    
30     Robinson, Knott Rigg and Ard Crags    
31     Grisedale Pike, Hopegill Head, Eel Crag, Sail, Outerside and Barrow    
32     Ullock Pike, Long Side, Carl Side, Skiddaw Little Man, Skiddaw and Bakestall   
33     Carrock Fell and High Pike    
34     Bowscale Fell, Blencathra and Souther Fell    
35     Blencathra    
36     Clough Head, Great Dodd, Watson’s Dodd, Stybarrow Dodd and Hart Side    
37     Raise, White Side and Helvellyn    
38     Helm Crag, Gibson Knott, Calf Crag and Sergeant Man    
39     Low Pike, High Pike, Dove Crag, Hart Crag, Fairfield, Great Rigg, Heron Pike and Nab Scar    
40     Red Screes, Litte Hart Crag, High Pike and Low Pike    
41     Caudale Moor    
42     Dove Crag, Hart Crag and Hartsop above How    
43     Fairfield and St Sunday Crag    
44     Dollywaggon Pike, Nethermost Pike, Helvellyn and Catstycam    
45     Birkhouse Moor, Helvellyn, White Side, Raise, Stybarrow Dodd and Sheffield Pike     
46     Place Fell    
47     Steel Knotts, High Raise, Rampsgill Head, The Knott, Rest Dodd, Angletarn Pikes and Beda Head    
48     High Street, Rampsgill Head and Kidsty Pike    
49     Yoke, Ill Bell, Froswick, Thornthwaite Crag, High Street and Mardale Ill Bell    
50     Shipman Knotts, Kentmere Pike and Harter Fell (Mardale)    

Index of the Fells    
Further Reading

Seasons

Suitable all-year round, but in winter you must be experienced and suitably equipped for adverse mountain weather.

Centres

Ambleside, Keswick, Grasmere, Patterdale, Seatoller, Boot, Coniston, Ennerdale, Wasdale

Difficulty

Circular routes, between 4 and 14 miles in length and graded for difficulty. No special equipment required but navigational skills needed.

Must See

The best days out in the Lake District mountains, including Scafell Pike, Fairfield, Helvellyn, Skiddaw, and Blencathra and other lesser-known but wonderful Lake District mountain walks. Each route offers a Great Mountain Day, a rewarding, spectacular and potentially challenging walk exploring the beauty of the Lake District.

To aid visualisation the routes are depicted both on line diagrams and customised HARVEY maps (1:40,000). The former give an aerial impression of the walks, while the latter pin-point the key detail covered in the route description. Harvey maps owe their origins to the dynamic sport of orienteering, and it shows.
Although the guide contains map extracts and diagrams, you are strongly advised to also take with you the relevant sheet map for the route – not only for safety, but also to help you get to know the wider area in which you are walking.

Six HARVEY Superwalker maps are required for the walks in this guide: Lakeland Central, Lakeland South West, Lakeland South East, Lakeland East, Lakeland West, Lakeland North.

Alternatively, four Ordnance Survey maps are needed: OL4 North-western area, OL5 North-eastern area, OL6 South-western area, OL7 South-eastern area.

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