Lake District: High Level and Fell Walks

Walking in the Lake District - the highest mountains in England

By Vivienne Crow

ISBN

9781852847357

Availability

Published

27 Feb 2015

Reprinted

9 Jun 2021

Edition

First

Pages

208

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.30cm

Weight

250g

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This guidebook to walking the highest mountains in the Lake District includes 30 high level and fell walks including Scafell Pike, Helvellyn, Skiddaw, and the Fairfield Horseshoe. Covering some of England's finest and highest mountain scenery, in the UK's most popular national park, this guide features classic routes as well as quieter favourites.

Seasons

High level and fell walks in the Lake District can be walked all year but walkers need to be prepared, and suitably equipped. Weather is changeable and snow may fall on the fells any time between November and April.

Centres

The walks are divided into 6 sections: the Keswick area, Borrowdale and Buttermere, the Western Valleys, Coniston and Langdale, Ambleside, Grasmere and Windermere, or Ullswater.

Difficulty

Routes range from 7-23km. Every route is graded for difficulty but fell walking covers rocky terrain, grassy hills, and occasional stretches of boggy ground. Some walks include some easy scrambling. Most routes are relatively easy to follow in clear conditions, but may require good navigational skills in bad weather. Many routes require ice and crampons in snow.

Must See

Walk England's highest mountains, including Scafell Pike, Sca Fell, Helvellyn and Skiddaw; hike classic horseshoe routes such as the Newlands Round and the Fairfield Horseshoe; enjoy quieter routes on popular fells such as Blencathra and Red Screes; and visit some lesser known summits, including Gray Crag and Beda Fell.

ISBN

9781852847357

Availability

Published

27 Feb 2015

Reprinted

9 Jun 2021

Edition

First

Pages

208

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.30cm

Weight

250g

Overview

This guidebook to walking the highest mountains in the Lake District includes 30 high level and fell walks including Scafell Pike, Helvellyn, Skiddaw, and the Fairfield Horseshoe. Covering some of England's finest and highest mountain scenery, in the UK's most popular national park, this guide features classic routes as well as quieter favourites.

The 30 walks are divided into 6 sections, covering the best walking in the Lake District: the Keswick area, Borrowdale and Buttermere, the Western Valleys, Coniston and Langdale, Ambleside, Grasmere and Windermere, or Ullswater. The walks combine Lakeland classics with lesser-known adventures. From classic horseshoes, such as the Newlands Round and the Fairfield Horseshoe, and traditional ascents of England's most iconic mountains, including its highest peaks Scafell Pike, Scafell, Helvellyn and Skiddaw, to routes onto some of the quieter summits including Gray Crag and Beda Fell, or quieter routes onto popular fells including Blencathra and Red Screes.

The guidebook includes OS map extracts, variant routes and lots of information to enhance your walking, from historical, geological and wildlife detail, to advice on travelling to and around the Lake District, and how to best prepare for an excellent day out on the fells.

Table of Contents

Introduction

The high fells

Geology

Wildlife and habitats

History

Weather

Where to stay

Getting around

Waymarking and access

Maps

Clothing, equipment and safety

Using this guide

The Walks

Walk 1 Skiddaw via Ullock Pike

Walk 2 Blencathra and its neighbours

Walk 3 Coledale Horseshoe

Walk 4 Newlands Round

Walk 5 Causey Pike, Knott Rigg and Robinson

Walk 6 Helvellyn range, end to end

Walk 7 Scafell Pike

Walk 8 Glaramara and Allen Crags

Walk 9 Great Gable (from Honister)

Walk 10 Hay Stacks

Walk 11 Grasmoor and Gasgale Crags

Walk 12 The High Stile ridge

Walk 13 Great Gable (from Wasdale Head)

Walk 14 Pillar and Red Pike

Walk 15 Scafell

Walk 16 The Coniston Fells

Walk 17 The Langdale Pikes

Walk 18 Pike o’ Blisco and Crinkle Crags

Walk 19 Bow Fell and the Mickleden Round

Walk 20 Fairfield Horseshoe

Walk 21 Helm Crag and Blea Rigg

Walk 22 Kentmere Round

Walk 23 Helvellyn via the edges

Walk 24 Deepdale Round

Walk 25 Caiston Glen Round

Walk 26 Hartsop Dodd and Gray Crag

Walk 27 High Street and Harter Fell

Walk 28 A Martindale Round

Walk 29 Place Fell and Beda Fell

Walk 30 Matterdale and the Dodds

Appendices

Appendix A

Route summary table

Appendix B

Useful contacts

Updates

June 2020

Map for Walk 16

Walk 16 "The Coniston Fells" suggests using OS Explorer OL7, but this is incorrect. The correct map is OL Explorer OL6 which shows the entire route.

July 2017

Route update

Walk 5 (Causey Pike, Knott Rigg and Robinson):

The Ghyll Bank bridge over Newlands Beck, destroyed by the floodwaters of Storm Desmond, is due to be replaced in the autumn of 2017. Until then, walkers will have to use the following diversion at the start of the route. (This adds less than 100m to the walk’s total distance.)

From the parking area near Little Town, cross Chapel Bridge to head roughly north along the road. After nearly 1km, turn right at a T-junction – towards Braithwaite. After another 750m of road walking, you’ll see a signed footpath on the right. The diversion rejoins the main route at this point. As per the walk description from the third paragraph in the book, continue along the asphalt for about 50m and then step up on to the gently rising path to the left.

Reviews

March, 2015

"Each walk is well laid out, with a summary, distance, ascent, how long it will take, terrain, what maps you will need, parking, and how to get to the start with public transport. A map of the walk shows the general route and direction of travel...

I really liked this book, I found myself just diving into a walk to read as a story, to take myself into the fells I know so well. It never disappointed me. This is the standard all guide book authors should aspire to."

Read the full review on the Walk Lakes website.

"Bound to be a big hit with Trail readers"

Trail magazine, April 2015

The prolific Carlisle-based author is fast becoming the go-to writer on all things Lakeland, and this latest book reflects her deep love and knowledge of the higher Lake District fells.

[This guidebook is] a worthy addition to any Lakeland fellwanderer's library.

Roly Smith, Outdoor Focus

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Vivienne Crow

Vivienne is an award-winning freelance writer and photographer specialising in travel and the outdoors. A journalist since 1990, she abandoned the constraints of a desk job on regional newspapers in 2001 to go travelling. On her return to the UK, she decided to focus on the activities she loves the most - hill-walking, writing, travelling and photography. Based in north Cumbria, she has put her intimate knowledge of northern England to good use, writing more than a dozen popular walking guidebooks. She also contributes to a number of regional and national magazines, including several regular walking columns. Vivienne is a member of the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild.

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