THE WAINWRIGHT OUTLYING FELLS

Following his seven pictorial guides to the Lakeland Fells, Alfred Wainwright, in 1974, published his Guide to the Outlying Fells of Lakeland. These are lesser fells and often closer to, but still within the boundaries of the National Park. The exceptions being Dent & Humphrey Head, which are in fact outside the National Park. The original guide shows 102 summits, but our listing has 104. We have included Newton Fell north and south as separate summits. Also, since the original publication, the unnamed summit at 748ft in the Top O'Selside chapter, is now shown on OS maps as Brock Barrow. This is shown as such in the Top O'Selside chapter, in the revised second edition by Chris Jesty (published June 2011).

The listing below shows all the fells and the dates climbed by our club, and by which club members. Our intention to climb all 104 summits was realised on 10th December 2009, when we reached the summit of Stainton Pike. Allen and Grizzly say a further thank you to Dad for revisiting some 17 summits during 2009, so that we all completed this goal on the same day. Eric, who only joined us in March 2008 did not, and as he states on the "About Stag" page he does not expect Dad to reclimb them all just for him, but you never know as the years pass by.

Currently the individual climbed status of each member is :-

Last updates - 5th May 2012 -The Naddle Horseshoe from the Swindale road

This is a circuit of the Naddle Valley, over some of the fells to the west of Shap. For Shaun and Tetley, it was the third time round, and today we were doing it so that Little Eric could bag the summits. In all we were to visit 9 summits, of which 7 are Birketts, and 4 Wainwright Outlyers, so an advance on two fronts for him. The day was sunny to start, but soon clouded over, with just a few sunny intervals and cold for the time of year in the biting wind. Parking is a layby on the Swindale road, by its junction with the waterworks road. We walked a few yards along this, then went left on the track over Rosgill Moor. This soon brought us below our first summit Scalebarrow Knott (B & WO). Taking a right fork, and then right again uphill the summit cairn was soon reached. Next was Harper Hills (B & WO) seen ahead on the skyline. Regained the main track, then forked left on a tractor track that undulated over knolls, to gain the cairned summit. Then ongoing path led eventually to the main track and a gate in a cross fence, beyond which Powley's Hill (B) rose up. We kept on the track, rising to the crest, then struck left over rough ground on a narrow trod to gain the summit ridge, at its north-east end, which Birkett says and I cannot really disagree is perhaps the highest point. The ordnance survey however, show the summit further south, so we continued to find the small ridged outcrops at this position, matching the grid reference we recorded last time. No cairn here, so Dad got the flag out to liven up our picture. Now continued south-west over the 474m spot height and past the standing stones to, after crossing more undulations, reach the furthest cairn and summit of Hare Shaw (B & WO). So that was one side done. Good views across to the fells beyond Haweswater - High Street, Kidsty Pike, High Raise etc. Also of Branstree, Selside Pike, Harter Fell & Nan Bield Pass. It was really cold up here, the wind very cutting, so we were all glad to get on the way down. No path, so Dad just picked a line through the knolls and over the bogs to regain the wall, then going left a few yards to the gate. Once through, it was immediately left to climb the hurdle and so gain the path in Naddle Forest. Wide clear and grassy this led to a fence gate. Ignored this, instead bearing left and climbing directly to the summit of Naddle High Forest (B, and also the 1427ft nameless summit referred to in Wainright's book). Now ahead clearly seen was Wallow Crag (B), beyond the substantial fence and wall. Dad followed Birkett's advice and kept to the ridge line, to finally be faced by the tall fence and substantial wall with the summit just beyond. There is a gate lower down, which we had used last time, but now too there is a gap in the wall at this height, with the fence changing sides and a gate in it. This was great and so it was just a few yards of climb to the cairn on Wallow Crag (also the 1380ft nameless summit referred to in Wainwright's book). Fine views from here too. We all had a snack, then Dad phoned Uncle Brian. Here we saw distantly on High Forest two other walkers, the only other people we saw today. Just three tops to go. As there was a path we decided to head to Hugh's Laithes Pike (WO) first, this time. It undulated on with the tall unclimbable fence to the left. The cairn on the other side of the fence came into view and we climbed to the highest point on this side. Dad was about to get us out for our photo, when I noticed that a hinged section about 3ft square had been cut in the fence, so for the first time we were able to reach the actual summit and cairn, which we climbed up to have our picture taken. Fine view here of Haweswater and the dam. Who has cut the fence we do not know, but it is good to be able to have access again to the cairn. We suspect there was no fence in 1974 when AW published his book. Recrossing this, we now headed south to the unmarked top of Naddle Low Forest (B). So that just left the truly unnamed summit at 1296ft. No doubt about this as a neat cairn marks the top, and after crossing some bog this was attained. Now looped back south towards Low Forest on a path that came to a hurdle in the fence and so on to descend Highfield Crag to the valley track. This was followed left to Naddle Farm, here taking the signed gate on the right. Crossed the stream (almost completely dry) by the ford and climbed the steep zig zag track eventually to a gate in the wall, so regaining Rosgill Moor where our route was retraced to the car. A good day and our pal Little Eric was a very happy bear! Dad planned to go to junction 38 services for a hearty meal, but the cafe was closed, perhaps because it was bank holiday, and these services are mainly used by lorries. So instead he just drove us home.

15th March 2012 - Brock Barrow, Low Light Haw & High Light Haw from Selside Beck car park

The day was dry with just the odd spot of drizzle at times, but the heavy low cloud, meant there was little to be gained from going high, so it was decided to do these again and so progress Little Eric's outlying list. Last time we did these with Uncle Eric in 2006, it was a gloriously clear day. Today we had to imagine those wonderful views of the Coniston Fells! Started from the small car park by Selside Beck and walked along the road to Nibthwaite, going up the short narrow lane and through the gate. Took the path right by the wall and climbed up towards Brock Barrow ahead. The path skirts under it to the right but the old path up the hill on this side is long gone, so we took a spur left until reaching an old plantation with a ruined wall. Here climbing right we found the path that led to the neat tall summit cairn, which we climbed to have our picture taken, imagining the fabulous view we would have had, had it been clear. Then on to the lower cairn by the ruin, and right to climb soon to Low Light Haw with its cairn. Then on to High Light Haw. There is a cairn where Dad took our picture, but the top is about 50yds further on unmarked amongst the heather and moss. The cloud was down on Top O'Selside and as we had all been there before, it was decided instead to miss this out today. Gained the main path and followed this towards Top O'Selside, until the track from High Parkamoor came into view. Crossed to this, and walked left along it. This leads to Nibthwaite. We had however noticed a gate from the car park leading up the hillside, and reasoned that it led to this track. So when we reached the point where Selside Beck crossed the track, we took the kissing gate on the right and followed the path down. At first Dad thought we were wrong as the path went along in completely the opposite direction, but soon it described a circle leading unerringly to the car park. After Dad had phoned Uncle Brian, we then went to Jane & Sam's, where we always get to come in too. Dad had lovely vegetable soup and bread, followed by delicious apple apricot and chocolate crumble with cream. Nice time, and although a short walk Little Eric has ticked off 3 more outlying fells, taking his total to 61.

Allen

For all 2009 updates see - Allen's blog

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