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 in part 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 of named fells has 105. 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 and is shown as such in the revised second edition by Chris Jesty (published June 2011). Lastly it is now considered that St John's Hill (935ft) and Caermote Hill (948ft) are two summits, although we personally have our doubts about this, and wonder too whether AW would have considered them as such. There are additionally 11 unnamed summits that Wainwright included, thus making a total of 116.

The listing below shows all the fells and the dates climbed by our club, and by which club members. Our intention to climb all 105 named 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. Such organisations as the Long Distance Walkers Association only consider this challenge to be completed if the 11 unnamed summits have been also been climbed. These are detailed in a separate table, and we can say unequivocally that from this viewpoint, the last of the 116 summits was reached on 21st October 2012.

Little Eric, who only joined us in March 2008 had, by the end of 2009 done about 50. This steadily increased and by 2012 Dad had resolved to revisit the rest for him to complete this challenge. By the start of 2014 there were just seven named fells and one unnamed summit outstanding. Those from the Corney Fell road up to Whit Fell and the north side of the Bannisdale Horseshoe. In the company of Uncle Eric these two walks were done in June, and our pal achieved his goal to complete this challenge on 26th June by reaching the summit of Long Crag.

Currently the individual climbed status of each member is :-

Last updates - 25th August 2022 - School Knott & Grandsire from Ings

Walking with Uncle Eric, and whilst without exception we had climbed these summits it was nice to repeat. Uncle Eric had never done them from Ings so it was a lot of new ground for him. From the village took the gated road, and then the first footpath right. This was in fact new to us all, and via stiles and across pasture took us to Whasdyke Farm, here following the waymarked path avoiding the farmyard and out to the access road. Joined road but at sharp right it was ahead to soon cross bridge and stile into Schoolknott Plantation. Nice walk through here despite the muddy path. Out at far side then on to junction with path from Windermere, going left to School Knott summit. Views were superb, if rather hazy and some mists still hanging on the fells. Windermere lake and town backed by fells. Coniston range. Crinkle Crags, Bowfell, Esk Pike, Great End, Allen Crags, Langdales, Red Screes, Fairfield round, Sour Hows, Sallows, Kentmere Horseshoe. Breathtaking. We thought about our days climbing them all! So headed down to the tarn and rounded the end to cross awkward stile and follow narrow path and join the Dales Way heading towards Hag End. Just before the second wall we went left to summit Grandsire, sadly now bare of its former cairn. Descended by same route and then left through Hag End and to the road, going left to soon take path left over grass to then climb a stile on fence into wood and then exit wood via a stone step stile and down to cross narrow lane and through kg opposite to the house called Yews. Crossed the access, then followed waymarked route to come to the road, and turn left to return to Ings. Nice day and always good to have Uncle Eric for company. It was my 18th birthday, and I could not have been happier celebrating it with a walk. Grizzly and Little Eric had baked a special cake iced with the words- 'Happy 18th Allen. We love you'. Thank you pals I had a super day!

 

26th February 2021 - Bigland Barrow

Exactly 12 years to the day we revisited this summit. Our pal Southey was very happy as he alone bagged it today. The walk started at Rusland Pool. We walked by this to the Causeway. The fields were flooded to quite a depth. One footpath, not in our route was completely impassable! Taking the side road, Dad turned left too early and into Parrock Wood on the wrong path. After wandering round we came out at Haverthwaite Station, but it was interesting. So into Backbarrow then over the river and under the A590 and onto the path up the fell. After the years this is now clear all the way to the stile over the wall onto the ridge. Going ahead then round to the right we ascended to the summit of Bigland Barrow with it old wartime watchtower. Super views although sadly the fells were not in view. So down to the road and through the grounds of Bigland Hall, past the tarn then right on the long and at times steep path down to the road. Wet, stony and like a stream at times. Car was necessary in places. Then right onto the path and road by the River Leven. Took a path right onto the old railway trackbed then left onto the fields and flood bank by the river and Rusland Pool to the start. Good to do a hill, and a grand day. Thanks Dad!

 

22nd February 2021 - Whitbarrow from Mill Side

We are in lockdown, but Dad decided that he wanted to drive further to walk and so we climbed Whitbarrow again. Not been here since March 2009. Southey was excited as he bagged the summit. Parked on the old road then walked through Mill Side and took the track to and past Fell End Farm, and into woods. A number of paths all waymarked then took us up onto the expansive plateau. A clear path all the way, stopping to be photographed on a large cairn, to the summit at Lord's Seat in the Hervey Nature Reserve. The cairn has a stone commemorating Canon G A K Hervey who founded the Lake District Naturalists Trust. Fabulous views all round particularly to the Lakes Fells, as there had been last time we were here in 2009. Walked on to wall corner then left by the wall and steeply down eventually to the road. Dad took great care as on steep sections there was lots of loose stone. We were relieved when this was safely done. Then followed the road passing Witherslack School, to take a bridleway off left to Beck Side and on to Mill Side. Lovely day and nice to be on a hill again. Thank you Dad!

Allen

For all updates see - Allen's blog

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