Wainwright Fells

What are Wainwright Fells?

A hill is classified as one of the Wainwright Fells if it is one of the 214 Lakeland fells described in Alfred Wainwright’s seven-volume pictorial guide.

Alfred Wainwright (1907 – 1991), one of the UK’s most famous fell walkers, was the author of a seven-volume guide to the Lakeland Fells. The books were published between 1955-1966. By many walking enthusiasts, they are considered the definitive guidebooks to walking the Lake District Mountains. Each of the books describes each of the peaks and the area which surrounds it, with localised information and hand-drawn sketches. Alfred Wainwright inspired generations of walkers and was awarded an MBE. The famous author and hiker’s legacy is still active to this day through the Wainwright Society.

Alfred Wainwright’s Books

  • Book One: The Eastern Fells
  • Book Two: The Far Eastern Fells
  • Book Three: The Central Fells
  • Book Four: The Southern Fells
  • Book Five: The Northern Fells
  • Book Six: The North Western Fells
  • Book Seven: The Western Fells

Subsequently, Wainwright published an additional volume in 1974, The Outlying Fells of Lakeland. This book details and additional 116 summits, which are known as the Wainwright Outlying Fells.

Video of Alfred Wainwright in the Lake District

Peak Bagging

‘Peak bagging’ is the act of completing a hike to the summit of a mountain. It is a term used by hikers to list their achievements of finishing an ascent. A famous list of summits that are used for ‘Peak Bagging’ are the Birketts. Birketts are the 541 English peaks described in Bill Birkett’s 1994 guidebook, Complete Lakeland Fells. 209 Wainwrights are classed as one of the 541 Birketts. There are amazing Lake District waterfalls and sights to explore along the adventure.

What is the highest lakeland mountain to peak bag?

The highest Wainwright Fell is Scafell Pike at 3,210 ft.

What is the smallest lake district mountain to peak bag?

Castle Crag is the smallest Wainwright Fell at 985 ft.

Completing the Wainwright Fells

The Long Distance Walkers Association (‘LDWA’) holds a register of walkers who wish it to be recorded that they have completed the Wainwrights. The first recorded non-stop completion of all 214 Wainwright fells was completed in 9 days and 16 hours by Alan Heaton in 1985. However, years later, the record was smashed by Paul Tierney, who completed the achievement in 6 days 6 hours 4 minutes.

Wainwright Fells By Height

No. Mountain Region Altitude (ft)
1 Scafell Pike Southern Fells 3210′
2 Scafell Southern Fells 3162′
3 Helvellyn Eastern Fells 3118′
4 Skiddaw Northern Fells 3053′
5 Great End Southern Fells 2984′
6 Bowfell Southern Fells 2960′
7 Great Gable Western Fells 2949′
8 Pillar Western Fells 2927′
9 Nethermost Pike Eastern Fells 2920′
10 Catstyecam Eastern Fells 2917′
11 Esk Pike Southern Fells 2903′
12 Raise Eastern Fells 2889′
13 Fairfield Eastern Fells 2863′
14 Blencathra Northern Fells 2847′
15 Skiddaw Little Man Northern Fells 2837′
16 White Side Eastern Fells 2832′
17 Crinkle Crags Southern Fells 2816′
18 Dollywaggon Pike Eastern Fells 2810′
19 Great Dodd Eastern Fells 2807′
20 Grasmoor North Western Fells 2791′
21 Stybarrow Dodd Eastern Fells 2770′
22 Scoat Fell Western Fells 2760′
23 St Sunday Crag Eastern Fells 2756′
24 Eel Crag North Western Fells 2749′
25 High Street Far Eastern Fells 2718′
26 Red Pike (Wasdale) Western Fells 2707′
27 Hart Crag Eastern Fells 2698′
28 Steeple Western Fells 2687′
29 Lingmell Southern Fells 2649′
30 High Stile Western Fells 2644′
31 High Raise (Far Eastern Fells) Far Eastern Fells 2634′
32 Coniston Old Man Southern Fells 2633′
33 Swirl How Southern Fells 2630′
34 Kirk Fell Western Fells 2630′
35 Haycock Western Fells 2618′
36 Brim Fell Southern Fells 2611′
37 Dove Crag Eastern Fells 2603′
38 Green Gable Western Fells 2603′
39 Grisedale Pike North Western Fells 2593′
40 Watson’s Dodd Eastern Fells 2584′
41 Rampsgill Head Far Eastern Fells 2581′
42 Great Carrs Southern Fells 2575′
43 Allen Crags Southern Fells 2572′
44 Thornthwaite Crag Far Eastern Fells 2569′
45 Kidsty Pike Far Eastern Fells 2560′
46 Glaramara Southern Fells 2560′
47 Dow Crag Southern Fells 2555′
48 Red Screes Eastern Fells 2541′
49 Harter Fell (Far Eastern Fells) Far Eastern Fells 2539′
50 Grey Friar Southern Fells 2536′
51 Wandope North Western Fells 2533′
52 Sail North Western Fells 2530′
53 Hopegill Head North Western Fells 2525′
54 Great Rigg Eastern Fells 2513′
55 Caudale Moor Far Eastern Fells 2502′
56 Wetherlam Southern Fells 2502′
57 High Raise (Central Fells) Central Fells 2500′
58 Slight Side Southern Fells 2499′
59 Mardale Ill Bell Far Eastern Fells 2496′
60 Hart Side Eastern Fells 2481′
61 Red Pike (Buttermere) Western Fells 2479′
62 Ill Bell Far Eastern Fells 2476′
63 Dale Head North Western Fells 2473′
64 High Crag Western Fells 2443′
65 The Knott Far Eastern Fells 2423′
66 Carl Side Northern Fells 2420′
67 Robinson North Western Fells 2417′
68 Seat Sandal Eastern Fells 2415′
69 Sergeant Man Central Fells 2414′
70 Long Side Northern Fells 2405′
71 Harrison Stickle Central Fells 2403′
72 Kentmere Pike Far Eastern Fells 2397′
73 Hindscarth North Western Fells 2385′
74 Clough Head Eastern Fells 2381′
75 Ullscarf Central Fells 2370′
76 Froswick Far Eastern Fells 2359′
77 Thunacar Knott Central Fells 2351′
78 Birkhouse Moor Eastern Fells 2350′
79 Lonscale Fell Northern Fells 2344′
80 Brandreth Western Fells 2344′
81 Branstree Far Eastern Fells 2333′
82 Knott Northern Fells 2329′
83 Pike o’Stickle Central Fells 2323′
84 Whiteside North Western Fells 2317′
85 Yoke Far Eastern Fells 2309′
86 Bowscale Fell Northern Fells 2306′
87 Pike o’Blisco Southern Fells 2304′
88 Pavey Ark Central Fells 2288′
89 Caw Fell Western Fells 2288′
90 Grey Knotts Western Fells 2287′
91 Gray Crag Far Eastern Fells 2286′
92 Rest Dodd Far Eastern Fells 2278′
93 Loft Crag Central Fells 2270′
94 Seatallan Western Fells 2266′
95 Great Calva Northern Fells 2265′
96 Cold Pike Southern Fells 2259′
97 Sheffield Pike Eastern Fells 2232′
98 Bannerdale Crags Northern Fells 2230′
99 Ullock Pike Northern Fells 2230′
100 Wether Hill Far Eastern Fells 2210′
101 Scar Crags North Western Fells 2205′
102 Loadpot Hill Far Eastern Fells 2201′
103 Bakestall Northern Fells 2189′
104 Tarn Crag (Far Eastern Fells) Far Eastern Fells 2176′
105 Carrock Fell Northern Fells 2174′
106 Whiteless Pike North Western Fells 2159′
107 High Pike (Northern Fells) Northern Fells 2157′
108 High Pike (Eastern Fells) Eastern Fells 2155′
109 Place Fell Far Eastern Fells 2154′
110 High Spy North Western Fells 2143′
111 Selside Pike Far Eastern Fells 2142′
112 Harter Fell (Southern Fells) Southern Fells 2140′
113 Great Sca Fell Northern Fells 2131′
114 Fleetwith Pike Western Fells 2126′
115 Base Brown Western Fells 2120′
116 Middle Dodd Eastern Fells 2106′
117 Rosset Pike Southern Fells 2106′
118 Grey Crag Far Eastern Fells 2093′
119 Little Hart Crag Eastern Fells 2091′
120 Starling Dodd Western Fells 2085′
121 Mungrisdale Common Northern Fells 2068′
122 Yewbarrow Western Fells 2058′
123 Birks Eastern Fells 2040′
124 Causey Pike North Western Fells 2035′
125 Great Borne Western Fells 2019′
126 Hartsop Dodd Far Eastern Fells 2018′
127 Heron Pike Eastern Fells 2003′
128 High Seat Central Fells 1995′
129 Illgill Head Southern Fells 1983′
130 Seathwaite Fell Southern Fells 1970′
131 Bleaberry Fell Central Fells 1932′
132 Shipman Knotts Far Eastern Fells 1926′
133 Brae Fell Northern Fells 1920′
134 Middle Fell Western Fells 1908′
135 Haystacks Western Fells 1900′
136 The Nab Far Eastern Fells 1887′
137 Maiden Moor North Western Fells 1887′
138 Blake Fell Western Fells 1878′
139 Sergeant’s Crag Central Fells 1873′
140 Hartsop above How Eastern Fells 1870′
141 Outerside North Western Fells 1863′
142 Ard Crags North Western Fells 1860′
143 Angletarn Pikes Far Eastern Fells 1857′
144 Brock Crags Far Eastern Fells 1842′
145 Steel Fell Central Fells 1811′
146 Lord’s Seat North Western Fells 1811′
147 Rosthwaite Fell Southern Fells 1807′
148 Hard Knott Southern Fells 1803′
149 Tarn Crag (Central Fells) Central Fells 1801′
150 Knott Rigg North Western Fells 1790′
151 Blea Rigg Central Fells 1776′
152 Lank Rigg Western Fells 1775′
153 Meal Fell Northern Fells 1770′
154 Calf Crag Central Fells 1762′
155 Great Mell Fell Eastern Fells 1760′
156 Whin Rigg Southern Fells 1755′
157 Arthur’s Pike Far Eastern Fells 1747′
158 Great Cockup Northern Fells 1720′
159 Gavel Fell Western Fells 1720′
160 Bonscale Pike Far Eastern Fells 1718′
161 Crag Fell Western Fells 1710′
162 High Hartsop Dodd Eastern Fells 1702′
163 Whinlatter North Western Fells 1696′
164 Sallows Far Eastern Fells 1691′
165 Souther Fell Northern Fells 1680′
166 Mellbreak Western Fells 1676′
167 Broom Fell North Western Fells 1670′
168 High Tove Central Fells 1665′
169 Beda Fell Far Eastern Fells 1664′
170 Hen Comb Western Fells 1661′
171 Little Mell Fell Eastern Fells 1657′
172 Low Pike Eastern Fells 1657′
173 Stone Arthur Eastern Fells 1652′
174 Eagle Crag Central Fells 1650′
175 Dodd Northern Fells 1612′
176 Green Crag Southern Fells 1602′
177 Wansfell Far Eastern Fells 1597′
178 Grike Western Fells 1596′
179 Longlands Fell Northern Fells 1580′
180 Burnbank Fell Western Fells 1580′
181 Gowbarrow Fell Eastern Fells 1579′
182 Armboth Fell Central Fells 1570′
183 Sour Howes Far Eastern Fells 1568′
184 Barf North Western Fells 1536′
185 Lingmoor Fell Southern Fells 1530′
186 Raven Crag Central Fells 1520′
187 Great Crag Central Fells 1500′
188 Barrow North Western Fells 1494′
189 Cat Bells North Western Fells 1481′
190 Graystones North Western Fells 1476′
191 Binsey Northern Fells 1466′
192 Nab Scar Eastern Fells 1450′
193 Glenridding Dodd Eastern Fells 1425′
194 Arnison Crag Eastern Fells 1424′
195 Steel Knotts Far Eastern Fells 1414′
196 Buckbarrow Western Fells 1410′
197 Gibson Knott Central Fells 1379′
198 Grange Fell Central Fells 1363′
199 Fellbarrow Western Fells 1363′
200 Low Fell Western Fells 1360′
201 Helm Crag Central Fells 1299′
202 Silver How Central Fells 1292′
203 Hallin Fell Far Eastern Fells 1271′
204 Walla Crag Central Fells 1234′
205 Ling Fell North Western Fells 1224′
206 Latrigg Northern Fells 1203′
207 Troutbeck Tongue Far Eastern Fells 1191′
208 Sale Fell North Western Fells 1170′
209 High Rigg Central Fells 1163′
210 Rannerdale Knotts North Western Fells 1160′
211 Loughrigg Fell Central Fells 1101′
212 Black Fell Southern Fells 1056′
213 Holme Fell Southern Fells 1040′
214 Castle Crag North Western Fells 985′
Coast to Coast Packhorse Logo

Walk, run or cycle across Alfred Wainwright’s iconic Coast to Coast Way for the adventure holiday of a lifetime.