Walking The Wainwrights Archives

This page brings together all of my Wainwright walks, following the journey one fell at a time, sometimes five, sometimes 12, through the Lake District. Some were carefully planned walking routes, some were fitted into weekends away with the family, and some were simply the right Wainwright for the day, the weather or the mood. Together they form a running record of the round: not just which Lake District summits were reached, but how each walk felt, what the route was like, and why even though you’ve only read this one paragraph, you’ll get hooked on them like I did – You were made to soar!

Jack’s Rake – Sneaking up on Pavey Ark

Ten years ago Storm Abigail chased me off this ridge before I ever reached Pavey Ark. This time I climb Jack’s Rake to get there the best way: up through the crowds and the Highland cattle by Stickle Ghyll, a brew stop at Stickle Tarn, then a scramble with a two-hundred-year-old rowan tree rooted halfway up it. Pavey Ark gets summited in style.

Helvellyn – The Adventurer’s route

The Adventurer’s Route: up over Birkhouse Moor, along Striding Edge’s ice-age arête to Helvellyn’s summit, down Swirral Edge and over Catstycam before dropping back through the valley to Glenridding — and a well-earned pint at the Traveller’s Rest.

Binsey and a bivvy

Binsey is about as far north as you can get on the Wainwrights map — a lonely little hill most people drive straight past. After a long day on the Uldale Fells, I couldn’t quite let it go, so I packed a bivvy instead of heading home, and found out exactly why Alfred put it in the book.

The Udale fells – Back o’ Skiddaw

Back in the Northern Fells for a winter round of six lesser-known Wainwrights: Great Cockup, Meal Fell, Great Sca Fell, Knott, Brae Fell and Longlands Fell. Deep snow, no winter boots, and a plan forming for Binsey.

Wild camp on Bakestall in the Hilleberg Akto

Bakestall – The one that got away!

I left Bakestall off my big Skiddaw day, thinking it wasn’t worth the extra climb. So I went back for it at night, with a wild camp thrown in.

Great Mell Fell Walk: Ancient Trees & Blencathra Views

Great Mell Fell from the Matterdale road is a short Wainwright walk with more character than its size suggests. The … Read more

The 214 Wainwrights CheckMap

I’ve done all 214 Wainwrights myself, and I never found a map that really celebrated the round the way it deserved, so I made one. Every fell plotted across the Lake District, framed and ready to hang, built for planning your route, tracking every summit, and keeping on the wall long after you’re done.

Simple Wainwrights map and list

I built this page for anyone after the same thing I was: all 214 Wainwrights in one spot. There’s an interactive map you can explore fell by fell, and a full list you can sort or search by name, book, height or grid reference. Bookmark it, you’ll be back.

The Troutbeck Tongue from Troutbeck

A lovely day out up the Troutbeck Tongue, following in the Roman’s footsteps and being one of the last people to see the only Golden Eagle in England before it disappeared.

The Skiddaw Massif – The Epic Route

All eight Skiddaw fells in one long winter day from Millbeck: Dodd, Carl Side, Long Side, Ullock Pike, Skiddaw, Skiddaw Little Man, Lonscale Fell and Latrigg. Deep snow, huge views over Derwent Water and Bassenthwaite, rime ice on the fences, and feet (and dog) properly done in by the finish — with one fell, Bakestall, left for another day.

The Langdale Pikes and Storm Abigail

I climb the Langdale Pikes with barely any experience, scramble up a gully Wainwright himself suggested, and lose my way on the descent as Storm Abigail rolls in. My phone dies, my map turns to pulp in the rain, and I spend a long hour working out which way is down. It’s the walk that pushed me to get proper training in mountain navigation.

Latrigg – an old dog’s last Wainwright

Latrigg might be the easiest Wainwright there is: a little road, a little car park, and barely a hundred metres of climbing between you and one of the best views over Derwent Water in the Lakes. Our dog Lacey’s getting on now, so we took her up for what’s likely her last Wainwright, and I’ll tell you why this unassuming fell deserves its place in the book as much as any of the big ones.