The Lake District is famous for its mountains and fells, attracting thousands of walkers and climbers to the area each year.
From a gentle stroll up Latrigg, to a challenging climb up Scafell Pike – England’s highest peak – there is something for everyone, whatever your energy levels and experience.
Many walks are accessible from the main towns and villages, served by public transport all year round, and there are several routes suitable for families with pushchairs and wheelchair users.
There are hundreds of walking books available but the best known are the seven ‘Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells’ by Alfred Wainwright (1907-1991), which he compiled between 1952 and 1966. These unique, handwritten books have inspired generations of walkers, selling over 2 million copies worldwide.
Wainwright also released a supplementary guide in 1974 titled ‘The Outlying Fells of Lakeland‘. It differs from the Pictorial Guides in that each of its 56 chapters describes a walk, sometimes taking in several summits, rather than a single fell. The Outlying Fells do not form part of the 214 hills generally accepted as comprising the Wainwrights, but they are included in Category 2B of the Hill Walkers Register maintained by the Long Distance Walkers Association.
Another popular book is ‘The Complete Lakeland Fells‘ by local author Bill Birkett. This detailed guide covers all 541 fells over 1000 feet in the Lake District, amounting to a formidable ‘tick list’ which few have completed.