The Birkett Fells are the 541 fells described by Bill Birkett in his book ‘The Complete Lakeland Fells’. The book covers all the fell tops over 1000 feet in the English Lake District National Park, which with an area of more than 880 square miles is the largest of its kind in Britain. Below is […]
The Wainwright Fells are those listed in the seven books entitled ‘A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells’. Written more than 50 years ago, they remain the definitive Lake District guide books and the 214 fells listed remain a completion goal of many fell walkers. In 2005, the author Chris Jesty updated the Wainwright books
As I passed through Ambleside In could see the blood red sky to the south east catching me. As I went through Keswick, I could see a lovely inversion forming over Derwent Water but I managed to press on regardless despite these fantastic condition to head for Buttermere. I was rewarded with the shot I wanted across early morning Buttermere and then a walk in absolute clarity on the north western fells, taking in Grasmoor by the direct route from Lanthwaite Green – a steep one and not for the faint hearted. As Wainwright described it ‘On the whole, however, the climb is probably less difficult than the North Wall of the Eiger’!
Today’s walk was up to Gowbarrow Fell via Aira Force. This popular area was deserted when I left the car park but by the time I got back it was absolutely mobbed at the falls with plenty of coach parties taking the tour. Up on the tops of course there was no one – far from the madding crowd with relatively little effort.
It’s a good while since I have done a full day walk and today seemed like a good opportunity to do a circuit of lovely Ennerdale. The weather was superb, a bit fresher than of late and the air was clearer for it. It was a great day out amongst my favourite fells and it was relatively quiet up there too, although it was good to chat to StridingEdge fans on Scoat Fell and then on Steeple.
The weatherman said the wind and rain would get worse throughout the morning, so I had to be quick to try and beat it today. I put in a lung busting effort to get to the top of Gowbarrow Fell just before the heavens really opened and managed to catch the best part of the day.
It turned out to be great weather today and it felt very spring like at times, although the wind was cold on the tops. I completed a walk around Blengdale climbing to Caw Fell by the little visited Stockdale Moor, an interesting way to go just to find out exactly what ‘Sampson’s Bratfull’, marked on the map, was! It was very clear today allowing widespread views as far as Scotland and over to the Isle of Man.
Today’s walk was from Grasmere with a circuit of Greenburn, also taking in High Raise and Sergeant Man. There was lots of snow about today with mini-blizzards on the higher sections of High Raise and Sergeant Man.
The weather has returned to dull and wet this week and today’s walk was a circuit of Gowbarrow Park taking in Aira Force waterfall. The heavens opened when I was up on Green Hill, backed by a strong wind so I was glad to get down to the relative shelter of High Force. Ten minutes later and I think I would have missed the views altogether.
Today the weather was a lot duller than yesterday for a walk up to Great Gable from the Honister Pass. It did look promising at the start, but after the ascent of Great Gable I never got out of the clouds until reaching Grey Knotts. It was very quiet up there today and I had every summit to myself, which must be a record for Great Gable I think!
