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A guide to bagging Wainwright's Lakeland Fells.

Book One

The Eastern Fells

The Helvellyn range from Sheffield Pike

The Eastern Fells area is described in Book One of Alfred Wainwright’s Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells. It includes the area to the north of Ambleside, between Thirlmere in the west and Ullswater in the east. The area contains 35 Wainwrights, including popular tops such as Helvellyn, Fairfield, and the family-friendly Gowbarrow Fell. The area stretches 19km from Nab Scar in the south to Great Mell Fell in the north. It includes several classic walks such as the Fairfield Horseshoe, and Hellyellyn via the Edges.

Eastern Fells location and routes

This map shows the distribution of the 35 Eastern Fells. It also shows all the ridge routes described in Wainwright’s guide and any other viable routes between adjacent fells. Essentially, the fells in this area form one large group, composed of two main ridges, with a group of three outliers to the north-east that includes Little Mell Fell. One ridge runs the length of the Helvellyn range from Clough Head in the north to Dollywaggon Pike in the south, and another runs across Fairfield, from Arnison Crag in the north-east to Nab Scar at the southern end of the area. The arrangement of fells forms several other ridges, making the Eastern Fells area very popular with walkers.

Eastern Fells elevation

1,000m 900m 800m 700m 600m 500m 400m 300m 200m 100m 433.0m (1,421ft) 717.6m (2,354ft) 622.0m (2,041ft) 889.6m (2,919ft) 726.0m (2,382ft) 858.5m (2,817ft) 792.0m (2,598ft) 872.6m (2,863ft) 442.0m (1,450ft) 481.2m (1,579ft) 857.0m (2,812ft) 537.0m (1,762ft) 766.1m (2,513ft) 822.0m (2,697ft) 756.0m (2,480ft) 581.0m (1,906ft) 949.8m (3,116ft) 612.0m (2,008ft) 519.0m (1,703ft) 656.0m (2,152ft) 637.0m (2,090ft) 505.0m (1,657ft) 508.0m (1,667ft) 654.0m (2,146ft) 450.0m (1,476ft) 891.3m (2,924ft) 882.7m (2,896ft) 776.0m (2,546ft) 841.0m (2,759ft) 736.8m (2,417ft) 676.1m (2,218ft) 504.0m (1,654ft) 843.7m (2,768ft) 789.0m (2,589ft) 863.2m (2,832ft) Arnison Crag Birkhouse Moor Birks Catstycam Clough Head Dollywaggon Pike Dove Crag Fairfield Glenridding Dodd Gowbarrow Fell Great Dodd Great Mell Fell Great Rigg Hart Crag Hart Side Hartsop above How Helvellyn Heron Pike High Hartsop Dodd High Pike [Scandale] Little Hart Crag Little Mell Fell Low Pike Middle Dodd Nab Scar Nethermost Pike Raise Red Screes Saint Sunday Crag Seat Sandal Sheffield Pike Stone Arthur Stybarrow Dodd Watson's Dodd White Side 100m 200m 300m 400m 500m 600m 700m 800m 900m 1,000m 433.0m (1,421ft) 717.6m (2,354ft) 622.0m (2,041ft) 889.6m (2,919ft) 726.0m (2,382ft) 858.5m (2,817ft) 792.0m (2,598ft) 872.6m (2,863ft) 442.0m (1,450ft) 481.2m (1,579ft) 857.0m (2,812ft) 537.0m (1,762ft) 766.1m (2,513ft) 822.0m (2,697ft) 756.0m (2,480ft) 581.0m (1,906ft) 949.8m (3,116ft) 612.0m (2,008ft) 519.0m (1,703ft) 656.0m (2,152ft) 637.0m (2,090ft) 505.0m (1,657ft) 508.0m (1,667ft) 654.0m (2,146ft) 450.0m (1,476ft) 891.3m (2,924ft) 882.7m (2,896ft) 776.0m (2,546ft) 841.0m (2,759ft) 736.8m (2,417ft) 676.1m (2,218ft) 504.0m (1,654ft) 843.7m (2,768ft) 789.0m (2,589ft) 863.2m (2,832ft) Arnison Crag Birkhouse Moor Birks Catstycam Clough Head Dollywaggon Pike Dove Crag Fairfield Glenridding Dodd Gowbarrow Fell Great Dodd Great Mell Fell Great Rigg Hart Crag Hart Side Hartsop above How Helvellyn Heron Pike High Hartsop Dodd High Pike [Scandale] Little Hart Crag Little Mell Fell Low Pike Middle Dodd Nab Scar Nethermost Pike Raise Red Screes Saint Sunday Crag Seat Sandal Sheffield Pike Stone Arthur Stybarrow Dodd Watson's Dodd White Side

Eastern Fells height statistics

Number of fells
35
Total height
24,448 metres (80,211 feet)
Average height
699 metres (2,292 feet)
Highest fell
Helvellyn — 949.8 metres (3,116 feet)
Lowest fell
Arnison Crag — 433.0 metres (1,421 feet)

Eastern Fells summits

The Wainwright top at Arnison Crag

Arnison Crag

Grid Ref
NY 39357 14968
Lat/long
54.526349,-2.938505
///W3W
corrosive.dissolve.backtrack
Height
433.0m / 1,421ft
Rank
194 / 214
Full details for Arnison Crag
Arnison Crag summit cairn, looking north to Ullswater, with Glenridding Dodd on the left and the slopes of Place Fell on the right.
The Wainwright top at Birkhouse Moor

Birkhouse Moor

Grid Ref
NY 36342 15974
Lat/long
54.535018,-2.985300
///W3W
heartache.test.sampled
Height
717.6m / 2,354ft
Rank
78 / 214
Full details for Birkhouse Moor
The pile of stones (hardly a cairn) at Birkhouse Moor summit, looking north-east along the ridge to the north top.
The Wainwright top at Birks

Birks

Grid Ref
NY 38179 14485
Lat/long
54.521866,-2.956602
///W3W
goad.relief.studio
Height
622.0m / 2,041ft
Rank
124 / 214
Full details for Birks
A modest cairn marks the Wainwright top (not the highest point) at Birks. Looking north-east to Ullswater with Glenridding Dodd on the left, Place Fell on the right, and Great Mell Fell and Gowbarrow Fell in the distance.
The Wainwright top at Catstycam

Catstycam

Grid Ref
NY 34811 15822
Lat/long
54.533457,-3.008923
///W3W
doped.nimbly.melts
Height
889.6m / 2,919ft
Rank
10 / 214
Full details for Catstycam
Catstycam summit cairn, looking north-east to Ullswater with Sheffield Pike on the left and Birkhouse Moor on the right.
The Wainwright top at Clough Head

Clough Head

Grid Ref
NY 33394 22541
Lat/long
54.593645,-3.032342
///W3W
poster.funnels.vowed
Height
726.0m / 2,382ft
Rank
75 / 214
Full details for Clough Head
The Ordnance Survey triangulation column (S5946) at Clough Head summit, looking west to Derwentwater, backed by the North Western Fells.
The Wainwright top at Dollywaggon Pike

Dollywaggon Pike

Grid Ref
NY 34627 13067
Lat/long
54.508678,-3.011154
///W3W
stunning.caravans.housework
Height
858.5m / 2,817ft
Rank
18 / 214
Full details for Dollywaggon Pike
Dollywaggon Pike summit, looking north-east down Grisedale to Place Fell with Striding Edge on the left and St. Sunday Crag on the right.
The Wainwright top at Dove Crag

Dove Crag

Grid Ref
NY 37456 10435
Lat/long
54.485385,-2.966911
///W3W
going.strategy.hazel
Height
792.0m / 2,598ft
Rank
38 / 214
Full details for Dove Crag
Dove Crag summit cairn, perched on a rock platform, looking north-east.
The Wainwright top at Fairfield

Fairfield

Grid Ref
NY 35874 11756
Lat/long
54.497058,-2.991613
///W3W
alright.nicely.rinses
Height
872.6m / 2,863ft
Rank
13 / 214
Full details for Fairfield
The summit cairn at Fairfield, looking north to the curved back of St. Sunday Crag.
The Wainwright top at Glenridding Dodd

Glenridding Dodd

Grid Ref
NY 38051 17557
Lat/long
54.549454,-2.959227
///W3W
cupboards.accusing.restores
Height
442.0m / 1,450ft
Rank
193 / 214
Full details for Glenridding Dodd
The cairn at Glenridding Dodd summit, looking north-east along Ullswater, with Gowbarrow Fell on the left and the slopes of Place Fell on the right.
The Wainwright top at Gowbarrow Fell

Gowbarrow Fell

Grid Ref
NY 40762 21821
Lat/long
54.588094,-2.918183
///W3W
tanks.heavy.minivans
Height
481.2m / 1,579ft
Rank
181 / 214
Full details for Gowbarrow Fell
The triangulation column (10790) with National Trust plaque at Gowbarrow Fell summit, looking north-east to Little Mell Fell.
The Wainwright top at Great Dodd

Great Dodd

Grid Ref
NY 34195 20557
Lat/long
54.575923,-3.019502
///W3W
contoured.croutons.balanced
Height
857.0m / 2,812ft
Rank
19 / 214
Full details for Great Dodd
Great Dodd summit cairn, looking north-west with Grasmoor on the left and Skiddaw on the right. Derwent Water and Bassenthwaite Lake are just in evidence.
The Wainwright top at Great Mell Fell

Great Mell Fell

Grid Ref
NY 39681 25367
Lat/long
54.619829,-2.935639
///W3W
files.period.expecting
Height
537.0m / 1,762ft
Rank
154 / 214
Full details for Great Mell Fell
Great Mell Fell summit, looking west to the coastal plain, with Clough Head on the left.
The Wainwright top at Great Rigg

Great Rigg

Grid Ref
NY 35584 10395
Lat/long
54.484791,-2.995792
///W3W
variances.magnets.legwork
Height
766.1m / 2,513ft
Rank
54 / 214
Full details for Great Rigg
Great Rigg summit cairn, looking south-east along the ridge to Heron Pike. Ambleside and Windermere appear in the distance.
The Wainwright top at Hart Crag

Hart Crag

Grid Ref
NY 36904 11206
Lat/long
54.492245,-2.975595
///W3W
unopposed.noticing.befitting
Height
822.0m / 2,697ft
Rank
27 / 214
Full details for Hart Crag
Hart Crag summit cairn (east top), looking north-east to Place Fell and the High Street range.
The Wainwright top at Hart Side

Hart Side

Grid Ref
NY 35887 19748
Lat/long
54.568871,-2.993155
///W3W
conspire.salon.packages
Height
756.0m / 2,480ft
Rank
61 / 214
Full details for Hart Side
Hart Side summit cairn, looking south towards Birkhouse Moor and St. Sunday Crag, with Sheffield Pike on the left and the Helvellyn range on the right.
The Wainwright top at Hartsop above How

Hartsop above How

Grid Ref
NY 38318 12004
Lat/long
54.499590,-2.953936
///W3W
oils.blunders.rated
Height
581.0m / 1,906ft
Rank
136 / 214
Full details for Hartsop above How
Hartsop Above How summit rock outcrop, looking south-east, with Red Screes on the right.
The Wainwright top at Helvellyn

Helvellyn

Grid Ref
NY 34246 15110
Lat/long
54.526986,-3.017494
///W3W
valuables.passwords.mock
Height
949.8m / 3,116ft
Rank
3 / 214
Full details for Helvellyn
Helvellyn summit cairn, looking north across a misty Red Tarn Cove to the triangulation column (S5948).
The Wainwright top at Heron Pike

Heron Pike

Grid Ref
NY 35599 08310
Lat/long
54.466058,-2.995106
///W3W
brew.trusts.intestine
Height
612.0m / 2,008ft
Rank
127 / 214
Full details for Heron Pike
The Wainwright summit at Heron Pike (quartz rock outcrop), looking to the (9m higher) north summit above Erne Crag and backed by Rydal Head.
The Wainwright top at High Hartsop Dodd

High Hartsop Dodd

Grid Ref
NY 39355 10767
Lat/long
54.488600,-2.937671
///W3W
silently.divisible.toward
Height
519.0m / 1,703ft
Rank
164 / 214
Full details for High Hartsop Dodd
The modest cairn at High Hartsop Dodd summit, looking south-west to Little Hart Crag, with the slopes of Red Screes on the left and Dove Crag on the right.
The Wainwright top at High Pike [Scandale]

High Pike [Scandale]

Grid Ref
NY 37443 08830
Lat/long
54.470962,-2.966771
///W3W
press.meanwhile.dumpy
Height
656.0m / 2,152ft
Rank
109 / 214
Full details for High Pike [Scandale]
High Pike summit cairn, looking north-east to Little Hart Crag, with Dove Crag on the left.
The Wainwright top at Little Hart Crag

Little Hart Crag

Grid Ref
NY 38731 10030
Lat/long
54.481902,-2.947149
///W3W
booms.sandwich.reduce
Height
637.0m / 2,090ft
Rank
119 / 214
Full details for Little Hart Crag
Little Hart Crag summit cairn. On the left, Hartsop above How appears in the middle distance with St. Sunday Crag on the skyline.
The Wainwright top at Little Mell Fell

Little Mell Fell

Grid Ref
NY 42324 24017
Lat/long
54.608007,-2.894448
///W3W
trackers.towers.dragging
Height
505.0m / 1,657ft
Rank
173 / 214
Full details for Little Mell Fell
The stone-built triangulation column (S6992) at Little Mell Fell summit, looking south-west towards the Helvellyn range.
The Wainwright top at Low Pike

Low Pike

Grid Ref
NY 37352 07840
Lat/long
54.462055,-2.967965
///W3W
cringes.recitals.tiling
Height
508.0m / 1,667ft
Rank
172 / 214
Full details for Low Pike
Low Pike summit cairn, looking north to Scandale Bottom and High Beckstones with the ridge wall on the left.
The Wainwright top at Middle Dodd

Middle Dodd

Grid Ref
NY 39736 09574
Lat/long
54.477925,-2.931547
///W3W
cyber.cove.funky
Height
654.0m / 2,146ft
Rank
111 / 214
Full details for Middle Dodd
Middle Dodd summit cairn, looking south along Smallthwaite Band to Red Screes.
The Wainwright top at Nab Scar

Nab Scar

Grid Ref
NY 35538 07236
Lat/long
54.456400,-2.995813
///W3W
dove.agreeing.centuries
Height
450.0m / 1,476ft
Rank
190 / 214
Full details for Nab Scar
Nabb Scar summit cairn, looking north towards Heron Pike, with the slopes of High Pike on the right.
The Wainwright top at Nethermost Pike

Nethermost Pike

Grid Ref
NY 34367 14217
Lat/long
54.518978,-3.015425
///W3W
variously.balance.smarter
Height
891.3m / 2,924ft
Rank
9 / 214
Full details for Nethermost Pike
Nethermost Pike summit plateau, “a field on top of a mountain”, looking north towards Helvellyn with Catstycam and Striding Edge on the right.
The Wainwright top at Raise

Raise

Grid Ref
NY 34282 17415
Lat/long
54.547702,-3.017453
///W3W
conductor.between.nozzle
Height
882.7m / 2,896ft
Rank
12 / 214
Full details for Raise
The beehive cairn at Raise summit, looking south to Helvellyn and Catstycam.
The Wainwright top at Red Screes

Red Screes

Grid Ref
NY 39661 08756
Lat/long
54.470566,-2.932537
///W3W
automatic.reaction.diver
Height
776.0m / 2,546ft
Rank
49 / 214
Full details for Red Screes
The triangulation column (S5639) at Red Screes summit, looking north to Middle Dodd, with Brothers Water and Place Fell in the distance.
The Wainwright top at Saint Sunday Crag

Saint Sunday Crag

Grid Ref
NY 36918 13397
Lat/long
54.511934,-2.975848
///W3W
excavate.denote.instincts
Height
841.0m / 2,759ft
Rank
23 / 214
Full details for Saint Sunday Crag
St. Sunday Crag summit cairn, looking north-east to the Far Eastern Fells.
The Wainwright top at Seat Sandal

Seat Sandal

Grid Ref
NY 34390 11515
Lat/long
54.494702,-3.014468
///W3W
crisp.apart.enforced
Height
736.8m / 2,417ft
Rank
68 / 214
Full details for Seat Sandal
The generous cairn at Seat Sandal summit, looking north-east to the fell-top wall with the slopes of Dollywaggon Pike on the left, Saint Sunday Crag behind, and Fairfield on the right.
The Wainwright top at Sheffield Pike

Sheffield Pike

Grid Ref
NY 36911 18181
Lat/long
54.554920,-2.976982
///W3W
delays.infuses.bumpy
Height
676.1m / 2,218ft
Rank
99 / 214
Full details for Sheffield Pike
Sheffield Pike summit cairn with the Marshall/Howard boundary stone, looking east along Ullswater with Gowbarrow Fell on the left.
The Wainwright top at Stone Arthur

Stone Arthur

Grid Ref
NY 34754 09235
Lat/long
54.474262,-3.008345
///W3W
uppermost.chariots.repaid
Height
504.0m / 1,654ft
Rank
174 / 214
Full details for Stone Arthur
Stone Arthur summit, looking south to Grasmere, with the Coniston Fells in the distance.
The Wainwright top at Stybarrow Dodd

Stybarrow Dodd

Grid Ref
NY 34296 18923
Lat/long
54.561254,-3.017574
///W3W
norms.coast.abandons
Height
843.7m / 2,768ft
Rank
21 / 214
Full details for Stybarrow Dodd
Stybarrow Dodd summit cairn looking north-west to Grasmoor and Grisedale Pike. Bassenthwaite Lake appears on the right.
The Wainwright top at Watson's Dodd

Watson’s Dodd

Grid Ref
NY 33568 19562
Lat/long
54.566900,-3.028974
///W3W
baths.gobbles.snacking
Height
789.0m / 2,589ft
Rank
41 / 214
Full details for Watson’s Dodd
Watson's Dodd summit cairn, looking north-west to Bassenthwaite Lake with Skiddaw on the right.
The Wainwright top at White Side

White Side

Grid Ref
NY 33781 16664
Lat/long
54.540889,-3.025027
///W3W
cyclones.reworked.mascots
Height
863.2m / 2,832ft
Rank
16 / 214
Full details for White Side
White Side summit, looking due south across the broken down wind shelter to Lower Man with Helvellyn on the left.

Eastern Fells sortable data

Fell nameNo.Ht.LatLongGrid Ref.
Arnison Crag1433.0m54.526349-2.938505NY 39357 14968
Birkhouse Moor2717.6m54.535018-2.985300NY 36342 15974
Birks3622.0m54.521866-2.956602NY 38179 14485
Catstycam4889.6m54.533457-3.008923NY 34811 15822
Clough Head5726.0m54.593645-3.032342NY 33394 22541
Dollywaggon Pike6858.5m54.508678-3.011154NY 34627 13067
Dove Crag7792.0m54.485385-2.966911NY 37456 10435
Fairfield8872.6m54.497058-2.991613NY 35874 11756
Glenridding Dodd9442.0m54.549454-2.959227NY 38051 17557
Gowbarrow Fell10481.2m54.588094-2.918183NY 40762 21821
Great Dodd11857.0m54.575923-3.019502NY 34195 20557
Great Mell Fell12537.0m54.619829-2.935639NY 39681 25367
Great Rigg13766.1m54.484791-2.995792NY 35584 10395
Hart Crag14822.0m54.492245-2.975595NY 36904 11206
Hart Side15756.0m54.568871-2.993155NY 35887 19748
Hartsop above How16581.0m54.499590-2.953936NY 38318 12004
Helvellyn17949.8m54.526986-3.017494NY 34246 15110
Heron Pike18612.0m54.466058-2.995106NY 35599 08310
High Hartsop Dodd19519.0m54.488600-2.937671NY 39355 10767
High Pike [Scandale]20656.0m54.470962-2.966771NY 37443 08830
Little Hart Crag21637.0m54.481902-2.947149NY 38731 10030
Little Mell Fell22505.0m54.608007-2.894448NY 42324 24017
Low Pike23508.0m54.462055-2.967965NY 37352 07840
Middle Dodd24654.0m54.477925-2.931547NY 39736 09574
Nab Scar25450.0m54.456400-2.995813NY 35538 07236
Nethermost Pike26891.3m54.518978-3.015425NY 34367 14217
Raise27882.7m54.547702-3.017453NY 34282 17415
Red Screes28776.0m54.470566-2.932537NY 39661 08756
Saint Sunday Crag29841.0m54.511934-2.975848NY 36918 13397
Seat Sandal30736.8m54.494702-3.014468NY 34390 11515
Sheffield Pike31676.1m54.554920-2.976982NY 36911 18181
Stone Arthur32504.0m54.474262-3.008345NY 34754 09235
Stybarrow Dodd33843.7m54.561254-3.017574NY 34296 18923
Watson's Dodd34789.0m54.566900-3.028974NY 33568 19562
White Side35863.2m54.540889-3.025027NY 33781 16664