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A guide to bagging Wainwright's Lakeland Fells.

Book Six

The North Western Fells

Hindscarth and Robinson from Catbells

The North Western Fells area is described in Book Six of Wainwright’s Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells. The area is bounded by Crummock Water and Buttermere to the south-west and by Bassenthwaite Lake and Derwent Water to the north and west respectively. There are 29 summits in this well-defined group of mountains which include popular tops such as Dale Head, Gisedale Pike, and the family-friendly fells Catbells and Castle Crag. There are several classic walks within this area, including the Coledale Horseshoe.

North Western Fells location and routes

This map shows the distribution of the 29 North Western Fells. It also shows all the ridge routes described in Wainwright’s guide and any other viable routes between adjacent fells. This area is formed by one large grouping of fells composed of the Grasmoor massif, the Coledale ridges, the ridges around Newlands and Dale Head, and a smaller grouping known as the Lorton Fells, with Lord’s Seat at its centre. The two Wythop fells, Ling Fell and Sale Fell form a small northerly group of their own, while Castle Crag is the lone outlier to the south-east. Other than the very popular Catbells, this area is less frequented, but it has some of the best ridge walking in the district, with the route between White Side and Hopegill Head being a particular highlight.

North Western Fells elevation

1,000m 900m 800m 700m 600m 500m 400m 300m 200m 100m 581.0m (1,906ft) 469.0m (1,539ft) 455.0m (1,493ft) 511.0m (1,677ft) 290.0m (951ft) 451.0m (1,480ft) 637.0m (2,090ft) 753.0m (2,470ft) 839.2m (2,753ft) 851.6m (2,794ft) 452.0m (1,483ft) 791.0m (2,595ft) 653.1m (2,143ft) 727.0m (2,385ft) 770.0m (2,526ft) 556.0m (1,824ft) 373.0m (1,224ft) 552.0m (1,811ft) 575.0m (1,886ft) 568.0m (1,864ft) 355.0m (1,165ft) 737.0m (2,418ft) 773.0m (2,536ft) 359.0m (1,178ft) 672.0m (2,205ft) 773.9m (2,539ft) 517.0m (1,696ft) 660.0m (2,165ft) 707.0m (2,320ft) Ard Crags Barf Barrow Broom Fell Castle Crag Catbells Causey Pike Dale Head Eel Crag (Crag Hill) Grasmoor Graystones Grisedale Pike High Spy Hindscarth Hopegill Head Knott Rigg Ling Fell Lord's Seat Maiden Moor Outerside Rannerdale Knotts Robinson Sail Sale Fell Scar Crags Wandope Whinlatter (Brown How) Whiteless Pike Whiteside (west top) 100m 200m 300m 400m 500m 600m 700m 800m 900m 1,000m 581.0m (1,906ft) 469.0m (1,539ft) 455.0m (1,493ft) 511.0m (1,677ft) 290.0m (951ft) 451.0m (1,480ft) 637.0m (2,090ft) 753.0m (2,470ft) 839.2m (2,753ft) 851.6m (2,794ft) 452.0m (1,483ft) 791.0m (2,595ft) 653.1m (2,143ft) 727.0m (2,385ft) 770.0m (2,526ft) 556.0m (1,824ft) 373.0m (1,224ft) 552.0m (1,811ft) 575.0m (1,886ft) 568.0m (1,864ft) 355.0m (1,165ft) 737.0m (2,418ft) 773.0m (2,536ft) 359.0m (1,178ft) 672.0m (2,205ft) 773.9m (2,539ft) 517.0m (1,696ft) 660.0m (2,165ft) 707.0m (2,320ft) Ard Crags Barf Barrow Broom Fell Castle Crag Catbells Causey Pike Dale Head Eel Crag (Crag Hill) Grasmoor Graystones Grisedale Pike High Spy Hindscarth Hopegill Head Knott Rigg Ling Fell Lord's Seat Maiden Moor Outerside Rannerdale Knotts Robinson Sail Sale Fell Scar Crags Wandope Whinlatter (Brown How) Whiteless Pike Whiteside (west top)

North Western Fells height statistics

Number of fells
29
Total height
17,409 metres (57,115 feet)
Average height
600 metres (1,969 feet)
Highest fell
Grasmoor — 851.6 metres (2,794 feet)
Lowest fell
Castle Crag — 290.0 metres (951 feet)

North Western Fells summits

The Wainwright top at Ard Crags

Ard Crags

Grid Ref
NY 20694 19771
Lat/long
54.566921,-3.228098
///W3W
bookshop.swooned.vertical
Height
581.0m / 1,906ft
Rank
137 / 214
Full details for Ard Crags
Ard Crags summit, looking north-east to Causey Pike in shadow with Blencathra beyond on the left, and the Helvellyn range on the right.
The Wainwright top at Barf

Barf

Grid Ref
NY 21464 26739
Lat/long
54.629647,-3.218060
///W3W
aims.nicely.wove
Height
469.0m / 1,539ft
Rank
185 / 214
Full details for Barf
Barf summit cairn, looking north to Bassenthwaite Lake and Binsey.
The Wainwright top at Barrow

Barrow

Grid Ref
NY 22708 21820
Lat/long
54.585643,-3.197496
///W3W
camcorder.margin.caveman
Height
455.0m / 1,493ft
Rank
187 / 214
Full details for Barrow
Barrow summit, looking north-east to Keswick and Blencathra with Derwent Water below. Skiddaw is on the left with Clough Head and Great Dodd on the right.
The Wainwright top at Broom Fell

Broom Fell

Grid Ref
NY 19444 27191
Lat/long
54.633389,-3.249466
///W3W
breached.rejoined.steer
Height
511.0m / 1,677ft
Rank
169 / 214
Full details for Broom Fell
Broom Fell summit cairn and shelter, looking south with Grisedale Pike, Eel Crag, and Hopegill Head on the left.
The Wainwright top at Castle Crag

Castle Crag

Grid Ref
NY 24932 15942
Lat/long
54.533165,-3.161588
///W3W
dabble.sound.excavated
Height
290.0m / 951ft
Rank
214 / 214
Full details for Castle Crag
Castle Crag summit looking north over Derwent Water to Lonscale Fell and Blencathra. King's How is on the right. There was no summit cairn when this photograph was taken.
The Wainwright top at Catbells

Catbells

Grid Ref
NY 24409 19861
Lat/long
54.568299,-3.170677
///W3W
undertone.linen.cringes
Height
451.0m / 1,480ft
Rank
189 / 214
Full details for Catbells
The toposcope at Catbells summit, looking south-west to Hindscarth and Robinson. The highest point is the bare rock on the left.
The Wainwright top at Causey Pike

Causey Pike

Grid Ref
NY 21876 20851
Lat/long
54.576809,-3.210109
///W3W
defender.profited.whoever
Height
637.0m / 2,090ft
Rank
120 / 214
Full details for Causey Pike
Causey Pike summit, looking west to Derwentwater with Blencathra and the Helvellyn range in the distance.
The Wainwright top at Dale Head

Dale Head

Grid Ref
NY 22310 15330
Lat/long
54.527271,-3.201936
///W3W
remission.refreshed.riding
Height
753.0m / 2,470ft
Rank
63 / 214
Full details for Dale Head
Dale Head summit cairn, looking north down the Newlands valley and to Skiddaw beyond.
The Wainwright top at Eel Crag (Crag Hill)

Eel Crag (Crag Hill)

Grid Ref
NY 19270 20365
Lat/long
54.572033,-3.250280
///W3W
liner.garden.cookie
Height
839.2m / 2,753ft
Rank
24 / 214
Full details for Eel Crag (Crag Hill)
The triangulation column (S5993) at Eel Crag summit, looking north-east to Grisedale Pike.
The Wainwright top at Grasmoor

Grasmoor

Grid Ref
NY 17485 20351
Lat/long
54.571618,-3.277879
///W3W
slant.blubber.discloses
Height
851.6m / 2,794ft
Rank
20 / 214
Full details for Grasmoor
The large shelter cairn at Grasmoor summit, looking south-east to the Buttermere Fells. There are other (smaller) cairns close by.
The Wainwright top at Graystones

Graystones

Grid Ref
NY 17616 26621
Lat/long
54.627973,-3.277617
///W3W
estuaries.pitchers.motion
Height
452.0m / 1,483ft
Rank
188 / 214
Full details for Graystones
The Wainwright summit cairn atop a small, shaly outcrop to the west of a dry stone wall. This view looks due east to Broom Fell and Lord's Seat.
The Wainwright top at Grisedale Pike

Grisedale Pike

Grid Ref
NY 19841 22547
Lat/long
54.591728,-3.242046
///W3W
abundance.chef.argued
Height
791.0m / 2,595ft
Rank
40 / 214
Full details for Grisedale Pike
Grisedale Pike summit with small cairn, looking south-west to Grasmoor with Crag Hill on the left and Hopegill Head on the right.
The Wainwright top at High Spy

High Spy

Grid Ref
NY 23414 16232
Lat/long
54.535543,-3.185117
///W3W
hence.alert.plea
Height
653.1m / 2,143ft
Rank
113 / 214
Full details for High Spy
The summit cairn at High Spy, looking north to Causey Pike and Bassenthwaite Lake with Skiddaw on the right.
The Wainwright top at Hindscarth

Hindscarth

Grid Ref
NY 21567 16516
Lat/long
54.537812,-3.213730
///W3W
threaded.advising.stow
Height
727.0m / 2,385ft
Rank
73 / 214
Full details for Hindscarth
Hindscarth summit shelter cairn, looking south-west to Pillar with Kirk Fell on the left and High Stile and Red Pike on the right.
The Wainwright top at Hopegill Head

Hopegill Head

Grid Ref
NY 18568 22162
Lat/long
54.588065,-3.261635
///W3W
friend.soup.restores
Height
770.0m / 2,526ft
Rank
53 / 214
Full details for Hopegill Head
Hopegill Head summit, looking east across Hobcarton Crag to Grisedale Pike with Causey Pike on the right.
The Wainwright top at Knott Rigg

Knott Rigg

Grid Ref
NY 19741 18871
Lat/long
54.558684,-3.242588
///W3W
poorly.poetic.nipping
Height
556.0m / 1,824ft
Rank
146 / 214
Full details for Knott Rigg
Knott Rigg summit, looking north-east along the ridge to Ard Crags and Causey Pike with Blencathra in the distance.
The Wainwright top at Ling Fell

Ling Fell

Grid Ref
NY17961 28593
Lat/long
54.645746,-3.272828
///W3W
flinch.thumbnail.trickle
Height
373.0m / 1,224ft
Rank
205 / 214
Full details for Ling Fell
Ling Fell summit triangulation pillar (S5771), looking north-east towards Sale Fell with the northern end of Bassenthwaite Lake on the left and Skiddaw on the right.
The Wainwright top at Lord's Seat

Lord’s Seat

Grid Ref
NY 20434 26552
Lat/long
54.627805,-3.233960
///W3W
column.imperious.shop
Height
552.0m / 1,811ft
Rank
148 / 214
Full details for Lord’s Seat
Lord's Seat summit, looking south with Grisedale Pike on the left and Hopegill Head centre.
The Wainwright top at Maiden Moor

Maiden Moor

Grid Ref
NY 23671 18202
Lat/long
54.553282,-3.181658
///W3W
dished.questions.oldest
Height
575.0m / 1,886ft
Rank
139 / 214
Full details for Maiden Moor
Maiden Moor summit cairn, looking north along the ridge to Catbells and to Skiddaw beyond. Wainwright: “A dreary foreground detracts from the view and unfortunately hides Borrowdale and most of Derwent Water.”
The Wainwright top at Outerside

Outerside

Grid Ref
NY 21109 21459
Lat/long
54.582152,-3.222135
///W3W
sulky.chimp.meatball
Height
568.0m / 1,864ft
Rank
142 / 214
Full details for Outerside
Outerside summit, looking south-west to Eel Crag and Sail with Coledale Hause on the right.
The Wainwright top at Rannerdale Knotts

Rannerdale Knotts

Grid Ref
NY 16727 18251
Lat/long
54.552626,-3.289006
///W3W
roost.rocker.harmlessly
Height
355.0m / 1,165ft
Rank
210 / 214
Full details for Rannerdale Knotts
Rannerdale Knotts summit cairn, looking east towards Robinson with Whiteless Pike on the left.
The Wainwright top at Robinson

Robinson

Grid Ref
NY 20180 16873
Lat/long
54.540802,-3.235258
///W3W
savers.receiving.ripples
Height
737.0m / 2,418ft
Rank
67 / 214
Full details for Robinson
The shelter cairn at Robinson summit, looking south to Kirk Fell, Pillar, and the footpath to Hindscarth.
The Wainwright top at Sail

Sail

Grid Ref
NY 19821 20281
Lat/long
54.571366,-3.241736
///W3W
tangible.implanted.hopeless
Height
773.0m / 2,536ft
Rank
51 / 214
Full details for Sail
Sail summit cairn, looking south-west to Pillar, High Stile, and Red Pike with Robinson on the left.
The Wainwright top at Sale Fell

Sale Fell

Grid Ref
NY 19445 29664
Lat/long
54.655608,-3.250133
///W3W
debt.promotion.hindered
Height
359.0m / 1,178ft
Rank
208 / 214
Full details for Sale Fell
Sale Fell summit, looking east to the Skiddaw massif with Dodd on the right. The Helvellyn range can be seen in the distance on the right, above the wooded Ladies Table.
The Wainwright top at Scar Crags

Scar Crags

Grid Ref
NY 20749 20598
Lat/long
54.574360,-3.227471
///W3W
finest.gained.staining
Height
672.0m / 2,205ft
Rank
102 / 214
Full details for Scar Crags
Scar Crags summit cairn, looking north-east along the ridge to Causey Pike with Blencathra on the left and Clough Head on the right.
The Wainwright top at Wandope

Wandope

Grid Ref
NY 18820 19738
Lat/long
54.566327,-3.257065
///W3W
angry.highlighted.presides
Height
773.9m / 2,539ft
Rank
50 / 214
Full details for Wandope
Wandope summit cairn, looking east to the Central Fells in the distance and Sail on the left.
The Wainwright top at Whinlatter (Brown How)

Whinlatter (Brown How)

Grid Ref
NY 19114 25132
Lat/long
54.614837,-3.254008
///W3W
universally.bulletins.bunks
Height
517.0m / 1,696ft
Rank
165 / 214
Full details for Whinlatter (Brown How)
Whinlatter (Brown How) summit shelter, looking south to Grisedale Pike and Hopegill Head.
The Wainwright top at Whiteless Pike

Whiteless Pike

Grid Ref
NY 18016 18976
Lat/long
54.559351,-3.269284
///W3W
shifters.tables.magazine
Height
660.0m / 2,165ft
Rank
106 / 214
Full details for Whiteless Pike
Whiteless Pike summit, looking north-east to Thirdgill Head Man and Wandope with the slopes of Grasmoor on the left.
The Wainwright top at Whiteside (west top)

Whiteside (west top)

Grid Ref
NY 17045 21948
Lat/long
54.585895,-3.285135
///W3W
unwound.depending.asset
Height
707.0m / 2,320ft
Rank
84 / 214
Full details for Whiteside (west top)
Whiteside summit, looking east along the ridge towards Grisedale Pike, Hopegill Head, and Sand Hill.

North Western Fells sortable data

Fell nameNo.Ht.LatLongGrid Ref.
Ard Crags153581.0m54.566921-3.228098NY 20694 19771
Barf154469.0m54.629647-3.218060NY 21464 26739
Barrow155455.0m54.585643-3.197496NY 22708 21820
Broom Fell156511.0m54.633389-3.249466NY 19444 27191
Castle Crag157290.0m54.533165-3.161588NY 24932 15942
Catbells158451.0m54.568299-3.170677NY 24409 19861
Causey Pike159637.0m54.576809-3.210109NY 21876 20851
Dale Head160753.0m54.527271-3.201936NY 22310 15330
Eel Crag (Crag Hill)161839.2m54.572033-3.250280NY 19270 20365
Grasmoor162851.6m54.571618-3.277879NY 17485 20351
Graystones163452.0m54.627973-3.277617NY 17616 26621
Grisedale Pike164791.0m54.591728-3.242046NY 19841 22547
High Spy165653.1m54.535543-3.185117NY 23414 16232
Hindscarth166727.0m54.537812-3.213730NY 21567 16516
Hopegill Head167770.0m54.588065-3.261635NY 18568 22162
Knott Rigg168556.0m54.558684-3.242588NY 19741 18871
Ling Fell169373.0m54.645746-3.272828NY17961 28593
Lord's Seat170552.0m54.627805-3.233960NY 20434 26552
Maiden Moor171575.0m54.553282-3.181658NY 23671 18202
Outerside172568.0m54.582152-3.222135NY 21109 21459
Rannerdale Knotts173355.0m54.552626-3.289006NY 16727 18251
Robinson174737.0m54.540802-3.235258NY 20180 16873
Sail175773.0m54.571366-3.241736NY 19821 20281
Sale Fell176359.0m54.655608-3.250133NY 19445 29664
Scar Crags177672.0m54.574360-3.227471NY 20749 20598
Wandope178773.9m54.566327-3.257065NY 18820 19738
Whinlatter (Brown How)179517.0m54.614837-3.254008NY 19114 25132
Whiteless Pike180660.0m54.559351-3.269284NY 18016 18976
Whiteside (west top)181707.0m54.585895-3.285135NY 17045 21948