The Wainwrights

If you've spent any time hiking in the Lake District, you've probably heard people talking about "bagging the Wainwrights". But what exactly are they?

Who Alfred Wainwright was.

Alfred Wainwright (1907–1991) was a British fellwalker, author and illustrator who is best known for his love of the Lake District. Between 1955 and 1966, he wrote and illustrated the seven-volume Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells by hand, filling each page with detailed maps, route descriptions and beautiful drawings - a work that remains a great source of inspiration for walkers today!

What the Wainwrights are.

The Wainwrights are the 214 fells featured in Alfred Wainwright's Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells. They are spread across the seven areas of the Lake District and range from family-friendly hills to challenging mountain summits.

Why there are 214.

Although the Lake District has many other fells, these 214 are the ones Alfred Wainwright personally chose to include in his guidebooks.


There isn't a specific rule that says a fell must meet a certain height to become a Wainwright. The total of 214 simply reflects the fells that Alfred Wainwright selected based on his own experience.


How the challenge began for us.


Having hiked in the Lake District since 2017, I had often heard people talking about the Wainwrights, but I never really understood what they were or why so many people challenged themselves to climb them all.


On one of our recent trips there, my partner Matt mentioned that one of his co-workers was trying to complete all 214 Wainwrights, and that's where the idea began.


I realised what a great challenge it would be! Not only would it encourage us to spend more time outdoors and discover every corner of the Lake District, but it would also push us physically and mentally as we take on some of the more difficult fells.


Some people complete the challenge incredibly fast, whilst others take decades (that'll probably be us aha). There is no time limit or official race, and most importantly, there is no right or wrong way to do it.


We're not sure how long this will take us, but we hope to complete them all one day.


For us, it's about challenging ourselves, exploring new places, creating memories that we'll be able to share here, and enjoying every step along the way 🏔


A full list of the 214 Wainwrights, by area.

 Book 1 - The Eastern Fells 


Name   Height (m)     Height (ft)
Helvellyn9503,117
Nethermost Pike8912,923
Catstycam8902,920
Raise8832,897
Fairfield8732,864
White Side8632,831
Dollywaggon Pike8582,815
Great Dodd8572,812
Stybarrow Dodd8432,766
St Sunday Crag8412,759
Hart Crag8222,697
Dove Crag7922,598
Watson's Dodd7892,589
Red Screes7762,546
Great Rigg7662,513
Hart Side7562,480
Seat Sandal7362,415
Clough Head7262,382
Birkhouse Moor7182,356
Sheffield Pike6752,215
High Pike6562,152
Middle Dodd6542,146
Little Hart Crag6372,090
Birks6222,041
Heron Pike6122,008
Hartsop above How5701,870
Great Mell Fell5371,762
High Hartsop Dodd5191,703
Low Pike5081,667
Little Mell Fell5051,657
Stone Arthur5001,640
Gowbarrow Fell4811,578
Nab Scar4501,476
Glenridding Dodd4421,450
Arnison Crag4331,421

 Book 2 - The Far Eastern Fells 

Name     Height (m)     Height (ft)
High Street8282,717
High Raise8022,631
Rampsgill Head7922,598
Thornthwaite Crag7842,572
Kidsty Pike7802,559
Harter Fell7782,552
Caudale Moor7632,503
Mardale Ill Bell7602,493
Ill Bell7572,484
The Knott7392,425
Kentmere Pike7302,395
Froswick7202,362
Branstree7132,339
Yoke7062,316
Gray Crag6992,293
Rest Dodd6962,283
Loadpot Hill6712,201
Wether Hill6702,198
Tarn Crag6642,178
Place Fell6572,156
Selside Pike6552,149
Grey Crag6382,093
Hartsop Dodd6182,028
Shipman Knotts5871,926
The Nab5761,890
Angletarn Pikes5671,860
Brock Crags5611,841
Arthur's Pike5331,749
Bonscale Pike5241,719
Sallows5161,693
Beda Fell5091,670
Wansfell4881,601
Sour Howes4831,585
Steel Knotts4321,417
Hallin Fell3881,273
Troutbeck Tongue3641,194

 Book 3 - The Central Fells 

Name           Height (m)     Height (ft)
High Raise7622,500
Sergeant Man7362,415
Harrison Stickle7362,415
Ullscarf7262,382
Thunacar Knott7232,372
Pike of Stickle7092,326
Pavey Ark7002,297
Loft Crag6802,231
High Seat6081,995
Bleaberry Fell5901,936
Sergeant's Crag5711,873
Steel Fell5531,814
Tarn Crag5501,804
Blea Rigg5411,775
Calf Crag5371,762
Eagle Crag5251,722
High Tove5151,690
Armboth Fell4791,572
Raven Crag4611,512
Great Crag4501,476
Gibson Knott4201,378
Grange Fell4151,362
Helm Crag4051,329
Silver How3951,296
Walla Crag3761,234
High Rigg3571,171
Loughrigg Fell3351,099

 Book 4 - The Southern Fells 

Name      Height (m)     Height (ft)
Scafell Pike9783,209
Sca Fell9643,163
Great End9102,986
Bowfell9022,959
Esk Pike8852,904
Crinkle Crags8592,818
Lingmell8072,648
Coniston Old Man8032,635
Swirl How8022,631
Brim Fell7962,612
Great Carrs7852,575
Allen Crags7852,575
Glaramara7832,569
Dow Crag7782,552
Grey Friar7732,536
Wetherlam7632,503
Slight Side7622,500
Pike o' Blisco7092,326
Cold Pike7012,300
Harter Fell6542,146
Rossett Pike6512,136
Illgill Head6091,998
Seathwaite Fell6011,972
Rosthwaite Fell5511,808
Hard Knott5491,801
Whin Rigg5351,755
Green Crag4891,604
Lingmoor Fell4691,539
Black Fell3231,060
Holme Fell3171,040

 Book 5 - The Northern Fells 

NameHeight (m)    Height (ft)
Skiddaw9313,054
Blencathra8682,848
Skiddaw Little Man8652,838
Carl Side7462,448
Long Side7342,408
Lonscale Fell7152,346
Knott7102,329
Bowscale Fell7022,303
Great Calva6902,264
Ullock Pike6902,264
Bannerdale Crags6832,241
Bakestall6732,208
Carrock Fell6632,175
High Pike6582,159
Great Sca Fell6512,136
Mungrisdale Common6332,077
Brae Fell5861,923
Meal Fell5501,804
Great Cockup5261,726
Souther Fell5221,713
Dodd5021,647
Longlands Fell4831,585
Binsey4471,467
Latrigg3671,204

 Book 6 - The North Western Fells 

Name     Height (m)    Height (ft)
Grasmoor8522,795
Eel Crag (Crag Hill)8392,753
Grisedale Pike7912,595
Sail7732,536
Wandope7722,533
Hopegill Head7702,526
Dale Head7532,470
Robinson7372,418
Hindscarth7272,385
Whiteside7072,320
Scar Crags6722,205
Whiteless Pike6602,165
High Spy6532,142
Causey Pike6372,090
Maiden Moor5751,886
Ard Crags5811,906
Outerside5681,864
Knott Rigg5561,824
Lord's Seat5521,811
Whinlatter5171,696
Broom Fell5111,677
Barf4681,535
Barrow4551,493
Graystones4521,483
Catbells4511,480
Ling Fell3731,224
Sale Fell3591,178
Rannerdale Knotts3551,165
Castle Crag298978

 Book 7 - The Western Fells 

NameHeight (m)     Height (ft)
Great Gable8992,949
Pillar8922,927
Scoat Fell8412,759
Red Pike (Wasdale)8262,709
Steeple8192,687
High Stile8072,648
Kirk Fell8022,631
Green Gable8012,628
Haycock7972,614
Red Pike (Buttermere)7552,476
High Crag7442,441
Brandreth7152,345
Caw Fell6972,288
Grey Knotts6972,287
Seatallan6922,270
Fleetwith Pike6482,126
Base Brown6462,119
Starling Dodd6332,077
Yewbarrow6282,060
Great Borne6162,021
Haystacks5971,958
Middle Fell5821,909
Blake Fell5731,880
Lank Rigg5411,775
Gavel Fell5261,725
Crag Fell5231,715
Mellbreak5121,680
Hen Comb5091,670
Grike4881,601
Burnbank Fell4751,559
Low Fell4231,388
Buckbarrow4231,388
Fellbarrow4161,365



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