The largest geographic area is to the south and west of Langdale, stretching to Wastwater and including the Coniston fells. The true giants such as Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in Englandreside here. They tend to be the roughest paths to the ruggedest mountains.
Wainwright dedicated Book 4 to ‘The Sheep of Lakeland’.
The highest mountain in England. The whole summit area is a mass of loose boulders and rocks and it is notoriously difficult to navigate in cloud. It is approached best from the north and quickest from the west.
Summit grid ref:
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Best routes:
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Explorer OL6
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Wainwright - Southern Fells
The cliffs on three sides of Scafell (not the south) give it a more dramatic outline than its marginally higher neighbour, Scafell Pike. There is some excellent scrambling on its slopes, Lords Rake most famous but Broad Stand most difficult.
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Great End is worth the short detour o the route up Scafell Pike from Borrowdale. It's most impressive feature are the north facing cliffs, best seen from either Sty head or Sprinkling Tarns.
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Bowfell is a fine mountain which is most often accessed from Langdale by the long and rough ridge known as the Band. The Climbers Travers on its northern flanks is a good scramble.
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Explorer 0L6
Like its near neighbour Bowfell, Esk Pike is a rugged fell, remote from any convenient starting point. It is probably Eskdales mountain but can be climbed from Langdale, Borrowdale or even Wasdale.
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A wonderful rough and rocky ridge overlooking the Langdale Valley. The ridge will take longer than you imagine. Crinkle Crags is often combined with Bowfell.
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A famous mountain that I believe is best accessed via the impressive Goats Water. The 'Old Man' is often climbed on its own but the main ridge to the north is highly enjoyable and very straightforward.
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Swirl How is the highest point on the northern end of the main Coniston Ridge. The summit is not memorable although there is often debate as to whether it is even higher than Coniston Old Man.
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Lingmell is perched dramatically over the head of Wasdale and is worth any detour whilst climbing its grander neighbour, Scafell Pike.
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Wainwright- Southern Fells
Brim Fell is little more than a small rise on the main Coniston ridge. It is the first Wainwright heading north from Coniston Old Man.
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Centrally located above Esk Hause the craggy Allen Crags is the start of a long ridge overlooking Langstrath and ending near Glaramara.
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Strictly speaking this is to the northern end of the Lake District. However it is a fine mountain, a rugged fell overlooking Borrowdale with a great name befitting a lovely summit.
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Great Carrs is the most northerly Wainwright on the main ridge of Coniston. It has wonderful views north in to Langdale but is probably most famous for the remains of an aircraft near the summit.
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Dow Crag is set apart from the main Coniston ridge by the deep valley containing Goats Water. Dow Crag itself is a log ridge with impressive cliffs facing east , a haven for many budding rock climbers.
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Grey Friar is an isolated fell situated to the west of Swirl How and usually climbed as a there and back. However it can also be accessed on its own as a quiet circuit from the Duddon Valley via Seathwaite Tarn.
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Slight Side is on the long southern ridge of Scafell. It is rarely climbed without including Scafell although the views down Eskdale are better than its loftier neighbour.
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Wetherlam is out of character from the rest of the Coniston Round. It is rugged and full of interest as a stand alone fell. It is to the north of Coniston village and connected to the main ridge via Swirl How.
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Pike O'Blisco is a steep sided, cone shaped mountain situated between the Greater and Little Langdale Valleys. The summit area is small and exposed but with the best views across the valley to the Langdale Pikes.
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Cold Pike is really the southern of the Crinkle Pikes but is a fair distance from the main ridge. It is often accessed from a high start at Wrynose Pass and offers an excellent short walk.
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Harter Fell can be climbed from either the Duddon Valley or Eskdale. Either route the climb is steep. The mountain is uniformerly cone shaped with an excellent small rocky summit.
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Rossett Pike is a rocky fell situated at the head of the Langdale Valley. The steep climb up Rossett Gill used to be notorious but the path has been improved in recent years.
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Seathwaite Fell is situated between Sprinkling and Styhead tarns overlooking the hamlet of Seathwaite in Borrowdale. It has good views and a nice quiet fell.
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The most northern and largest fell overlooking Wastwater from the lesser visited east. The pleasant ridge belies the steep slopes leading in to the lake.
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Rosthwaite Fell is little more than the end of a northern arm of larger Glaramara. It has good views to the north.
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Explorer OL4
Probably most famous as the site of a well preserved Roman Fort, Hard Knott is a stand alone fell usually climbed quickly from the high point of Hard Knott pass.
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The most southerly of two fells on the broad ridge to the east of Wastwater. The dramatic Wastwater Screes lie between itself and the lake below.
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Green Crag is a mid sized rocky fell situated south of Harter Fell between Eskdale and the Duddon Valley. The area is rarely visited but great fun.
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Lingmoor Fell is a rugged fell in the Langdale Valley. It is separated from its more famous neighbours but can be easily climbed on a half day from either of the Dungeon Ghyll hotels.
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Black Fell is small, stand alone fell that lies between Tarn Hows to the south and Skelwith Bridge near Ambleside to the north.
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Explorer OL7
Home Fell occupies a small area of rugged ground just north of Coniston. Very few walkers would climb the fell unless completing the Wainwrights.
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