The Western Fells are a neat triangle bordered by Wastwater, Buttermere and the Irish Sea. The fells in this area are hardest to get at ad the accommodation as a result more limited. However some of the mountains are memorable, Great Gable, Pillar and Haystacks (Wainwrights favourite) are all must visits.
Book 7 is dedicated ‘To all who have helped me’.
A very popular mountain lying at the apex of Borrowdale, Ennerdale, Wasdale and Eskdale. The bowl shaped, steep sided summit is recognizable from miles around.
Summit grid ref:
NY 211 103
Best routes:
Get the map:
Explorer OL4
A bulky mountain overlooking the head of Ennerdale but usually climbed from Wasdale Head. Any walk on its rough paths is a long but satisfying day.
NY 171 121
Get the book:
Wainwright - Western Fells
Scoat Fell summit is out of character with the rest of the Mosedale Horseshoe. It is less rough and easier to walk over. Continue to Steeple for the best views.
NY 160 113
Usually climbed as part of the Mosedale Horseshoe, Red Pike is the rough ridge on its western arm. There is a good perspective of the Scafells from its summit.
164 106
A great name for a notorious mountain. Despite its small rise from the bulky Scoat Fell Steeple has grace and poise, perched dramatically overlooking the long Ennerdale valley.
NY 157 116
The highest and middle fell of a popular rough ridge overlooking Buttermere from the south. The summit itself is perched on a naroow rocky outcrop with cliffs all around.
NY 170 148
Along with Great Gable and Pillar, Kirkfell dominates the head of Wasdale. It is a uniform rocky bulk of a mountain with low cols on each side.
NY 195 105
Just to the north of Great Gable is Green Gable separated by the infamous Windy Gap (safe but windy!). The summit is bare but is not as rocky and rough as its larger neighbour.
214 107
Haycock lies mid way between Ennerdale and Wastwater. The summit area is rough and interesting but due to being located away from the main Pillar walk it is not often visited.
144 107
Often referred to as Buttermere's mountain. A remarkably steep climb from the village takes you to the summit and the High Stile ridge. Bleaberry Tarn though offers a lovely respite to the steep slopes.
NY 160 154
High Crag is perched high above both Buttermere and Ennerdale, the slopes towards Buttermere rough and rocky but more grassy on the Ennerdale side. Usually climbed with Red Pike and High Stile.
NY 180 140
To the north of Great Gable a long ridge undulates before reaching Honister Pass. Brandreth is towards the centre of the ridge with excellent views along Ennerdale.
NY 215 119
Grey Knotts overlooks Honister Pass from the south. It is the northern end of a long wide ridge leading to Great Gable.
NY 217 126
Out of character to the rocky fells to its east Seatallan is rounded, grassy without any lurking dangers. However to link it from any other fell involves a long climb.
NY 140 084
Explorer OL6
Caw Fell is at the western end of a high, wide ridge leading to Haycock midway between Ennerdale and Wasdale. It may be the furthest Wainwright from any road.
NY 132 110
A familiar graceful outline at the head of Buttermere. The summit has outstanding views but it is a hard steep climb from the direct route from the lake. Better to approach from the rear.
NY 206 142
Overlooking the farm at Seathwaite in Borrowdale Base Brown is often used as a descent route from Great Gable. Good views over Upper Borrowdale.
225 115
Starling Dodd lies above the trees in Ennerdale and is part of the long ridge separating Ennerdale from Buttermere. Unlike the fells further east though Starling Dodd is grassy and without peril.
NY 142 157
Yewbarrow is best known for its graceful profile at the head of Wastwater, once voted the best view in Britain. Its graceful profile belies its vey steep slopes o three sides, only the col at Dore Head offering a straightforward route to its small summit.
NY 173 085
Great Borne marks the western end of a long ridge on the northern side of the Ennerdale valley. The ridge at Great Borne is not as dramatic as further east but has good views across the valley to Pillar and Steeple.
NY 124 164
A fine 'shaggy' dog mountain full of rocky outcrops and hidden hollows. The best climb is from Buttermere and Wainwright loved the fell so much is ashes are scattered near Inominate Tarn.
NY 193 132
Middle Fell overlooks Wastwater on its western side. The craggy peak is a common site, but rarely visited, on the lakeside drive to Wasdale Head.
NY 151 073
North of Ennerdale Water is an area of rounded fells marking the boundary of mountains and sea. Blake Fell is towards the centre, difficult to approach and bounded on the west by some forestry.
NY 110 197
A rough, grassy mountain with gradual slopes in all directions. Lank Rigg covers a lot of the area south of Ennerdale towards the coast.
NY 092 119
Between Crummock Water ad Ennerdale is a large area of rarely visited mountains. They are not dramatic or rocky but give pleasant walking. Gavel Fell lies between Hen Comb and Blake Fell.
NY 117 184
Crag Fells is dramatically perched overlooking Ennerdale Water on its south side. The views up Ennerdale are excellent partly due to standing isolated from other areas of higher ground.
NY 097 144
Mellbreak stands isolated from any other high ground and therefore commands some excellent views of the Buttermere valley. It is situated above the western shores of Crummock Water.
NY 148 186
Hen Comb is a graceful fell midway between Crummock Water and Ennerdale but often accessed from Loweswater to the north. The approaches are always wet but the fell itself is usually dry.
NY 132 181
A small fell linked to Crag Hill at the western end of Ennerdale Water. It has good views over to the Irish Sea but is largely blocked off looking west.
NY 085 140
Burnbank Fell sits above the southern, rarely visited shores of Loweswater. It is a short, sharp climb from the west end of the lake with views over to the sea.
NY 109 209
Linked to Fellbarrow, Low Fell is the southern point of an area of land north of Crummock Water and having exceptional views up the Buttermere valley.
NY 137 226
Buckbarrow is a rocky promontory overlooking Wast Water from the north. It is little more than a small rise on the vast slopes of Seatallan.
NY 136 061
Fellbarrow is the highest summit of an area of land in the far north west corner of the Lake District overlooking Cockermouth.
NY 132 242
