Lake District · Fell-bagging guide

The 214 Wainwrights

There are 214 Wainwrights — the Lake District fells catalogued by Alfred Wainwright in his seven-volume Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells (1955–1966).

214
Wainwright fells
7
Areas, one per book
978m
Highest — Scafell Pike
298m
Smallest — Castle Crag
What counts Narrow it down By area FAQ

What counts as a Wainwright?

A Wainwright is one of the 214 fells that Alfred Wainwright gave its own chapter in his seven Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells. Walking to the top of every one is known as Wainwright bagging. The list is fixed — it follows the historical books, so unlike the Munros it does not change when a summit is re-surveyed.

Heights

All 214 clear 1,000ft except one — Castle Crag in Borrowdale (298m / 978ft), the smallest Wainwright. The highest is Scafell Pike (978m / 3,209ft), also England's highest mountain.

Is it 214 or 240?

It's 214. The "240" mix-up comes from adding Wainwright's separate 1974 supplement, The Outlying Fells of Lakeland — a different list of 116 Outlying Fells. The core round people bag is the 214 below.

Narrow it down

Filter the 214 by area and difficulty, search for a fell by name, and sort the list to plan your next walk.

Area tap to select — none = all
Difficulty band height-derived — see note
Showing 214 of 214 fells

The difficulty band is a rough guide based on height, not on walking difficulty. It comes from each summit's elevation, not the route. A short, steep or trackless fell (Catbells, Hallin Fell) can be a harder day than a tall, well-pathed one — always check a proper route guide and the weather before you set off.

Looking for easy fells near a base? See walks near Keswick, Ambleside, Glenridding and Coniston.

The 214 Wainwrights by area

Wainwright split Lakeland into seven areas, one per book. Tap an area to expand it. Heights show metres and feet; the badge is the height-based difficulty band.

Wainwrights — frequently asked questions

How many Wainwrights are there?

There are 214 Wainwrights — the Lake District fells catalogued by Alfred Wainwright in his seven-volume Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells (1955–1966). The list is fixed: it is based on the historical books and does not change when heights are re-surveyed.

What are the 240 Wainwrights?

There is no list of 240 Wainwrights — it is a common mix-up. The core list people bag is 214 fells. Separately, Wainwright's 1974 supplement The Outlying Fells of Lakeland adds another 116 lower fells, sometimes called the Wainwright Outlying Fells. The 214 and the 116 Outlyers are two different lists — which is where the confused "240" figure comes from.

What is the highest Wainwright?

Scafell Pike in the Southern Fells is the highest Wainwright at 978m (3,209ft). It is also the highest mountain in England.

What is the smallest Wainwright?

Castle Crag in Borrowdale is the smallest Wainwright at 298m (978ft). It is the only Wainwright under 1,000ft — every other fell on the list clears that mark.

Which is the easiest Wainwright?

For a short, family-friendly summit, Latrigg above Keswick, Loughrigg Fell near Ambleside and Catbells on Derwentwater are among the easiest to reach. Use the difficulty filter to surface the lowest fells — but remember the band is based on height, not on how hard the walk actually is.

Which is the hardest Wainwright?

There is no single answer, because height is not the same as difficulty. The remote Western and Far Eastern fells — such as Pillar, Steeple, Haycock or the High Street back-tops — involve long approaches over rough ground, while scrambles like Sharp Edge on Blencathra are short but serious. A tall, well-pathed summit can be an easier day than a short, trackless one.

What is a Wainwright?

A Wainwright is one of the 214 Lake District fells given its own chapter in Alfred Wainwright's seven Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells. Walking to the summit of all 214 is known as Wainwright bagging.

How many Wainwrights can you do in a day?

On a good ridge you can link several in a day — the Fairfield Horseshoe, the Mosedale Horseshoe or the Coledale Round each take in five to nine summits. Strong fell-runners have completed continuous rounds of all 214, but for most walkers the 214 is a project spread over many trips rather than a single push.