Collection · 30 fells
Walking the Southern Fells
The Wainwright and Outlying fells we group as the Southern area of the Lake District — each with its height, a typical round time, the bus where there’s one, and today’s predicted conditions. Grouped by our own area tag (a practical guide, not a fixed authored canon). Check the live conditions and the mountain forecast before the tops.
30
fells
from 2 hr
shortest day
0
dog-friendly
7 of these are rated good to climb on 11 September — see live conditions →
A prediction from our daily fell score (clear summits, wind, rain, visibility), not a guarantee — always check the mountain forecast before you go.
Map
● fells within ~5 km
An interactive map of the route start points and the fells within about 5 km. Each marker links to its page; the same routes and fells are listed below.
- Scafell Pike978 m~5.5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 39Summit likely clagged inEngland's highest mountain, Scafell Pike stands at 978m (3,209ft) and is the supreme objective for every Lakeland walker.
- Scafell964 m~5.5 hMarginal · 39Summit likely clagged inThough 14m lower than its neighbour, Scafell at 964m (3,163ft) is in many respects the grander fell.
- Great End910 m~5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inGreat End at 910m (2,985ft) is the northern fortress of the Scafell massif, its great crags plunging dramatically into upper Borrowdale and forming one of the most imposing cliff faces in Lakeland.
- Bowfell903 m~5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 39Summit likely clagged inBowfell at 902m (2,959ft) was one of Wainwright's great favourites — he described it as 'a mountaineer's mountain, as satisfying in detail as in general outline.' The summit is a magnificent rocky pyramid visible from much of southern Lakeland, and the views from the top encompass the full sweep of the Southern Fells, the Coniston group, the Langdale Pikes and — on a clear day — the sea to the south.
- Esk Pike885 m~5.5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inEsk Pike at 885m (2,904ft) stands at the crossroads of the high Lakeland passes, above Esk Hause where the main routes to Scafell Pike, Bowfell and Great Gable all converge.
- Crinkle Crags - Long Top (Second Crinkle)859 m~5.5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 38Summit likely clagged inLong Top at 838m (2,749ft) is the highest point of the Crinkle Crags ridge — the first and tallest of the five crinkles when approached from the south.
- Lingmell807 m~4.5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inLingmell at 807m (2,648ft) stands sentinel above Wasdale Head, a broad grassy dome that Wainwright described as providing one of the finest close-up views of Scafell Pike — the great crags of Pikes Crag and the Corridor Route are seen to dramatic effect from its summit.
Swirl How802 m~3.5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 35Poor visibility — nav riskSwirl How at 802m (2,631ft) is the central hub of the Coniston Fells, from whose summit the ridges radiate like spokes to the Old Man, Wetherlam, Grey Friar and Great Carrs.
The Old Man of Coniston (Coniston Old Man)802 m~3.5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inThe Old Man of Coniston at 803m (2,635ft) stands guardian over the Coniston valley, its summit the finest viewpoint on the Coniston fells and one of the most popular destinations in southern Lakeland.
Brim Fell796 m~3.5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inBrim Fell at 796m (2,611ft) is the intermediate summit between the Old Man of Coniston and Swirl How on the main Coniston ridge, a broad, grassy top that most walkers cross without pausing.
Great Carrs785 m~3.5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 35Poor visibility — nav riskGreat Carrs at 785m (2,575ft) is a Wainwright summit in the Southern Fells, forming the rocky northern arm of the Swirl How ridge above Wrynose Pass.- Allen Crags785 m~5.5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inAllen Crags at 785m (2,575ft) is one of Lakeland's most overlooked summits, sitting quietly above Esk Hause between the busy paths to Glaramara and Great End.
- Glaramara783 m~5 hMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inGlaramara at 783m (2,569ft) is the great ridge fell of upper Borrowdale, a long, complex summit with multiple rocky tops and a character quite unlike its smoother neighbours.
Dow Crag778 m~3.5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inDow Crag at 778m (2,552ft) is one of the great rock climbing crags of the Lake District, its eastern face dropping in a series of buttresses and gullies to the dark waters of Goat's Water below.
Grey Friar773 m~3.5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inGrey Friar at 773m (2,536ft) is the most westerly of the main Coniston Fells, a broad, grassy dome that Wainwright described as giving the best views of any of the group — particularly westward to the Scafell massif across the Duddon valley, and south-west to the coast and the sea.
Wetherlam763 m~3.5 h🚌 BusDecent · 63Dry, firm underfootWetherlam at 762m (2,500ft) is the eastern buttress of the Coniston Fells, a broad, craggy summit that Wainwright described as giving some of the best views of the Helvellyn range of any southern fell.- Slight Side762 m~5.5 hMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inSlight Side at 762m (2,500ft) forms the south-western shoulder of Scafell, a long, grassy ridge that extends the fell's bulk towards the Eskdale valley.
- Pike of Blisco703 m~3 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inPike of Blisco at 705m (2,313ft) is a shapely, rocky little summit above the head of Great Langdale, beloved by Wainwright for its excellent views and its distinctive, pointed profile when seen from the valley.
- Cold Pike700 m~3 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inCold Pike at 701m (2,300ft) is a rocky little summit on the ridge between Pike of Blisco and Crinkle Crags, its three small tops each providing slightly different views.
- Harter Fell (Eskdale)653 m~3 hDecent · 63Dry, firm underfootHarter Fell at 654m (2,146ft) in Eskdale is a shapely, rocky summit above Boot, quite distinct in character from the Mardale fell of the same name.
- Rossett Pike651 m~3 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inThe south top of Rossett Pike at 612m (2,008ft) is a rocky point on the ridge south of the main Rossett Pike summit, giving additional views down the Mickleden valley in Great Langdale.
Illgill Head609 m~4 hMarginal · 53DryIllgill Head at 609m (1,998ft) is the highest point of the famous Wastwater Screes — one of the most dramatic and photographed features in the Lake District.- Seathwaite Fell (Wainwright summit)601 m~2.5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inThe AA cairn of Seathwaite Fell at 550m (1,804ft) is the highest point on the western edge of the Seathwaite Fell plateau above Borrowdale, marked by the Automobile Association triangulation pillar.
- Rosthwaite Fell - Bessyboot551 m~2.5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inBessyboot at 551m (1,808ft) is the distinctive rocky summit of Rosthwaite Fell in the Central Fells above Stonethwaite and Borrowdale.
- Hard Knott550 m~2.5 hMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inHard Knott at 549m (1,801ft) stands above the infamous Hardknott Pass, its rocky summit giving superb views down to the Roman fort of Mediobogdum directly below — one of the most evocative historical viewpoints in the Lake District.
- Whin Rigg (Wasdale)537 m~4 hDecent · 70DryWhin Rigg at 535m (1,755ft) is the southern end of the Wastwater Screes ridge, its summit giving outstanding views of Wastwater and south to the Cumbrian coast.
- Green Crag489 m~2.5 hDecent · 66Dry, firm underfootGreen Crag at 489m (1,604ft) is a delightful rocky summit above the Ulpha Fells in Dunnerdale, its small crags and bilberry-covered knolls quite different in character from the high fells to the north.
- Lingmoor Fell (Brown How)470 m~2.5 h🚌 BusDecent · 70Dry, firm underfootLingmoor Fell at 469m (1,539ft) is a heathery ridge between Great Langdale and Little Langdale, its summit giving one of the finest aerial views of Great Langdale available from any low fell.
Black Fell323 m~2 h🚌 BusCracking · 75Dry, firm underfootBlack Fell at 323m (1,060ft) is a small, heathery summit above Tarn Hows, its top giving fine views of this most popular of Lakeland beauty spots.
Holme Fell316 m~2 h🚌 BusCracking · 76Dry, firm underfootHolme Fell at 317m (1,040ft) is a delightful, craggy little summit above Yewdale near Coniston, its rocky outcrops of Uskdale Gap and Ivy Crag providing surprisingly varied and interesting walking for such a modest height.
Nothing matches those filters — .