Furness Fells facts for kids
The Furness Fells are a group of hills and mountains found in the Furness area of Cumbria, England. This region was historically part of Lancashire. The Furness Fells, also known as High Furness, refers to the higher, more mountainous part of Furness. This area lies north of a line connecting the towns of Ulverston and Ireleth. Most of these hills are located within the beautiful Lake District National Park.
Sometimes, people use "Furness Fells" to mean the same thing as "Coniston Fells." This might be because some maps label them that way. However, the Coniston Fells are actually just one part of the larger Furness Fells. The Coniston Fells include all the highest mountains in the area. Other fells (a local word for hills or mountains) in Furness are not as tall. The Coniston Fells are also considered part of the Southern Fells of the Lake District, as described by the famous fell-walker Alfred Wainwright.
Exploring the Coniston Fells
The Coniston Fells are separated from the much larger Scafell and Bowfell mountains to their north by a mountain pass called Wrynose Pass. On all other sides, they are surrounded by lower ground. Coniston Old Man is the tallest mountain in this group. It is also the most southerly "Hewitt" in the Lake District. A Hewitt is a hill that is at least 2,000 feet (about 610 meters) high and stands out by at least 30 meters from surrounding land.
You can climb the peaks of the Coniston Fells from many different starting points. Popular places include the village of Coniston at the base of the fells. You can also start from Seathwaite in the Duddon Valley or from Wrynose Pass.
Lakes and Tarns of the Coniston Fells
The Coniston Fells are home to several beautiful bodies of water. Seathwaite Tarn, located above the Duddon Valley, is the third-largest tarn (a small mountain lake) in the Lake District. Other tarns found in the Coniston Fells group include Levers Water, Low Water, Goat's Water, and Blind Tarn. These add to the stunning scenery of the area.
Famous Peaks of the Coniston Fells
Here are some of the main summits in the Coniston Fells, listed with their heights:
- Coniston Old Man, 803 meters (2,635 feet)
- Swirl How, 802 meters (2,631 feet)
- Dow Crag, 778 meters (2,552 feet)
- Grey Friar, 773 meters (2,536 feet)
- Wetherlam, 763 meters (2,503 feet)
- Black Sails, 745 meters (2,444 feet)
- Great Intake, 489 meters (1,604 feet)
All these summits are considered separate peaks because they rise more than 30 meters (about 98 feet) above the land around them. Alfred Wainwright, who wrote famous guidebooks about the Lake District, also included three more tops in his descriptions: Great Carrs, Brim Fell, and Walna Scar. He also mentioned White Maiden and White Pike. South of White Pike, the land drops quite a bit before rising again to form the Dunnerdale Fells. These fells are part of the Furness Fells but are usually seen as distinct from the Coniston Fells.
