The Outlying Fells of Lakeland facts for kids

The Outlying Fells of Lakeland is a special book written by Alfred Wainwright, a famous author known for his guides to the Lake District in England. Unlike his other popular books that focus on single hills (called "fells"), this one describes 56 different walks. Each walk might take you up several hills, not just one! This means it's a bit different from his main list of 214 "Wainwrights" (the most famous fells). But don't worry, these "Outlying Fells" are still very much loved by walkers and are even listed in a special register for hill walkers.

What Hills Are in the Book?

The book takes you on a journey around the Lake District, starting in the southeast near Kendal. It goes clockwise, so you explore different areas as you read through the chapters.

Wainwright's book lists 110 named hills and summits. It's a bit like a puzzle because some of these names refer to the same hill or are part of a bigger hill. For example:

• Cartmel Fell is also known as Ravens Barrow.
• Hollow Moor is the top of Green Quarter Fell.
• Hooker Crag is the highest point of Muncaster Fell.
• Newton Fell actually has two tops: Newton Fell (North) and Newton Fell (South).
• Potter Fell is the name for the whole hill that includes Brunt Knotts and Ulgraves.
• Lord's Seat is the main summit of Whitbarrow.
• Williamson's Monument is another name for High Knott.
• Woodland Fell is a moor where you'll find high points like Yew Bank and Wool Knott.

When you add in 12 other smaller, unnamed tops that Wainwright mentions, the book actually covers 116 different hills!

A newer version of the book came out in 2011, updated by Chris Jesty. It keeps the same style but makes the walking paths clearer by highlighting them in red. It also includes updated information, like new routes if old ones became difficult to use.

Highest and Lowest Hills

It's fun to know which hills are the tallest and which are the shortest in the book!

The three highest hills listed by Wainwright are:

• Walna Scar (about 620 meters or 2,035 feet tall)
• Black Combe (about 600 meters or 1,970 feet tall)
• Great Yarlside (about 591 meters or 1,986 feet tall)

The lowest hills are:

• Humphrey Head (only about 53 meters or 172 feet tall!). Wainwright himself said it's "certainly not a fell" because it's so small!
• Cartmel Fell/Raven's Barrow (about 152 meters or 500 feet tall)
• Newton Fell South (about 177 meters or 585 feet tall)

Map of the Outlying Fells

This map shows you where each of the 56 walks in Wainwright's book is located. The number next to each spot tells you the page number for that walk in the book. The color of the dot shows you how high the hill is:

Images for kids

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  Beacon Fell, looking across Beacon Tarn.