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Books on the Lake District

Books - Lake District

Wainwright Guides - Other Guides

Wainwright Guides


A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells: 1: The Eastern Fells, Alfred Wainwright

This is the first volume of the most famous series of guides to the Lake District. It covers the area between Ullswater and Thirlmere, which includes the Helvellyn range. I used this volume to plan an ascent of Helvellyn in 2005, and found nothing of any importance had changed at all.

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A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells: 2: The Far Eastern Fells , Alfred Wainwright

Wainwright's second volume covers the fells that fan out from High Street. These are perhaps the least visited of the main Lakeland fells - I've been alone on top of High Street on a beautiful summers day. I've followed Wainwright's guide to these fells to do the Kentmere round, a great high level walk, without finding any problems.

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A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells: 3: The Central Fells , Alfred Wainwright

This volume is notable for beginning with a fell (Amboth Fell) that Wainwright actually recommends most people don't both climbing! Luckily the area more than makes up for that, containing the Langdale Pikes, one of the best loved parts of the Lake District, as well as the hills on the eastern shore of Derwentwater and Borrowdale.

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A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells: 4: The Southern Fells, Alfred Wainwright

This volume of Wainwright's famous pictorial guides covers the highest land in Lakeland (Scafell Pike and Scafell) and some of the best loved with the Old Man of Coniston and the southern flank of Great Langdale.

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A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells: 5: The Northern Fells, Alfred Wainwright

Volume five of Wainwright's famous Pictorial Guide covers the fells north of Keswick. That includes Skiddaw and Blencathra, as well as a large number of less well known fells in the area north of Skiddaw itself, known as "back O'Skidda".

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A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells: 6: The North Western Fells, Alfred Wainwright

I must admit I'm not all that familiar with the walking in the area this book covers, but like anyone who has visited Keswick I am familiar with its dramatic skyline. This is an area of steep sided mountains and high passes, with Honister the most famous.

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A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells: 7: The Western Fells, Alfred Wainwright

The final volume in Wainwright's Pictorial Guide to the Lakes covers the area I know best. For family holidays around Ennerdale Water, this book was essential. It covers the fells on both sides of Ennerdale, leading up to Great Gable at the head of the valley. It also includes Wainwright's favourite fell, Haystacks.

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Other Guides

Companion Guide to the Lake District, Frank Welsh

An excellent guide to the Lake District, providing useful infomation on the valleys, towns and villages, the history of the area and the attractions to be found in the area. Covers a much wider area than many guides to the Lakes, with good sections on the quiet west coast and the southern peninsulars, as well as the more popular tourist areas. A good companion to the Wainright Guides.

 

 

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