Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells

Written over a period of 13 years from 1952, they consist entirely of reproductions of Wainwright's manuscript, hand-produced in pen and ink with no typeset material.

[5] The first five books were originally published by Wainwright's friend, Henry Marshall, Chief Librarian of Kendal and Westmorland, who took charge of publicity and administration.

[6] When they ceased publication in 2003,[7] the rights were bought by Frances Lincoln[8] who shortly afterwards embarked on a revised Second Edition of the guides.

Carefully annotated pen and ink drawings of ascents and views accompany the details of each fell.

Between 2005 and 2009, the series was factually revised by the publishers Frances Lincoln, to adjust the content to the present-day Lake District.

Chris Jesty undertook the revisions, using an imitation of Wainwright's hand lettering to make the alterations look as unobtrusive as possible.

The 2005 anniversary cover of The Eastern Fells . Apart from the bottom banner, the design has not changed since first publication.
A typical page from The Southern Fells , describing an ascent of Pike of Blisco . The diagrams of ascent are perhaps the most innovative feature of the Pictorial Guides.