Western Fells

The most influential of all such authors was Alfred Wainwright whose Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells series has sold in excess of 2 million copies,[1] being in print continuously since the first volume was published in 1952.

[4] The Western Fells rise gradually from the Cumbrian coastal plain, Wainwright excluding some of the lower specimens nearest the sea.

He drew a complex and arbitrary dividing line part way between his intended border[4] at the extremity of the major lakes, and the more distant boundary of the National Park.

In the acute angle where these valleys converge, border duties are taken up by headwaters of Borrowdale, closing the gap between Honister Pass and Sty Head.

Between the two lies Ennerdale so that in effect the group is the shape of a single horseshoe, each branch about 10 miles (16 km) in length.

The wild and rocky character of the range then gradually diminishes with Starling Dodd and Great Borne, before crossing the pedestrian Floutern Pass to the Loweswater Fells.

The satellites of the main ridge, Base Brown, Grey Knotts and Fleetwith Pike, centre upon Brandreth.