Wainwright Pictorial Guides To The Lakeland Fells

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This is not intended to be a full statement of all your rights under the Distance Selling Regulations. Full details of your rights under the Distance Selling Regulations are available in the UK from your local Citizens' Advice Bureau or your Local Authority's Trading Standards Office. The three pictures above were kindly provided by Chris Butterfield of ‘Alfred Wainwright Books & Memorabilia’.

Book Two — The Far Eastern Fells, published by Henry Marshall in 1957 (dustwrapper priced 12/6, grey cloth boards with red lettering) A 50th anniversary edition and a box set of the original edition have been published. Leather bound versions can be found secondhand. The 214 fells included in the series are now generally known as 'the Wainwrights'. These range in height from 985 feet ( Castle Crag) to 3210 feet ( Scafell Pike). Completing all the Wainwrights is a popular peak bagging challenge. The Wainwrights differ from other bagging lists such as the Munros and Marilyns, however, in that Wainwright never set out to compile such a list himself, and inclusion is not based on objective criteria such as elevation or prominence. Book Three — The Central Fells, published by Henry Marshall in 1958 (dustwrapper priced 12/6, light blue cloth boards with silver lettering)

Each of the fells covered by the guides has its own chapter, which normally includes a map of the fell, comprehensive details and 3-dimensional drawings of ascent routes, ridge routes to other fells, routes of descent and a description of the summit. Carefully annotated pen and ink drawings of ascents and views accompany the details of each fell. Each book starts with a description of the geography of the area and ends with Some personal notes in conclusion. Unlike many authors who dedicate books to particular people known to them, Wainwright commences each book with an unusual dedication. These are: From 2014, a third edition of the guides, known as the ‘Walkers Edition’, were revised by Clive Hutchby. Book One: The Eastern Fells, was published in March 2015. Book Two: The Far Eastern Fells, was published in October 2015. Book Three: The Central Fells, was published in March 2016. Book Four: The Southern Fells, was published in March 2017. Book Five: The Northern Fells, was published in March 2018. Book Six (The North Western Fells) and Book Seven (The Western Fells), were published in 2019 and 2020 respectively. A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells’ is a series of seven books by Alfred Wainwright, detailing the fells (the local word for hills and mountains) of the Lake District in northwest England. 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. The series has been in print almost continuously since it was first published between 1955 and 1966, with more than 2 million copies sold. It is still regarded by many walkers as the definitive guide to the Cumbrian Mountains. The 214 fells described in the seven volumes have become known as the Wainwrights. The Central Fells of the Lake District include treasures such as the ever-popular Langdale Pikes, the supremely lovely foothills overlooking Borrowdale and the 'silent forests and gaunt crags' above the dark waters of Thirlmere. For walkers heading in this direction, and lovers of the Lakeland fells, this is the guide to take.The Lake District’s most famous fell-walker was Alfred Wainwright, the accountant-turned-writer whose seven-volume Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, published between 1955 and 1966, remains the guide of choice for most fell-walkers. In it Wainwright painstakingly documents 214 ‘official’ peaks, meaning any mountain over 1000 feet (304m) – the only exception being Castle Crag, which comes in a tad shorter at 950 feet (300m). In the notes at the end of Book 7, Wainwright lists what he considers to be the 'finest half-dozen' fells in Lakeland. His list consists of:

Goods that by reason of their nature, cannot be returned - (Items such as underwear, where the 'hygiene patch' has been removed, or cosmetics where the seal has been broken). As of 2014 [update] a third edition of the guides, known as the Walkers Edition, is being prepared by Clive Hutchby. [10] Book One: The Eastern Fells was published in March 2015; Book Two: The Far Eastern Fells was published in October 2015. Book Three: The Central Fells, was published in March 2016. Books Four, Five, Six and Seven will follow in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2019 respectively. [ citation needed] Wainwright bagging [ edit ] Book Six — The North Western Fells, published by Westmorland Gazette in 1964 (dustwrapper priced 12/6, yellow cloth boards with dark blue lettering) Book Seven — The Western Fells, published by Westmorland Gazette in 1966 (dustwrapper priced 15/-, green boards with silver lettering) 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 most notable changes are that the covers of the revised books show photographs of the Lake District by Derry Brabbs, rather than the drawings that were on the covers of the originals, and the maps show the main paths in red.The Eastern Fells includes the greatest single concentrated mass of high ground in Lakeland: a tremendous barrier running north and south, high and steep all along its length, rising to above 3000 feet on Helvellyn – the most-often climbed mountain in the Lake District. Popular resorts such as Ambleside and Grasmere lie in this sector of the fells, as does the beautiful Patterdale valley (the best base, in Wainwright's view, for exploring the area) 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 most notable changes are that the covers of the revised books show photographs of the Lake District by Derry Brabbs, rather than the drawings that were on the covers of the originals, and the maps show the main paths in red.

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. Another friend, Sandy Hewitson (of Bateman and Hewitson Ltd) agreed to print the books using Wainwright's original manuscript, although in fact the printing was done by The Westmorland Gazette in Kendal, who had taken over Bateman and Hewitson Ltd. From 1963, Westmorland Gazette also became the publisher, and their name appears as such on the first impressions of Books Six and Seven. The books, together with details of the first impressions, are: In 1992, a year after Wainwright's death, Michael Joseph took control of all of Wainwright's books, including the Pictorial Guides, a change of which Wainwright himself was in favour. [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. The Southern Fells include the highest, roughest, grandest fells in Lakeland including the highest mountain in England, Scafell Pike. Wainwright – a fell-walking legend in his own lifetime – knew the terrain and conveyed its grandeur and beauty like nobody else. In this unique Pictorial Guide, he writes of the glorious curves and simple grandeur of Great Langdale; of Wasdale, 'an emerald amongst sombre hills'; of enchanting Borrowdale; of the sparkling radiance of the Duddon; and of the most delectable valley of all – Eskdale, 'sanctuary of peace and solitude'. The 2005 anniversary cover of The Eastern Fells. Apart from the bottom banner, the design has not changed since first publication.

Don't Miss

As part of Car-Free Cumbria day 2021, we've got a couple of great walks for you following in the footsteps of the great walker Alfred Wainwright, who was well known for his guides to the Lakeland fells, but did you know that he also travelled mainly by public transport whilst compiling them?