Central Fells Wainwrights

The Central Fells are the only area ringed by other fells on every side. The Vale of Keswick is to the north and Borrowdale to the west. Thirlmere, St John's in the Vale and the Grasmere valley run down the east, and Great Langdale closes off the south. On a map the area is shaped like a boot.

Most of it is lower than the fells around it. The long middle ridge has flat, peaty tops and some of the biggest upland bogs in the district, and the walking from High Seat to Ullscarf is quiet. The busy fells are at the two ends. Walla Crag is a short climb from Great Wood outside Keswick. At the southern end, the Langdale Pikes stand over Great Langdale.

New Dungeon Ghyll is the start for eight of the 27 fells in our data, the Langdale Pikes among them. The path up beside Stickle Ghyll leads to Stickle Tarn, under the crags of Pavey Ark and Harrison Stickle, and the 516 bus from Ambleside stops at the hotel. Grasmere is the other main base, for Helm Crag and the fells around Easedale.