Northern Fells Wainwrights

The Northern Fells stand apart from the rest of the Lakes, a block about ten miles across. The River Derwent marks the west side, the Greta the south and the Caldew the east. Roads run all the way round the area, but none crosses it.

Most of the slopes are smooth and grassy, with few tarns or crags. Skiddaw is slate, which breaks into small flat stones that make the upper paths loose underfoot. The area falls into three parts. Skiddaw and its satellites, Ullock Pike, Long Side, Carl Side and Dodd, fill the south-west. Blencathra is the exception in the south-east, with crags and narrow ridges like Sharp Edge, and Souther Fell, Bannerdale Crags and Bowscale Fell next to it. The north is the Back o'Skiddaw, lower ground with Great Calva, High Pike, Carrock Fell and old mine workings.

Keswick and Threlkeld are the usual bases. The easiest way up Skiddaw starts at the car park behind Latrigg. Dodd Wood on the Bassenthwaite side is the start for Longside Edge. Caldbeck serves the fells on the northern edge. Binsey stands on its own to the north-west, and no Wainwright lies further north.