Western Fells Wainwrights

The Western Fells fill the triangle between Buttermere and Wasdale, with Great Gable at the centre. Honister Pass joins them to the North Western Fells and Sty Head to the Southern Fells. It is rough country, with high ridges and a lot of bare rock.

The fells make a horseshoe around Ennerdale. The southern arm runs west from Gable over Kirk Fell to Pillar. The northern arm follows Buttermere over High Crag, High Stile and Red Pike. The lower Loweswater fells lie beyond them to the north. Black Sail Hut, at the head of Ennerdale, is England's most remote youth hostel.

This is the hardest area in our data. We rate 13 of its 33 fells difficult, more than in any other area. Wasdale Head is the main start, with the car park at the head of Wastwater serving ten fells, though no bus goes into the valley. Gatesgarth at the foot of Honister serves the Buttermere side, and Bowness Knott is the way into Ennerdale.

Haystacks is small next to its neighbours, at 597 m, but it was Wainwright's favourite fell, and his ashes lie there.