- Western Fells
The Western Fells are a group of hills in the English
Lake District . Centred onGreat Gable they occupy a triangular area betweenButtermere andWasdale . The Western Fells are characterised by high ridges and an abundance of naked rock.Partition of the Lakeland Fells
The Lake District is a
National Park in the north west of the country which, in addition to itslake s, contains a complex range of hills. These are known locally asfells and range from low hills to the highest ground in England. Hundreds of tops exist and many writers have attempted to draw up definitive lists. In doing so the compilers frequently divide the range into smaller areas to aid their description.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, [ [http://www.wainwright.org.uk/events/2007/centenary.html : The Wainwright Society - The Alfred Wainwright Centenary 2007] ] being in print continuously since the first volume was published in 1952. Wainwright divided the fells into seven geographical areas, each surrounded by valleys and low passes. While any such division must be arbitrary-and later writers have deviated to a greater or lesser extent from this blueprint-Birkett, Bill: Complete Lakeland Fells: Collins Willow (1994) ISBN 0-00-218406-0] Richards, Mark: Lakeland Fellranger series: Collins (2002)ff: Mid-Western Fells ISBN 0-00-711368-4] Wainwright's sevenfold division remains the best known partitioning of the fells into 'sub ranges', each with its own characteristics. The Western Fells are one of these divisions, covered by volume 7 of Wainwright's work.Alfred Wainwright : "A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells ", Book 7: ISBN 0-7112-2460-9]Boundaries
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 at the extremity of the major lakes, and the more distant boundary of the National Park. The few hills thus excluded were covered later in his supplementary volume, The Outlying Fells of Lakeland (1974). The inner boundary is by contrast well-defined. The
River Cocker runs along the north eastern edge and Wasdale to the south east. In the acute angle where these valleys converge, border duties are taken up by headwaters ofBorrowdale , closing the gap betweenHonister Pass and Sty Head. Honister connects to theNorth Western Fells and Sty Head to the Southern.Topography
The Western Fells form the southern wall of the Buttermere valley and the northern fence of Wasdale. Between the two lies
Ennerdale so that in effect the group is the shape of a singlehorseshoe , each branch about 10 miles in length.At the head of Ennerdale stands
Great Gable , the highest of the Western Fells at 2,949 ft. More commonly thought of as a Wasdale Fell, its profile from that valley gives it its name. The southern arc of the group travels due west from Great Gable, the main ridge consisting ofKirk Fell , Pillar (named for its great out-thrust of rock),Scoat Fell , Haycock andCaw Fell . A number of outliers line the side valleys of Wasdale, namelyYewbarrow ,Red Pike (Wasdale) ,Seatallan ,Middle Fell andBuckbarrow . Beyond Caw Fell is the lower Lank Rigg group, consisting ofLank Rigg ,Crag Fell and Grike.The northern arc begins with Great Gable's lesser sibling,
Green Gable , andBrandreth , before turning north west above the shore of Buttermere. First comes Haystacks, Wainwright's favourite fell and the resting place of his ashes. [ [http://travel.independent.co.uk/uk/article2172992.ece Wainwright's Way: Coast To Coast - UK, Travel - Independent.co.uk ] ] Next areHigh Crag ,High Stile andRed Pike (Buttermere) , the three fells of Buttermere Edge. These are connected by narrow soaring ridges and shelter dark coombes from the sunlight. The wild and rocky character of the range then gradually diminishes withStarling Dodd andGreat Borne , before crossing the pedestrian Floutern Pass to the Loweswater Fells. These areMellbreak , brooding darkly aboveCrummock Water ,Hen Comb ,Gavel Fell ,Blake Fell andBurnbank Fell . The final extremity of the northern arc curves around the head ofLoweswater to Low Fell andFellbarrow . The satellites of the main ridge,Base Brown ,Grey Knotts andFleetwith Pike , centre upon Brandreth.Access for walkers
Ennerdale almost bisects the Western Fells, but access for cars barely penetrates the valley. At its head however is Black Sail Hut, England's most remote
Youth Hostel . Great Gable and its neighbours can be reached from Wasdale Head, Seathwaite (Borrowdale), Honister Pass or Gatesgarth (Buttermere). Access to the northern arc is continuous along the Buttermere valley although the southern arc is more remote, particularly as the ridge gradually moves away from Wasdale.ee also
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Eastern Fells
*Far Eastern Fells
*Central Fells
*Southern Fells
*Northern Fells
*North Western Fells References
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