How Many Wainwrights Are There? The Complete Guide to the 214 Fells

The Number That Defines the Fells

When you walk in the Lake District, you quickly notice that people often talk about the landscape in numbers. Whether you are resting by a deep mountain tarn, crossing a wide beck, or standing on a rocky crag looking out over the valleys, you will likely hear fellow walkers discussing their tallies. This naturally leads anyone new to the high ground to ask a straightforward question: exactly how many Wainwrights are there?

The definitive answer is 214.

However, that number represents much more than a simple list of summits. It is the foundation of a walking tradition that shapes how thousands of people explore this corner of the country. Knowing that there are 214 fells to climb provides a lifelong framework for discovering the wide ridges, steep gills, and quiet hauses of the region. It turns a weekend walk into part of a much larger journey.

What Exactly is a Wainwright?

To understand why this specific number matters, it helps to know what a Wainwright actually is. In climbing circles, many mountain lists are defined by strict geographical rules, such as a minimum height or a certain distance from the next peak. A Wainwright is entirely different. It is simply one of the 214 fells that Alfred Wainwright (1907-1991) drew and described in his seven Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells, which were published between 1955 and 1966.

Because the list is based on his personal choice rather than a height rule, it has a character completely its own. Wainwright selected fells that he felt were worthy of a walker's effort. Some are vast, broad-shouldered uplands that require a long day of navigation over high, exposed ground. Others are modest, rocky outcrops rising directly above a village, reached by a short, sharp path through the bracken. You are following in the footsteps of someone who deeply understood the landscape and wanted to map its best routes, viewpoints, and quiet corners.

The Seven Books and Their Fells

The 214 fells are divided across seven books, each covering a distinct geographical area of the Lake District. This division helps walkers focus their trips, often tackling several fells in a single day by walking the connecting ridges.

• Book One, The Eastern Fells (35): This area includes the high, continuous ridges that flank the deep valleys on the eastern side of the national park, offering classic horseshoe walks and dramatic drops down to dark tarns.
• Book Two, The Far Eastern Fells (36): A quieter region of rolling, grassy tops and ancient roman roads, where the paths are often softer underfoot and the horizons stretch far into the distance.
• Book Three, The Central Fells (27): Set in the very centre of the region, these fells often provide the best vantage points for looking outwards to the higher, rougher skylines.
• Book Four, The Southern Fells (30): An area of rugged, complex topography, where walkers must navigate rough rock, deep hauses, and steep, tumbling gills.
• Book Five, The Northern Fells (24): These fells feel distinct from the rest of the park, forming a solid, sprawling massif of heather and slate.
• Book Six, The North Western Fells (29): Walkers here find sharp, appealing ridges that sweep elegantly between deep valleys.
• Book Seven, The Western Fells (33): These are some of the most remote and formidable fells, standing above the deepest lakes and requiring long approaches.

For those wanting to see every single summit categorised by its respective book, you can view the full list of Wainwrights on our directory page.

The Highest and Lowest Wainwrights

The heights of the fells in the guides vary enormously. Scafell Pike is the highest, standing at 3,210 ft in Wainwright's figures. It is the roof of England, a vast expanse of shattered rock and boulder fields where the weather can change in a matter of minutes.

In total, four of the 214 fells stand above the 3,000 ft mark: Scafell Pike, Scafell, Helvellyn, and Skiddaw. These require serious respect, appropriate clothing, and solid navigation skills. Their ascents often involve following a steep gill past a rushing force, or scrambling up a rough crag to reach the summit plateau.

At the opposite end of the scale is Castle Crag in Borrowdale, the lowest of the 214 at just 985 ft. The lack of a minimum height limit is proven perfectly by this fell. Despite its low stature, it is a brilliant viewpoint, standing proudly in the jaws of the valley. This contrast highlights the true nature of the guides: a fell is included for its character and the quality of the walk, not simply because it hits a specific altitude.

Bagging the Wainwrights

Walking all 214 is widely known as completing the round, or "bagging" the Wainwrights. There is no time limit for this pursuit. Many people take years, or even decades, to finish the list, returning for weekend trips and summer holidays, slowly ticking off the summits one by one. The changing seasons mean that a fell walked in the height of summer will feel completely different when climbed in winter snow.

For those who do eventually reach their 214th summit, The Wainwright Society keeps a formal register of completers. If you are interested in starting this long-term project, you can read our detailed guide to Wainwright Bagging: How to Keep Count of the 214.

Where to Start: Five First Wainwrights

With 214 to choose from, deciding which fell to climb first can be difficult. Walkers are often suggested a few specific fells as an ideal starting point. These are typically short climbs that still offer big views, providing maximum reward for a moderate effort:

• Latrigg above Keswick: A firm favourite, offering a steady, winding path and an exceptional view looking straight down over the town and the lake.
• Catbells above Derwentwater: Arguably the most popular starter fell, featuring a handsome, undulating ridge that feels like a true mountain in miniature.
• Loughrigg Fell above Ambleside: Provides a sprawling, multi-topped summit area full of small tarns and rocky outcrops.
• Castle Crag in Borrowdale: Offers a beautifully rugged, short ascent through old slate workings.
• Hallin Fell above Ullswater: Requires only a brief, steep climb from the hause to reveal sweeping views down the full length of the water.

Tracking Your Progress on the Wall

As you start to accumulate summits, keeping track of your progress becomes part of the routine. Many walkers enjoy returning home, pulling off their boots, and updating a map on the wall to mark their latest route. Our Wainwright Maps collection is designed precisely for this purpose.

The collection features several 50 x 70cm map sheets to record your round. "The 214 Wainwrights — Terrain Map Poster" has every summit pinned and numbered in height order, available framed at £129.99 or unframed for £44.99. For those who want to log the specific days they reached the top, "The 214 Wainwrights Map and Checklist" includes a tick box and date line per fell, available unframed at £44.99. We also offer "The 214 Wainwrights — Lakeland Contour Map" and "The 214 Wainwrights — Blueprint Contour Map Poster", both available framed at £129.99 or unframed at £44.99.

Everything is printed to order. It takes 2-5 working days to print your sheet, followed by 3-7 working days for UK delivery. If you choose a framed option, it will arrive with hanging fixings already fitted, ready to go straight on the wall. You can also view our alternative chart layouts in the Wainwright Posters range.