A Beginners Guide to the Wainwrights
One of the main reasons why people visit the Lake District is to experience all that the Wainwright Fells have to offer. Published back in the 1950s by Alfred Wainwright, these amazing walks are a great introduction to the region.
Cottages for a Walking Holiday
Many of our cottages are based in the best locations to bag those fells, all our Lake District cottages are well equipped making it easy to relax after a long day on the fells reliving your adventures.
Some people make a lifetime’s devotion to walking the 214 routes outlined in 7 guides – a pursuit that is lovingly called Wainwright bagging. Here we look at who Wainwright was and explore his legacy and why, even today, thousands of people each year pick up one of his guides and go on a hike across the dramatic countryside.
Born in Blackburn in 1907, Alfred Wainwright came from a poor background but was always a keen hiker from very early on. Working as an accountant, he first visited the Lake District when he was in his early 20s and fell immediately in love with the region.
He started writing his first book after moving to the Lake District and, over the next 13 years, completed 7 pictorial guides for hundreds of different walks.
What is a Wainwright?
It’s essentially any hill or walks mentioned in one of Wainwright’s seven volumes and they vary from the lowly Castle Cragg to the more challenging Scafell Pike.
Wainwright bagging has become a popular global term for working your way through all the walks and ticking them off your list. It’s not a competition but the current world record for completing all 214 peaks in the guides is just under 6 days and is held by British fell runner Sabrina Verjee.
Most people aren’t fit enough to manage the 318 miles and 36,000 metres of climbing needed to complete all the hikes in such a short time, but many will visit the Lake District each year to complete one or two routes.
Bagging a Wainwright
Whether you’re planning to do them all or just want to try out a few, it’s always best to be prepared. Some of the routes are relatively easy but others certainly require you to have the right equipment and a decent level of fitness. If you are inexperienced, it’s best to start with some of the lower routes and then build up gradually.
Always make sure you have the appropriate clothing including waterproofs and proper walking boots. While it’s famed for its natural beauty, the weather in the Lake Districts can be pretty changeable, even during the summer months.
Scafell Pike is the tallest mountain in England and rises to a height of nearly 1,000 metres with stunning views of the surrounding countryside. It takes around 4 hours to climb for a reasonably fit person and depending on the route you take. It’s one of the most popular walks in the Lake District and is usually busy all through the year.
If you fancy something easier, Latrigg in Keswick or Loughrigg Fell, and Coniston Old Man are the perfect starter Wainwrights and take just a few hours to traverse.
Whatever your hiking experiences, every single one of Wainwright’s walks has something new and amazing to experience. Even more than 60 years on since his last book was published, it’s still the go-to guide for anyone visiting the Lake District.
