How to “cheat” your way to these Wainwright Summits
Easy “cheat” Wainwrights for all abilities
Within the Lake District National Park there are 214 Wainwrights. Each Wainwright is a fell or mountain which features in one of Aldred Wainwright’s 7 Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells. And for a growing number of hill-walking enthusiasts, bagging each and every one of these 2014 summits is a challenge to take on and see through to completion.
So if you’re thinking about embarking on the Wainwright challenge, or perhaps just seeking a taster while on your Lake District holiday, you’ll be interested to know that attaining some summits are far easier than others.
Some Wainwright summits can only be reach by miles of trekking into remote corners of the Lake District before embarking on a punishing climb to a lofty, lonely summit. While some, on the other hand, can be reached very easily with our Wainwright’s cheat’s guide.
Remember, the views from the summit are the same, however you get there!
Latrigg from Skiddaw Car Park – 1 km – 22 minutes
This really is the ultimate Wainwright ‘cheat’. A simple stroll with minimal incline means this summit is even wheelchair and pushchair friendly. And your rewards for ambling the gentle incline from car park to summit are wonderful views of Keswick, Derwent Water, Cat Bells and the lofty fells beyond.
To cheat your way to this Wainwright, head to Skiddaw Car Park at Underskiddaw, near Keswick, What3Words ///visitor.whisker.partner
From the head of the parking area head south and leave through the gate, turn left on the clear path which soon begins to curve to the right as it sweeps around the domed hill before curving its way on to the summit. Enjoy the far-reaching views from the top before retracing your steps back to your car.
Cheat factor 5/5
Fleetwith Pike from Honister Slate Mine – 2.4km – 1 hour 10 mins
This is definitely a “cheat” but still requires a fair amount of uphill walking. However a starting point of around 350m above sea level at the top of Honister Pass, plus utilising the gradual and well-maintained mine roads frequently used by mining vehicles, make this is a relatively simple walk to one of the Lake District’s most iconic and recognisable mountain summits. And with stunning views down to Buttermere from the top, this is one summit selfie opportunity not to be missed.
Honister Mine Car Park on the Honister Pass road between Borrowdale and Buttermere offers paid parking to visitors to the mine as well as walkers.
From the car park head up the wide mountain road to the right of the mine buildings used by the heavy mining vehicles. After 0.2 miles take the left fork to continue uphill.
After a series of zig-zags the track splits again, keep left to continue on the main track. After around 20 minutes, or 0.7 miles, from leaving the car park, and just before you reach a large area of slate spoils, take a footpath leaving the track on your right in a north-easterly direction. The path passes to the right of the spoils heading towards the ridge of Fleetwith Pike. The path undulates as it swings left to head northwest along the ridge. The summit is marked with a stone cairn and, as you approach, the spectacular sight of Buttermere and Crummock Water below you emerges. A truly classic Lake District view – enjoy it – you’ve earned it (sort of)!
Cheat factor 3/5
Hallin Fell from St Martin’s Church, Martindale – 0.8km – 30 minutes
From the parking area at St Martin’s Church on the eastern side of Ullswater, this is a simple climb from over 200m above sea level to the top of Hallin Fell at 388m, requiring a manageable and short climb of just over 150 meters. After around a mere 25 minute walk from the church, the views from Hallin Fell are tremendous. For minimum input you get maximum output, with a stunning vista of Ullswater and the imposing mountains, including Helvellyn and St Sunday Crag beyond. From the church, head north along the obvious path up the grassy slopes of Hallin Fell. A large cairn on a rocky outcrop marks the summit .
Cheat factor 4/5
(Parking is limited at Martindale and the access road is a narrow, single lane road from the north end of Ullswater. A better option during busy times is to take the Ullswater Steamer to How Town and walk to Hallin Fell from there. However, this does negate the “cheat factor” as it necessitates a climb from Ullswater lake shore. Due to Hallin Fell’s modest height however, this is still a family-friendly walk, and the climb is well worth it for the incredible views you are rewarded with at the top.
Cheat factor from How Town 0/5)
Hard Knott from Hard Knott Pass – 1.35km – 40mins
The highest point of Hard Knott Pass reaches 393 meters, leaving only around 157meter of ascent left to climb to reach the Wainwright summit of Hard Knott.
There’s a parking area just below the crest of Hard Knott pass summit on the east, Wrynose side. Take the path directly behind it which skirts to the right hand side of Raven Crag with Hardknott Gill to your right. The initial climb is steep but the gradient begins to ease as you ascend the gully.
Keep to the left of the wide boggy area. Ignore the stepping stones to the right and continue to a small grassy knott at the head of the gill.
Bear right around the front of the knott and pick up a better path ahead.
Keep on the path through the knotts, now heading generally northeast. You soon head for an outcrop directly in the way, the path bears right at the bottom and climbs easily. Cross the next boggy patch, and you will see the summit cairn almost directly ahead sat on the highest point.
The path leads you to the left of the summit. Bear right just before the ground starts descending and right again to reach the summit cairn of Hard Knott from behind.
Cheat factor 3/5
Stony Cove Pike from Kirkstone Pass – 3.25km – 1hour 30mins
After ascending to 454m above sea level on the Kirkstone Pass road, you’re already well on your way to the summit of Stony Cove Pike.
At 763m or 2503 feet, Stony Cove Pike is firmly in the category of one of the higher fells. But, as the walks starts at the highest point of the Kirkstone Pass, 454m (or 1489 feet), some of the hard work has been done by your motorised form of transport.
Immediately north of the Kirkstone Pass Inn, a signposted footpath heads east through a gate onto the boulder strewn fellside.
There is some minor scrambling required to reach the top of St Ravens Edge.
As the path starts to flatten and become more grassy, it passes to the right of a large cairn. About 5 metres past this there is the start of a tumbled down wall. Cross over the tumbled down wall here and start to head slowly down following the path to the right of the wall, which now can be seen stretching out ahead.
It’s now a simple matter of following the wall all the way to Stony Cove Pike summit.
Return via the same route.
Cheat factor 2/5
Grisedale Pike from Whinlatter Forest Visitors Centre – 2.2km – 1 hour 30mins
With ample parking at Whinlatter Forest, easy to follow forest tracks then a straight-forward and steady climb to the summit, this walk does still require a basic level of fitness but the phenomenal views enroute and from the top make it a worthy addition to our cheat’s list.
From the Revelin Moss Car Park, near the Whinlatter Visitor Centre, head out of the parking area to the south – next to a barrier a path descends to cross the Sanderson Gill before picking up a forest road.
Continue in a south westerly direction on the track through the forest as it gradually climbs uphill. Ignore another track that branches off on your right and continue uphill south west. Around 0.3 miles from the parking area, a footpath branches off from the road through the trees on your left, and quickly leads to a gate to open fellside.
Follow the footpath along the tree line on your right as it makes its way, more steeply now, uphill. Before long, the path leaves the trees behind and follows a broken-down wall. It’s now a simple matter of keeping the wall on your right and following the path all the way up the ridge to the summit of Grisdale Pike.
Cheat factor 1/5
