The Western Fells: Wainwright's Walking Guide to the Lake District Fells - Book 7 (Wainwright Walkers Edition)

by Alfred Wainwright

Clive Hutchby

One name above all others has become associated with walking in the Lake District: A. Wainwright, whose seven-volume Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, first published in 1955–66, has become the definitive guidebook. Wainwright’s meticulously hand-drawn maps, diagrams and drawings take you up the 214 principal hills and mountains of the Lake District, describing the main routes of ascent from different starting points, as well as lesser-known variants, showing the summit viewpoint panoramas and the ridge routes that can be made to create longer walks. The Western Fells, Book Seven of Wainwright’s Walking Guide, covers Great Gable and the High Stile and Pillar ranges, overlooking the Ennerdale, Cocker and Wasdale valleys.

• ISBN13: 9780711236608
• Publish Date: 23 June 2020 (first published 7 January 2016)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Frances Lincoln Publishers Ltd
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 352
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

The Western Fells is a well structured and written guide to roaming the Western Fells area of the Lake District. Originally published in 1966 and revised in 2009, this classic is now in a new edition due out 23rd June 2020 from Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint. It's 352 pages.

The Wainwright guides are known for their meticulous (mostly hand drawn) maps, thorough explanations and classic layout. The table of contents includes a key map with different hikes listed alphabetically by name with included heights/difficulties of the climbs and a keycoded numbered map along with page numbers for easy reference.

The introduction and commentary updated by Clive Hutchby includes picturesque, almost whimsical, destination walks including Floutern Tarn, Gavel Fell, and Grey Knotts (via Seatroller) and more. There are 33 distinct walks listed with a whole book full of additional commentary, tips, and landmarks.

The text is spare, but gently poetic. The love that the creators of the book have for contemplative rambles in the countryside shines through, though it never crosses over into the maudlin. Most of the walks are delineated with waypoints including some useful information such as 360 degree panorama maps of what the reader is looking at once the summits have been attained. The text is rendered in a font that mimics a hand drawn journal. It's high contrast and easy to read. And the maps, always always the meticulously drawn maps are the stars of the volume. There are multitudinous very well drawn, clear, and understandable maps and line drawings of landmarks and natural features along each of the walks.

Beautifully made book full of the natural wonder of this area of the Lake District. Still relevant after more than 50 years. Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.