Jump to: Our Verdict / Features / Specifications
We're working out what we think - we'll add our view here!
Cicerone says:
The 50 best walks in the Lake District, including Scafell Pike, Helvellyn, Skiddaw, Blencathra and other lesser-known but wonderful hill walks. Each route is a Great Mountain Day, a rewarding and potentially challenging route exploring the natural beauty of Lakeland. Includes stunning photography, 1:40,000 Harvey maps and hand-drawn fellscapes for every route.
Discover the Lake District’s most rewarding mountain days with this inspirational, large-format collection of 50 outstanding walks across the region’s fells. From famous summits such as Scafell Pike and Helvellyn to quieter and lesser-known hills, each route offers a challenging and memorable day exploring the dramatic landscapes of the Lake District National Park.
The routes range from 6 to 23km (4–14 miles) and typically take between 5 and 10 hours to complete. All are graded for difficulty and designed for walkers with a reasonable level of fitness and some hillwalking experience. With circular routes that can also be tackled as backpacking outings, this guidebook provides inspiration both for those new to the Lake District and for experienced walkers keen to rediscover familiar fells by new routes.
Combining inspiring photography, clear mapping and carefully chosen routes, this large-format guidebook helps you plan unforgettable days in the Lake District mountains. Whether you are aiming for classic summits or discovering quieter corners of the fells, it offers everything you need for memorable mountain adventures.
Our Verdict
We're working out what we think about Cicerone's Best Walks in the Lake District, we'll add our comments here in due course.
- Reviewed by Ultralight Outdoor Gear
Features
- 50 inspiring mountain walks across the Lake District, each designed as a rewarding ‘Great Mountain Day’
- Routes range from 6 to 23km (4–14 miles) and typically take 5 to 10 hours, graded by difficulty for confident hillwalkers, optional low-grade scrambling on some routes
- Clear route descriptions supported by 1:40,000 Harvey mapping and the author's distinctive hand-drawn fellscape diagrams
- Includes classic summits such as Scafell Pike, Helvellyn, Great Gable, Blencathra, Catbells, Coniston Old Man, Great Gable, Pillar and the Langdale Pikes, alongside quieter but equally rewarding routes
- Features well-known rounds such as the Fairfield, Mosedale, Newlands and Coledale Horseshoes
- Walks accessible from key Lake District centres including Ambleside, Grasmere, Keswick, Patterdale and Coniston, with practical information on parking, public transport and refreshments
Specifications
- Weight:969g
- Location: Lake District National Park
- Routes: 50 great mountain days across the Lake District fells
- Distance per walk: 6–23km (4–14 miles)
- Typical duration: 5–10 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate to challenging; suitable for walkers with hillwalking experience and a good level of fitness
- Navigation: 1:40,000 Harvey maps and clear step-by-step route descriptions, with hand-drawn fellscape diagrams
- Highlights: Classic summits including Scafell Pike, Helvellyn, Blencathra, Great Gable and the Langdale Pikes, plus classic horseshoe routes such as Fairfield, Mosedale, Newlands and Coledale
- Base locations: Walks accessible from centres including Ambleside, Keswick, Patterdale, Boot and Wasdale Head
- Best season: Late spring to autumn for the most reliable conditions; winter walking requires appropriate skills and equipment
Contents
- Foreword by Sir Chris Bonington
- Preface
- Introduction
- About the guide
- Caring for the fells
- Fix the Fells
- Weather to walk?
- Before you start
- The Routes
- 1 Lingmoor Fell
- 2 Pavey Ark and Harrison Stickle
- 3 Loft Crag and Pike o’Stickle
- 4 Bowfell and Rossett Pike
- 5 Pike o’Blisco and Crinkle Crags
- 6 Wetherlam
- 7 Dow Crag and Coniston Old Man
- 8 Dow Crag, Brim Fell, Swirl How and Grey Friar
- 9 Black Combe
- 10 Harter Fell (Eskdale) and Hard Knott
- 11 Scafell Pike and Esk Pike
- 12 Scafell and Slight Side
- 13 Illgill Head and Whin Rigg
- 14 Great End, Scafell Pike and Lingmell
- 15 Pillar, Scoat Fell, Red Pike and Yewbarrow
- 16 Kirk Fell and Great Gable
- 17 Buckbarrow, Seatallan and Middle Fell
- 18 Crag Fell, Caw Fell and Haycock
- 19 Steeple, Scoat Fell and Pillar
- 20 Mellbreak
- 21 Whiteside, Hopegill Head, Grasmoor, Wandope, Whiteless Pike and Rannerside Knotts
- 22 High Crag, High Stile and Red Pike
- 23 Haystacks
- 24 Fleetwith Pike, Dale Head, Hindscarth and Robinson
- 25 Green Gable and Great Gable
- 26 Rosthwaite Fell and Glaramara
- 27 Eagle Crag, Sergeant’s Crag, High Raise and Ullscarf
- 28 High Spy, King’s How and Brund Fell
- 29 Catbells, Maiden Moor, High Spy, Dale Head and Hindscarth
- 30 Robinson, Knott Rigg and Ard Crags
- 31 Grisedale Pike, Hopegill Head, Eel Crag, Sail, Outerside and Barrow
- 32 Ullock Pike, Long Side, Carl Side, Skiddaw Little Man, Skiddaw and Bakestall
- 33 Carrock Fell and High Pike
- 34 Bowscale Fell, Blencathra and Souther Fell
- 35 Blencathra
- 36 Clough Head, Great Dodd, Watson’s Dodd, Stybarrow Dodd and Hart Side
- 37 Raise, White Side and Helvellyn
- 38 Helm Crag, Gibson Knott, Calf Crag and Sergeant Man
- 39 Low Pike, High Pike, Dove Crag, Hart Crag, Fairfield, Great Rigg, Heron Pike and Nab Scar
- 40 Red Screes, Litte Hart Crag, High Pike and Low Pike
- 41 Caudale Moor
- 42 Dove Crag, Hart Crag and Hartsop above How
- 43 Fairfield and St Sunday Crag
- 44 Dollywaggon Pike, Nethermost Pike, Helvellyn and Catstycam
- 45 Birkhouse Moor, Helvellyn, White Side, Raise, Stybarrow Dodd and Sheffield Pike
- 46 Place Fell
- 47 Steel Knotts, High Raise, Rampsgill Head, The Knott, Rest Dodd, Angletarn Pikes and Beda Head
- 48 High Street, Rampsgill Head and Kidsty Pike
- 49 Yoke, Ill Bell, Froswick, Thornthwaite Crag, High Street and Mardale Ill Bell
- 50 Shipman Knotts, Kentmere Pike and Harter Fell (Mardale)
- Index of the Fells
- Further Reading
