THE SOUTHERN FELLS

'The Southern Fells comprise two well-defined mountain systems.

The larger is the Scafell-Bowfell massif, which forms a great arc around the head of Eskdale; it is bounded by Wasdale in the west, and eastwards by the headwaters of the Duddon and the Brathay, while to the north the high ground descends into Borrowdale and Great Langdale.  Within this area the fells are the highest, the roughest and the grandest in Lakeland: they are of volcanic origin and the naked rock is much in evidence in the form of towering crags and wildernesses of boulders and scree.  Progress on foot across these arid wastes is slow and often laborious, but there is an exhilarating feeling of freedom and sense of achievement on the airy ridges poised high above deep valleys.  This is magnificent territory for the fellwalker.  There is nothing better than this.

The smaller group, the Coniston fells, rises east of the Duddon and west of Yewdale; the Brathay is the northern boundary.  Compact, distinctive, with several summits of uniform height just above 2500' the slaty Coniston fells bear many industrial scars which detract little from the general excellence of the scenery and , indeed, provide an added interest.  The dry turfy ridges are a joy to tread.'
Alfred Wainwright The Southern Fells

NB:  The heights of fells given in this table are those as recorded by Alfred Wainwright in his original set of Pictorial Guides and not the revised heights resurveyed by Ordnance Survey and printed on their latest 1:25000 Explorer maps.

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Photographs taken with a Fuji MX-2900 Zoom or a Canon EOS 20D
Copyright © 2009 Derek Cockell     All Rights Reserved

THE PICTORIAL GUIDES

The Eastern Fells
The Far Eastern Fells
The Central Fells
The Southern Fells
The Northern Fells
The North Western Fells
The Western Fells

The 214 Challenge