For many who walk the Lake District, the journey begins and ends with the 214 fells featured in Alfred Wainwright’s primary seven-volume Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells. However, for the completist—or perhaps those seeking a bit of quiet away from the honeypots of Catbells or Helvellyn—there is a second, final chapter.

The Outlying Wainwrights consist of 116 summits - they are the foothills, the coastal bumps, and the lonely limestone scars that act as a transition between the high, craggy core of the Lake District and the surrounding lowlands of Cumbria. Walking them isn't just about reaching a summit; it’s about a specific kind of obsession that values the overlooked and the understated.

The Vital Statistics

Statistic	Detail
Total Count	116 summits (Wainwright Society Standard)
Highest Point	Black Combe (600 m / 1,969 ft)
Lowest Point	Humphrey Head (53 m / 174 ft)
Height Requirement	None (Subjective selection by A. Wainwright)
Prominence/Drop Rule	None (Subjective)
Most Remote	Devoke Water group (Great Worm Crag / Seat How area)
Easiest Access	Orrest Head (from Windermere)
Hardest to Summit	Great Worm Crag / Hollow Moor (due to trackless peat and navigation)
Authority/Keeper	The Wainwright Society
Record (Total 330)	James Forrest (14 days, 11 hours, 2021)
Record (214 Main)	Sabrina Verjee (5 days, 23 hours, 2021)
The 116th Peak	Winterscleugh (Added to clarify modern consensus)
Total Ascent	Approx. 31,400 m (103,018 ft) across the full list.
Topographical Character	Limestone pavement, peat moss, and coastal cliffs.

The Origins: Wainwright’s "Final Gesture"

The list wasn't born out of a mathematical desire for prominence or height. It was born out of a sense of duty and perhaps a bit of nostalgia. Alfred Wainwright (AW) published The Outlying Fells of Lakeland in 1974, nearly a decade after he finished his main series.

By the early 70s, Wainwright’s knees were failing him. He could no longer manage the steep scree of Wasdale or the long hauls up onto the High Street range. He turned his attention to the "little hills" he had previously ignored. These were the walks he felt were suitable for "old age pensioners" and those who preferred a gentler pace. He famously remarked that these hills were for "the twilight years," yet they possess a rugged, lonely character that often eludes the more popular central peaks.

Unlike the seven primary guides, which were purely pen-and-ink, The Outlying Fells of Lakeland was unique for featuring photographs alongside Wainwright’s signature drawings. It was his final, visual love letter to the county.

However, don't let the "pensioner" label fool you. While many are lower in altitude, the terrain is often far more difficult to navigate than the well-trodden paths of the central 214. There are no "motorways" here. This is the physical reality of the outliers: many summits lack any discernable path at all. You are dealing with pathless bracken, boggy mosses, and farmers' walls that seem designed to confuse. You cannot rely on following the person in front of you; you must be proficient with a map, a compass, or a GPS to find these lonely high points.

The Logic of the Classification: Subjectivity over Science

Unlike the Munros in Scotland or the Hewitts in England and Wales, the Outlying Wainwrights have no strict topographical rules. There is no "30-meter drop" requirement or "500-meter height" floor.

The classification is entirely subjective, based on what Wainwright decided to include in his 1974 book. This has led to some interesting quirks. For instance, Black Combe is 600 m (1,969 ft) high—higher than many in the main 214—but because of its isolated position in the southwest, Wainwright relegated it to the outliers. Conversely, Humphrey Head is a mere 53 m (174 ft) above sea level, making it the lowest point in the entire Wainwright canon, yet it is included because of its dramatic limestone character.

The Evolution of the 116: From 56 Walks to 116 Peaks

One of the most common points of confusion for those starting this journey is the number of summits. Wainwright’s book does not actually list 116 summits; instead, it describes 56 circular walks. The modern count of 116 is an interpretation of the high points touched on those specific routes.

For decades, the consensus sat at 115 peaks. It was only in recent years that the Wainwright Society officially clarified Winterscleugh as the 116th summit to align the list with modern mapping and AW’s intended routes. Even now, some "completists" use the "Betteridge" list, which counts only 114 summits. The discrepancy usually revolves around whether specific spurs like Little Mell Fell are counted.

Because these are not the "tourist traps" of the Lakes, many summits lack a formal cairn. Finding the true top is often a matter of standing on the highest tuft of grass on a featureless moor. It requires a different kind of satisfaction—knowing you are in the right place because your skills brought you there, rather than because a pile of stones told you so.

The Terrain Identity: A Different Kind of Cumbria

If the central fells are defined by Rhyolite and Andesite, the outliers are defined by variety and geological transitions. To walk the outliers is to witness the Lake District ending and something else beginning.

The Limestone Karst

To the south and east, the landscape shifts dramatically. Around Whitbarrow and Scout Scar, the ground is white, brittle, and riddled with "clints and grykes" (fissures in the rock). The air feels different here; it’s warmer, and the vegetation is dominated by yew trees and rare orchids. This is "Karst" landscape, where rainwater dissolves the stone over millennia. The physical reality of walking here is a constant scan of the ground; you have to keep an eye out for those fissures in the pavement as you move.

The Coastal Fringes

To the west, the outliers meet the sea. Climbing Black Combe or White Combe gives you a view of the Irish Sea that is rarely seen from the heart of the District. On a clear day, you can see the Isle of Man, the mountains of Mourne in Ireland, and even the peaks of Snowdonia. This coastal element adds weather complexity; the sea mists (the "haar") can roll in within minutes, turning a simple stroll into a high-stakes navigation exercise.

The Far Eastern "Sponge"

The obsession with this list often peaks in the Far Eastern fringes near Bannisdale Fell. Here, the terrain is defined by peat hags and "the sponge." There are no paths. You navigate by wall-lines and compass bearings. It is a lonely, physical reality that tests a walker's resolve. You spend hours leaping from one tuft of grass to another, trying to avoid the black, viscous mud that wants to claim your boots.

Cultural Elements and Linguistic Roots

The naming of these hills is a linguistic map of the various waves of settlers who have occupied Cumbria. Every name is descriptive of the physical reality of the land.

Old Norse (The Viking Influence): A "fell" is fjall (mountain). "Howe" (as in School Knott or Gummer's How) comes from haugr, meaning a mound or burial hill. Scalebarrow Knott contains skali, meaning a summer shieling or hut.
Cumbric/Brythonic (The Celtic Influence): The word "Combe" in Black Combe is a descendant of the Celtic cumb, meaning a deep, bowl-shaped valley.
Old English (The Anglo-Saxon Influence): "Law" or "Low" often appears in the outliers, signifying a hill. Heughscar Hill uses the Old English hoh, meaning a promontory or "heel" of land.

Beginner Recommendations: Entry Points to the List

Orrest Head (239 m / 784 ft): The spiritual home of the Wainwright legacy. A simple, paved walk from Windermere station with unparalleled views.
Scout Scar (233 m / 764 ft): A long limestone escarpment outside Kendal. Flat, easy walking with panoramic views across the Lyth Valley.
Black Combe (600 m / 1,969 ft): The highest outlier, but with a broad, easy-to-follow track. Provides the best maritime views in the county.
Latterbarrow (244 m / 801 ft): Overlooking Hawkshead, featuring a massive stone obelisk. A short, sharp climb that rewards you with views of the Coniston range.

Peaks of Note and Warnings

The High and Difficult

Great Worm Crag (427 m / 1,401 ft): One of the most difficult outliers to reach. It sits in a wilderness of peat hags and hidden bogs near Devoke Water. There is no path; you are navigating through a labyrinth of heather and "floating" moss. In wet weather, this terrain becomes exhausting, requiring constant detours around deep, black pools.
Hollow Moor [Green Quarter Fell] (396 m / 1,299 ft): A vast, undulating plateau. Because it lacks a defined track and a singular, obvious summit cairn, many walkers find themselves wandering the broad ridge in search of the true high point. It is the epitome of the "navigation-first" outlier.

Warnings and Danger

Navigation and featureless terrain: Hills around Devoke Water (including Seat How and Rough Crag) are notoriously featureless in the mist. When the clouds drop, every hummock looks the same. Without a compass and the ability to take a back-bearing, it is easy to lose your way or end up descending into the wrong valley.
Adder Habitat: The limestone outliers (Whitbarrow, Scout Scar) are prime habitat for Adders (Vipera berus). These snakes are shy but it's worth being mindful of them if you're stepping through long grass. Because there are often no trodden paths, you are frequently walking through the very areas where they might bask. Keep dogs on short leads in these areas.
Limestone Grykes: On hills like Hampsfell, the fissures in the rock (grykes) can be deep and are often hidden by a thin layer of turf or long grass. You just need to watch your footing to avoid a nasty twist or injury.
Tidal Dangers: Humphrey Head sits on the edge of the Morecambe Bay sands. The tide here is notable for its speed, and the sands below the headland are notoriously unpredictable. It's best to stick to the headland itself unless you have expert local knowledge of the bay.

The Journey's End: Completing the 116

Completing the Outlying Wainwrights is a lesson in patience and discovery. It is a journey that takes you away from the crowds of Ambleside and into the silent, working corners of Cumbria. You will find yourself in places where the only sound is the wind in the rushes and the cry of a lapwing.

By the time you reach your 116th summit, you will have gained a different perspective on the Lake District. You will have learned to read the land without the help of a path, to respect the quirks of the limestone, and to appreciate the understated beauty of a fell that most walkers simply drive past. It’s for the walker who values the quiet corners, the ancient names, and the satisfaction of standing on a summit that exists for no other reason than Wainwright said it should be there.

Read All About Alfred Wainwright

Learn About The 214 Wainwrights

See The Outlying Database

View The Outlying Fells

Essential Resources

The Wainwright Society: The keepers of the official completion register.
The Outlying Fells of Lakeland by A. Wainwright: The original text featuring unique photography.

Hills Featured in this Guide

Hill Name	Height (Metric)	Height (Imperial)	General Location
Black Combe	600 m	1,969 ft	Southwest Coast
Orrest Head	239 m	784 ft	Windermere
Scout Scar	233 m	764 ft	Kendal
Humphrey Head	53 m	174 ft	Morecambe Bay
Whitbarrow - Lord's Seat	215 m	705 ft	Lyth Valley
Great Worm Crag	427 m	1,401 ft	Birker Fell
Latterbarrow	244 m	801 ft	Hawkshead
Gummer's How	321 m	1,053 ft	Windermere
Stickle Pike	375 m	1,230 ft	Dunnerdale
Hampsfell	222 m	728 ft	Grange-over-Sands
Hollow Moor	396 m	1,299 ft	Kentmere
Heughscar Hill	375 m	1,230 ft	Askham
School Knott	160 m	525 ft	Windermere
Bannisdale Fell	550 m	1,804 ft	Far East
Winterscleugh	464 m	1,522 ft	Shap Fells

The Outlying Wainwrights: The Final Frontier of the Lake District