Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells

A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells being an illustrated account of a study and exploration of the mountains in the English Lake District is a series of seven books of English author A. Wainwright, where the mountains ( fells ) of the Lake District in northwest England are described. The books were written over a period of 13 years since 1952 and are a reproduction of the illustrated with numerous line drawings completely handwritten manuscript.

Since the first publications in the years 1955 to 1966 so far, more than two million copies were sold. For most hikers ( Hill Walker) England are these books as the standard work among the hiking guides on the fells of the Lake District. The Fells described in the seven volumes 214 are commonly referred to as The Wainwrights and it is a popular challenge to climb all. It is believed that it has so far succeeded about 500 people, to achieve this goal.

Structure

The seven books are structured as follows ::

  • Volume 1: The Eastern Fells ISBN 0-7112-2454-4
  • Volume 2: The Far Eastern Fells ISBN 0-7112-2455-2
  • Volume 3: The Central Fells ISBN 0-7112-2456-0
  • Volume 4: The Southern Fells ISBN 0-7112-2457-9
  • Volume 5: The Northern Fells, ISBN 0-7112-2458-7
  • Volume 6: The North Western Fells ISBN 0-7112-2459-5
  • Volume 7: The Western Fells ISBN 0-7112-2460-9

Style and layout

The books are a reproduction of Wainwright's handwritten manuscripts. In his accurate handwriting the chapters are written in the block set. To distinguish specific comments or topics blocks he used different font sizes and there are also italic or bold highlighting, so that one gets the impression that the books are set in a handwritten crafted font. He also placed great importance that there is no separation at the end of the line.

The illustrations are pen and ink drawings to black and white photos, the Wainwright anfertigte during his walks.

Content

Each book is divided in the same way. After the introduction is followed by an alphabetical order, the descriptions of the individual mountains. At the end of final personal comments are added.

Introduction

In the introduction there is an explanation of the geographical division of the Lake District into seven regions, a Legend, an alphabetical list of mountains contained in the respective band with a schematic overview map and a description of the treated area in the book.

Mountain descriptions

Each of the 214 Fells in the books dedicated a separate chapter. It begins with a view of the mountain and a one-to multi-page description of the geographical, historical and particular local circumstances of each mountain, followed by a map on which the main routes are drawn to the summit. Thereafter, each of these routes is described in detail on one side by rising sketches and provided with some additional sketches. Here Wainwright also addresses local features, such as specially shaped rocks, interesting waterfalls, small streams or the grave stone a dog owner for its extremely loyal and popular hunting dog. Illustrations show other interesting points as particularly striking rock formations, ruins, bridges or quarries. The following pages show a view of the summit and a simplified sketch of the skyline of the panorama with an exact description of the recognizable mountains and their distance. Furthermore, there are observations on descent options with references if these paths are recommended in bad weather or fog. Finally Ridge Routes are described, which are direct connections between peaks without having to lose much of its height.

Depending on the level, awareness and number of interesting points vary these chapters in length. The chapter with the highest page number ( 36) is not the Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England, but the chapter on Blencathra.

Personal Conclusions

Each book concludes with personal observations of the author, in which he other, the particular area in question, information and anecdotes writes down a few thoughts on the creation of the book, his experiences during the research and.

In the seventh and final volume presents Wainwright together some favorites lists in which he introduces the six best Fells, summits and other places (except peak ), on which a Fellwalker can be located.

The best Fells

The best peak

  • Dow Crag
  • Helm Crag
  • Eagle Crag
  • Slight Side
  • Steeple

The six best other places

  • Striding Edge, Helvellyn
  • Lords Rake, Scafell
  • Mickledore Scafell
  • Sharp Edge, Blencathra
  • South Traverse, Great Gable
  • Shamrock Traverse, Pillar

Dedication

Unlike many authors who dedicate their works special people close to them, Wainwright's books each begin with a rather unusual tribute:

  • Volume 1: " The men of the Ordnance Survey "
  • Volume 2: " The builders of the stone walls "
  • Volume 3: " The dogs of the Lakeland "
  • Volume 4: " The sheep of the Lakeland "
  • Volume 5: " The lonely wanderer in the Fells "
  • Volume 6: "To my right and my left leg "
  • Volume 7: "To all who have helped me "

Personal representation

Although Wainwright was a very shy and introverted person, he added in each band a drawing representing himself. However, they show him not in the portrait, but only from behind, a panorama of the Lake District looking. Since the other illustrations of books usually do not show people and the characteristics of the represented person are unique, there is no doubt that he has shown himself:

  • Volume 1: View of Blencathra Clough Head
  • Volume 3: View of Raven Crag Thirlmere
  • Volume 4: View Pinnacle, Scafell
  • Volume 5: Binsey view with betagtem British
  • Volume 6: View from High Stile Lanthwaite Hill
  • Volume 7: View of Yewbarrow Gatherstone Head

History

Originally, the records and sketches Wainwright's were not intended for publication. The first book, The Eastern Fells was written for " personal enjoyment and as a reminder for later times to hike in the Fells, long after the legs have failed their duty ." However, after the book was finished, Wainwright felt the desire to share his experiences with others, and was supported in this by friends. Following the publication of the first book, in which he announced more books, he was the duty of his readers, whose numbers are constantly increasing, and he worked for the next few years without interruption to the descriptions of the 214 coat.

2003 went back up to this time constant sales and the publisher wanted to stop the publication. The rights, however, were bought by the publisher Frances Lincoln, who since then publishes the most famous and popular hiking the Lake District.

Revision

In the years 2007 to 2010, the books by Chris Jesty were revised and reprinted by the publisher Frances Lincoln. Appearance and layout can not be modified. The changes were made in a specially constructed for this purpose font, to make it as little as possible conspicuous and not to destroy the overall picture of the site. On the dust jacket instead of a pen and ink drawing, as in the original books, a colored photo.

Among the lovers of books this revision is not undisputed. Firstly, the need for a revision is recognized, although Wainwright has always stressed that he would not make such an update. But in the 50 years since the first publication of many of the described features have changed. So Waiwright at one point describes a "gate between two young oaks ." The door there is still - and the oaks. However, anyone who is looking for young oaks, will hold out vain. It goes without saying that these have grown over the years to stately trees. The same happened with " uninhabited and abandoned " farm houses which have since been rebuilt and are used as holiday homes or have been demolished and are gone for good. At locations where Wainwright describes fords through a stream, there are now bridges, quarries were shut down and built new roads, open spaces have been planted and have grown into dense forests.

On the other hand we look at the books as a kind artwork and is of the opinion you should leave them that way, as the author who created them. The changes in nature are not so serious that they can not be reconstructed with consideration and observation, and therefore would not contribute to confusion and misinterpretation.

Collect Wainwright

The Fells described 214 are commonly referred to as The Wainwright. The height of the Fells is between 985 ft ( 300 m) and 3210 feet (1070 m). Unlike the other English categorized mountains ( Munros or Marilyn ), which were classified according to objective criteria such as height or topographic characteristics, this list contains completely different mountains. Wainwright had no intention to create such a list, whose only similarity is that these mountains are included in his books. Many Hill Walker have set a goal to climb all 214 Wainwrights described in the books, what is commonly referred to as Fellbagging.

Alfred Wainwright Pillar (Lake District) Haweswater Reservoir Harter Fell (Mardale) Sca Fell
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