The Wainwright Ramblers

It’s been a while but you’ll be pleased to know that Place Fell is absolutely worth the wait. Our latest group walk was, as ever, a treat from start to finish as we ventured high into the clouds to one of the rockiest tops the Lakes has to offer. Join us as we discuss the mystery cave, relive the massive anvil, and weigh up a potential new name for this glorious Wainwright.

Plenty of Lake District regulars will be familiar with Whinlatter Pass but the Wainwright of the same name is comfortably a more enjoyable experience. It wasn’t the original plan for this outing but some typically bad weather saw us head here at the last minute - and it proved to be a great call. Join us as we relive a hike that packed quite a punch, with its mixture of woodland, a Gruffalo, red s...

After a mini mid-series break, we’re back at it with a hike up, down and round High Rigg. While it may be one of the smaller Wainwrights, it more than holds its own in the company of much loftier neighbours, with this short but sweet winter jaunt proving to be an absolute joy. Join us as we relive our adventure and see why the man himself described this outing as a “splendid little expedition, adm...

While Knott Rigg and Ard Crags may not be among the most well-known Lake District fells, the delightful duo are absolutely worth having on your radar. One of the two also has the privilege of having a fairly unique Wainwright quote written about it - you’ll have to hear it to believe it. Join us as we relive a glorious evening on the hills, chat all things Newlands Pass and have one of the biggest...

Stone Arthur is something of an overshadowed Wainwright but can serve as a cracking little standalone jaunt or the gateway to a big day on the fells. Either way, we’d recommend getting yourselves up there and drinking in all it has to offer - including that stunning view over Grasmere and Easedale Tarn. Join us as we relive a sunset adventure that saw us tackle an abomination of bracken and led to...

Wainwright wrote that the rich rewards of Hallin Fell’s summit are “out of all proportion to the slight effort of ascent” and he was spot on. Topped with one of the finest cairns you’re ever likely to see, this modest hill manages to stand out amongst its loftier neighbours from a prime position on the edge of Ullswater and we love it. Join us as we relive a day of ice-riddled roads, endless autum...

After some time away from the fells while life became quite busy, we wanted to kick off Series Five with a bang and what better way than by heading to the top of the country? While we’ve already had ourselves a Scafell Pike episode, the Corridor Route is a completely different adventure and one we’ve wanted to do for quite some time. It was a huge day - which also took in Lingmell and Great End -...

We like to end a run of episodes on a high, and Mellbreak is exactly that having fast become one of our favourite walks. One of the more aesthetically pleasing fells in the Lakes, it also lends itself to a classic Wainwright quote that sums up just how good it looks sitting next to Crummock Water. Join us for the Series Four finale as we relive a stunning day on the hills and discuss all things 20...

While it was a day that came together quite hastily, our jaunt up Lingmoor Fell and around Cathedral Quarry was comfortably one of our favourites so far. Both would make great adventures on their own but why not combine the two? Join us as we relive the highlights of an outing absolutely full of them - from Blea Tarn to huge caves, the Langdales and one of the Lake District’s most iconic bridges,...

Our listeners’ choice walks have so far seen us venture up St Sunday Crag and spend a morning rambling round the Langdale Pikes - so the bar was high. Thankfully, the streak continued as our jaunt across Carrock Fell and High Pike exceeded all expectations. Join us as we discuss two of the Lake District’s most interesting summits, try and outdo Wainwright’s way with words, and revisit a talking po...

It’s our longest walk of the series today as we take on ten Wainwrights in an A to B from Kirkstone Pass to Pooley Bridge. We’ve got cloud inversions, mega cairns, flying ants and summit wrestling - there’s a bit of everything going on. Join us as we relive an outing with plenty of highs and a smattering of lows, while we’ve also got a pretty big announcement…

While Loughrigg Fell was the first stop on our Ambleside to Keswick venture, we felt like it needed its own episode. It was also the perfect opportunity to explore Rydal Cave, which thankfully doubled as a shelter from the rain… Join us on our latest group walk as we do a deep dive into a hill Wainwright considered to be “pre-eminent” with a “wealth of interests and delights” - what’s not to love?

It’s been a while since our last sunset outing, with Sale Fell and Ling Fell being the perfect pair for such a jaunt. Thankfully, it was worth the wait. Join us as we discuss building our own cairn, the turmoil of a post-work traffic jam and why this modest duo might just be the Ready Salted crisps of the Wainwrights.

After almost three years, we’re finally heading back to Wasdale to take on a favourite of many - Yewbarrow. Towering above Wastwater, it’s one of the most recognisable fells in the Lake District and has been near the top of our to-do list for quite some time. Join us as we relive scrambles, sun and wild swims on what was comfortably one of our favourite days on the hills.

Our latest group walk saw us take on the fine foursome of Glenridding Dodd, Sheffield Pike, Raise and White Side with a mix of new faces and old friends. While the weather did its best to make the day difficult, spirits remained suitably high and it was a pleasure to be back on the hills with everyone. Join us as we chat clag-covered summits, the joys of Keppel Cove and the White Side revelation.

It’s a long-awaited return to Ambleside this week as we take on Wansfell, one of the smaller and more modest Wainwrights. Even so, it’s a hill that still gives a lot back with the views across Windermere reason enough to venture up. Join us as we relive our morning on the steep but steady jaunt and discuss fell ponies, the soft spot we developed for Troutbeck and why this is a hike we’d all do aga...

What better place to start Series Four than the Langdales - a favourite of all of ours and home to Pike o’ Blisco. We’ve naturally spent a lot of time in the area but only ever seen the mountain from afar, so it was about time we ventured up. Thankfully, it didn’t disappoint with the day including an icy scramble, an encounter with some cows and one of the finest summit views we’ve had. It’s good...

It felt only right that we end Series Three on a classic, and Skiddaw is exactly that. Towering above Keswick, it’s a route that’s been walked time and time again, with our adventure also taking in Little Man and Bakestall. It’s an episode with a bit of everything as we battle through sleet and storms, visit the loneliest house in England, and look ahead to Series Four…

Wainwright called Gowbarrow Fell “one of the best-known of Lakeland's lesser heights” and with good reason. Despite that, there’s an argument to be made that it’s not actually the focal point of the walk, with the mighty Aira Force - a genuine landmark - also vying for the crown. Thankfully, both are brilliant. Join us as we relive the outing on an episode which also includes a chat with Nati...

It’s another trio this week as we take on Graystones, Broom Fell and Lord’s Seat on what was a genuinely very enjoyable day in the North Western Fells. The hike had us on the hills, in the forest and hurling ourselves across becks - a bit of everything on a sun-soaked morning. Come along for the ride as we do a deep dive into the adventure and also announce details of our first ever giveaway.

Our Glaramara outing was a hike that had a bit of everything, including a venture up the neighbouring Bessyboot. We navigated through the clouds, scrambled up a soaking wet climb, spent time at a hidden gem of a tarn and came face to face with an old foe. Join us as we relive a great walk on a grand fell in our first episode of 2023.

It’s Christmas!  To celebrate the most wonderful time of the year, we ventured up Great Mell Fell and Little Mell Fell - temporarily rebranded as the Jingle Mell Fells - for some mince pies, Buck’s Fizz and a Secret Santa. The pair made for a fine outing and were also the perfect spot to record an episode on a hill for the first time. Join us as we chat summits, stuffing and sleigh bells in a suit...

Grange Fell is a walk we’ll never forget for all the wrong reasons - it wasn’t long or physically demanding but there was an incident that truly made it one of our toughest days on the hills. As such, this has become one of our most informative episodes as we do a deep dive into what happened and look at what you can do if you find yourselves in the same situation. Thankfully, we can laugh about i...

Wainwright believed that “no mountain profile in Lakeland arrests and excites the attention more than that of the Langdale Pikes”. A walk voted for by you, the listeners, it’s hard to argue - it truly is a stunning area and yet again, you’ve chosen very, very well. From ancient axe factories to sausage rolls, this episode has a bit of everything as we relive one of our favourite outings yet.

After our first group walk up Great Gable exceeded all expectations, we couldn’t wait for the next one - and it didn’t disappoint. In what may very well have been the finest weather we’ve ever had, we ventured across Carl Side, Long Side, Ullock Pike and Dodd on a day we never really wanted to end. A genuine highlight of our Wainwright journey so far, reliving it was a lot of fun and we’re already...