LAKE DISTRICT CLIMBING GUIDE BOOKS

The Lake District (in North-West England) is very well covered by climbing guides due to the efforts of Fell and Rock Climbing Club which has been producing definitive guides to the area since 1922. Recently they have also published a selected guide. All Recent Developments in the Lake District and Cumbria can be found on their website, and new routes and comments can be reported via their Bulletin Board.

There are also a handful of other climbing guide producers: as far as we know we stock all of these, but when it comes to walking guides there are innumerable possibilities, only a fraction of which are listed here.

Photo: Martin Armitage steps delicately round the arete on the penultimate pitch of New West Climb (VD), Pillar Rock, The Lake District, England.

NB Postage!: Due to the low mark up on books, maps, videos and DVDs we have had to charge a contribution towards UK postage on most of these items. This charge is 50p on very light books, £1 on most club style guides and DVDs, £2 on Rockfax and similar size guides and £3 for bigger books. These charges are waived for orders totalling over £60 and for Priority Orders. Overseas orders will be charged at cost.

Over 500 superb rock climbs on more than 50 crags/major buttresses in the English Lake District are selected in this guide. The descriptions are supported by Al Phizacklea's much acclaimed maps and diagrams which have been improved and enhanced, with colour added throughout, and by numerous action colour photographs. Major crags covered include, Gimmer Crag, Langdale; Dow Crag, Coniston; Esk Buttress, Eskdale, Scafell Crags, Wasdale: Napes Needle, Great Gable; Pillar Rock, Ennerdale; Eagle Crag, Buttermere, Shepherd's Crag, Borrowdale, Castle Rock, Thirlmere: Dove Crag, Dovedale: and numerous others. In addition there are notes on bouldering, a guide to crags suitable for groups under instruction, and details of local climbing walls. Also included are the quick-drying outlying venues of St Bees, Chapel Head Scar and Armathwaite.

This is the ideal selected rock climbs guide for those making first or periodic visits to the Lake District. The inclusion of a grade comparison chart will make it more useful for overseas visitors. However, even the committed local will probably find it hard to resist buying this guide as the use of colour throughout and the large collection of photographs and diagrams, gathered together in one volume, will make it a highly inspirational reference work. 512 pages, marker ribbon, plastic cover.

Winner of the Titus Wilson Prize at the Lakeland Book of the Year Awards 2004.

This item attracts a UK £1 postal charge but this is waived for Priority Orders or if the Order Total is greater than £60. 

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Superbly produced new guide to the major crags, bouldering spots, climbing walls, gear shops, clubs, cafes, pubs and campsites of England and Wales (NB This is not a climbing guide as such in that routes are not described). By David Atchison-Jones. Colourful Jingo-Wobbly style, brilliant photos, soft cover, 384 pages.

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The second in the new series of FRCC guidebooks to rock climbing in the Lake District featuring colour photodiagrams for virtually every crag featured. This guide covers Buttermere, including its main venues of High Crag, Eagle Crag and Grey Crag, the newly developed Raven Crag on the Ennerdale face of High Stile, the less known venue of the Newlands Valley, and the sunny sandstone cliffs of St Bees with their modern bolted routes and trad adventure horrors. A selection of boulder problems, both in Buttermere and at St Bees, is also included. Another stunning pocket guide from the FRCC featuring great action photography and including many historical pictures from their archives.

By Colin Read and Paul Jennings. 368 pages, plastic cover, marker ribbon.

Please click the image to see a sample topo.

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The Napes, Kern Knotts, Gable Crag, Boat How and the superb Pillar Rock, plus other esoteric delights of Ennerdale. A stunning pocket guide from the FRCC featuring brilliantly inspiring photo topos and excellent action photography, including many historical pictures from their archives.

By Phil Rigby and Stephen Reid. 402 pages, plastic cover, marker ribbon.

Please click the image to see a sample topo.

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Shepherds, Reecastle, Black Crag and the rest. New Edition containing over 300 new routes and greatly expanded Bowderstone section. By Gary Baum & Al Hewison. 446 pages, plastic cover.

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Long awaited, it is now finally out. Gimmer, Pavey Ark, White Ghyll and Bowfell Buttress. Over 150 new routes and lots of great pictures. By Max Biden. 384 pages, plastic cover.

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Scafell and its incomparable East Buttress, Buckbarrow and Esk Buttress. By Al Phizacklea. 397 pages, plastic cover.

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The magnificent Dow Crag, Hodge Close and the many outcrops of the Duddon Valley. By Al Phizacklea. 365 pages, plastic cover.

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High, Eagle and Grey Crags. Castle Rock, Raven and Dove. By Al Davies & Trevor Price. 363 pages, plastic cover.

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This guide only really covers the bolted climbs in the Lakes plus a few boulder problems. Contents include Chapel Head, Scout Scar, numerous quarries and St. Bees. Black and white illustrations. By Andy Hyslop and Paul Cornforth. Card cover, 192 pages.

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The area of small quick-drying crags of excellent rock lying on the high plateau to the north of Cockley Beck/Wrynose Pass has seen much development in recent years, but with the next FRCC guidebook to cover these climbs some years away, Martin Bagness has sorted out the myriad of new routes and produced three excellent full colour topos.

Each topo is A4 double sided and comes sealed in a clear polythene bag (much easier to fold than a laminated sheet).

1 Blisco: covers the most popular and easily accessible crags of Black Crag, Long Scar and Lightning Crag.

2 Gaitkins: covers the numerous small south and west facing crags grouped around the summit of Cold Pike, including Cold Pike Crag, the many and varied buttresses of Gaitkins Crags, and the wonderfully named Rhino's Arse Crag whhich really is rougher than a...!

3 Little Stand: covers the many crags around the the summit of Little Stand, including Gaitscale Buttress, Summit Crags, Little Stand Crags, Red How, and Cockley Crags. 

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Topo 1: Blisco2: Gaitkins3: Little Stand Topo Stock 1: Blisco 2 2: Gaitkins 5+ 3: Little Stand 5+

A new selected guide to the best of limestone climbing in the Peak, Yorkshire and South Lakes/North Lancs areas. The usual excellent Rockfax style with lots of colour photos, topos and maps. Crags covered include:
Peak Limestone - Stoney Middleton, Horseshoe Quarry, Harpur Hill, Staden Quarry, Chee Dale Upper, Chee Dale Lower, Raven Tor, Water-cum-Jolly, Ravensdale, Taddington, Rhienstor, Aldery Cliff, Wolfscote Dale, Thor's Cave, Beeston Tor, Dove Dale, Harborough Rocks, Intake Quarry, Halldale Quarry, Pic Tor, High Tor, Wild Cat, Willersley.

Yorkshire Limestone - Trollers Gill, Loup Scar, Dib Scar, Kilnsey, Blue Scar, Yew Cogar, Malham, Gordale, Attermire, Giggleswick South, Giggleswick North, Robin Proctor's Scar, Trow Gill.

South Lakes Limestone - Scout Scar, Chapel Head Scar, Millside Scar, Humphrey Head, Trowbarrow.

By Alan James, Mark Glaister & Chris Craggs. Card cover, 384 pages.

Rockfax has a New Routes Database for Northern Limestone.

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This new winter guide to the Lake District features photo topos of most of the major crags. The area is logically described by valley, and many new crags are included. A considerable amount of historical information illustrated with archive photographs will make for great reading in the pub in the unlikely circumstance of you getting rained off your climb.

Completely rewritten by Brian Davison and published jointly by the FRCC and Cicerone Press.

Plastic cover, marker ribbon, 462 pages - and the cover shot believe it or not, is in the Lakes, not Rjukan (it's the excellent Chicken Out (V) on Dove Crag, Grasmoor, and it was taken within the last 5 years...!

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Simple BMC pamphlet on climbers and access, conservation and the environment. Basically posing the question "Is that new route really worth it?" and, if it involves sustantial gardening, giving you several good reasons why it might not be. Essential reading for all Lake District climbers, whether new route enthusiasts or not.

This item is basically free, but if ordered on its own we will charge you the cost of a stamp and envelope. 

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A complete(?) round-up of Lake District bouldering, beautifully illustrated with almost as many colour topos as there are problems. Covers all the major areas like the Langdale Boulders, the Bowderstone and St Bees, plus many you may not have heard of. Clear maps and location topos. By Jonathan Lagoe and Andy Hyslop. Card cover, 208 pages.

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Sixty-nine routes from scrambling Grade 1 to rock climbing V Diff from all over the Lake District nicely described with guidance on climbing techniques. By John Sparks & Judith Brown. Black and white photos and diagrams. 219 pages, card cover.

See also the companion volume, Scrambles & Easy Climbs in Snowdonia.

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Part 1 of a two volume replacement for the old "Scrambles" and "More Scrambles" guides, this book covers Langdale, Coniston, Duddon, Eskdale, Longsleddale and Kentmere. 126 scramble routes graded 1 to 4, plus maps and diagrams and advice on how to approach scrambling safely and with confidence. By Brian Evans. Full colour throughout, plastic cover, 272 pages.

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Part 2 of a two volume replacement for the old "Scrambles" and "More Scrambles" guides, this book covers Wasdale, Ennerdale and Buttermere, Borrowdale, Thirlmere, Patterdale, Mardale and Swindale. 110 scramble routes graded 1 to 4, plus maps and diagrams and advice on how to approach scrambling safely and with confidence. By Brian Evans. Full colour throughout, plastic cover, 256 pages.

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The Bob Graham Round is now famous throughout the UK and every summer contenders gather at Keswick's Moot Hall prior to making their attempts at covering the 42 listed Lakeland Peaks within the 24 hours allowed.
This booklet tells the history of the round and has a map showing the peaks. Paperback with black and white illustrations, 45 pages.

Currently out of print - a reprint should be available in March 2007, so please only order if you are happy to wait.
 

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Soft flabby southern journalist investigates the arcane culture of fell running and emerges leaner, meaner, and a heck of a lot fitter. A well received and well written book. By Richard Askwith. Paperbackback, with a few black and white photos, 340 pages.

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The 251 2000 feet plus summits in England (Lake District, Cheviots, Pennines, Dales, Peak, and Dartmoor), and 58 walks that encompass all of them. By John and Anne Nutall. Black and white drawings and maps, plastic cover, 316 pages.

Volume 1 of this series describes the mountains in Wales and can be found in the Welsh section of this website.

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Substantial hardback book in a similar format to the SMC's The Munros. Details all the Lakeland Fells including the "Wainwrights" and features some excellent photographs. Edited by June Parker and Tim Pickles. 214 pages.

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An excellent looking volume describing 50 circular day walks in the Lakeland Fells and beautifully illustrated with lost of colour maps and photos. Just a shame that it is more coffee table than pocket book in size.

By Mark Richards. Card cover, 287 pages.

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Walter Poucher's classic guide to the Lake District fells illustrated with his renowned black and white photographs. Originally published by Constable, the guide was brought up to date in 1998 by Peter Little. This twelfth edition has a new publisher and the photographs have been rescanned from the originals, greatly enhancing their quality. Card cover, 448 pages.

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A bit of a misnomer for what is actually a mini-walking guide to the Lakes covering all 541 tops listed in the author's "The Complete Lakeland Fells" . Attractively illustrated with clear simple maps. By Bill Birkett. Pocket-sized hardback, 154 pages.

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Pocket mountains have published several beautifully produced mini-guidebooks (15cm x 10.5cm) to Scotland with excellent maps and colour illustrations. They have now branched out south of the border. This one has 40 circular walks in the Lake District and whilst such a small guide can never hope to be comprehensive, it's a good selection. All the books are round about 95 pages and all are by Nick Williams. Card covers. 

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Second Edition. Volume 1 covers the area between Thirlmere, Ullswater and Ambleside.

 

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Second Edition. Volume 2 covers the area east of Ullswater.
 

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Second Edition. Volume 3 covers the area bounded to the north by Keswick, to the east by Thirlmere, to the south by Great Langdale, and to the west by Borrowdale. 

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Second edition. Volume 4 covers the area bounded to the north by Great Langdale and to the west by Wasdale. 

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60 short walks (from 4-9 miles) in the area between Grasmere, Broughton in Furness, and Kendal. In general walks on the lower fells and in the valleys are described. By Aileen & Brian Evans. Card cover. 319 pages.

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57 short walks (from 4-9 miles) in the area between Caldbeck, Bassenthwaite Lake, Seathwaite, Grassmere, and the M6. In general walks on the lower fells and in the valleys are described. By Aileen & Brian Evans. Card cover. 268 pages.

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50 short walks (from 4-8 miles) in the Duddon Valley, Eskdale, Wasdale, Ennerdale, Lorton Vale, Buttermere, and surrounding areas. In general walks on the lower fells and in the valleys are described. By Aileen & Brian Evans. Card cover. 236 pages.

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12 superb high level walks from all parts of the Lakes, with clear maps and directions. By Paul Buttle. Card cover, 32 pages. 

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15 low level walks from all parts of the Lakes, with clear maps and directions. By Paul Buttle. Card cover, 36 pages. 

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15 walks around Keswick and Borrowdale arranged in the categories of Low Level, Intermediate,and High Level, with clear maps and interesting notes. By Paul Buttle. Card cover, 36 pages. 

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A similar booklet covering the Western Fells, again arranged in the categories of Low Level, Intermediate,and High Level, with clear maps and interesting notes. By Paul Buttle. Card cover, 36 pages. 

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14 short walks around Keswick and Borrowdale with clear maps, directions and interesting notes. By Paul Buttle. Card cover, 36 pages. 

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"Being a Guide to a Considered full week's Pedestrian Peregrination amongst the Major Mountains and Valleys in the County of Cumbria", from Stavely in a circular tour to Ambleside. Black and white photos and line maps. By Paul Buttle. Card cover, 96 pages. 

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The Cumbria Way starts at Ulverston in the south of the Lake District, and finishes at Carlisle in the north. It covers 70 miles, passes through some of the most beautiful scenery in England, and typically is accomplished in five longish days. A handy little booklet with clear maps and information - the official Ramblers' Association guide. By John Trevelyan. Card cover, 32 pages. 

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These thirty-one mainly low level walks on the outer fringes of the Lake District could be just the thing for those seeking a quiet time on a bank holiday weekend. By Robert Gambles. Black and white drawings and maps, card cover, 143 pages.

Sorry - out of print.

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Thi is the famous Coast to Coast - from St Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood's Bay in Yorkshire. 128 miles on footpaths which should be easily accomplishable in a fortnight. A good clear guide with lots of OS map sections and colour photos. By Terry Marsh. Plastic cover, 238 pages.

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27 classic Lakeland routes ranging from 12 to 60km long with clear maps, diagrams and lots of colour photos. By Chris Gore & Richard Staton. Card cover, 204 pages

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36 quite long routes at several levels of ability. By Jeremy Ashcroft. Card cover, 160 pages.

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A further 36 routes. By Jeremy Ashcroft. Card cover, 160 pages.

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A 260 mile circular waymarked route around Cumbria. By Roy Walker and Ron Jarvis. Card cover, black and white photos and maps, 127 pages. This is a cycling guide rather than a mountain bike guide.

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Detailed information on 110 rivers in Cumbria, Lancashire and West Yorkshire. Good maps and inspiring (not to say frightening) photos. By Stuart Miller, local mountain guide and rave expert. Card cover 342 pages.

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250 runs and playspots on 170 rivers in England. Well illustrated. Published by British Canoe Union. Card cover, 334 pages.

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Mabel Barker was one of the leading female rock climbers in the Lake District in the '20s and '30s. She made the first female lead of the Great Flake on Central Buttress and the first female traverse of the Cuillin Ridge. This well researched biography is by Jan Levi who regularly wins competitions for her writing. Hardback, several pages of historical photographs, 264 pages.

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Intruiging biography of Millican Dalton, the man who in the 1920s quit his office job for a life of living in caves and tents in Borrowdale and ekeing out a living as a self-styled "Professor of Adventure". Numerous period black and white photos. By M.D.Entistle. Card cover, 106 pages.

This item attracts a UK £1 postal charge but this is waived for Priority Orders or if the Order Total is greater than £60.

 

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The late Harry Griffin's tale of life as a young rock climber in the Lake District in the 1930s. A must for anyone interested in the history of Lakeland climbing, and particularly that of Dow Crag.

Sorry - out of print.

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Siegfried Herford was without doubt the best rockclimber of his generation and one of the best Britain has produced. He was particularly prolific in the Lake District where his new routes included Central Buttress, Scafell (HVS, 1914) and both North Climb (IV, 1913) and Walker's Gully (V, 1914), Pillar Rock in winter, as well as numerous other climbs. Tragically he was killed in the First World War, aged only 24.

Keith Treacher has obviously put a lot of research into this well written biography that includes a great many historical photos. Hardback, 168 pages.

This item attracts a UK £1 postal charge but this is waived for Priority Orders or if the Order Total is greater than £60. 

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