Phil's Hiking Resources

Introduction

The challenge of completing all 214 Wainwright summits as detailed in Alfred Wainwright set of Pictorial Guides is one of the most popular, if not the most popular hill bagging challenges in the UK.

The Pictorial Guides were not devised as a Hill Bagging List per se, moreover Wainwright was more about exploring each individual fell, Wainwright did devote a section of each chapter to the Summit area. As such it’s entirely appropriate that lovers of the Lake District want to visit each and every summit.

In the last decade technology has come to dominate our day to day lives and this is no different to exploring the Great Outdoors. GPS has taken over our navigation whether it’s via aeroplanes, boats, motor vehicles and now shank’s pony. Walking GPS’s whether via dedicated units or Apps on Mobile phones greatly improve the accuracy of navigation in the mountains and as a result improves safety for all.

The explosion of GPS units and Apps means there is a need for even greater data accuracy with GPS units requiring 10 figure Grid References which are accurate to 1 metre square.

The Issue

Within the UK the Database of British and Irish Hills (DoBIH) is regarded by most other hill bagging websites and hill list apps as the ‘golden source’ of their data feeds.

This leads to a fundamental issue as to the identification of the summit location between DoBIH and many (older) lists such as Wainwright: –

• The DoBIH define the Summit of a hill as a single point that is the highest natural ground above sea level (Ordnance Datum Newlyn in mainland Britain or Malin Head for all Ireland) on that hill.
• However as noted by DoBIH Wainwright’s preference was for a recognisable feature such as a Cairn, shelter of Trig Point. Wainwright did not use Grid References to identify summit locations instead relying upon a mixture of Spot Height, sketch location map with black triangle for the summit, the description of the summit and a sketch of the summit location.

The importance of this distinction was not material when people used paper maps and six figure grid references as the rounding in the latter largely addressed the differences however with GPS units requiring much more accurate ten figure grid references the issue becomes more acute.

The DoBIH have sought to address these differences by adding a Note Field where differences between the true summit and the Wainwright summit are noted. This is fine if one is planning routes from the Hillbagging (and some other) websites but most Apps and other Hill Listings only take the data feed of the ten figure grid reference in DoBIH.

To illustrate the point let’s use an example of Gray Crag.

DoBIH/ Hill Bagging notes the true summit to be at NY 42756 11709 with a note “this is Nuttall summit S of wall; Wainwright summit is N of wall at NY 42672 11869”.

The excellent IOS App Hill Lists by Graham Haley lists Gray Crag summit location as NY 42756 11709.

Highlighting this issue is not to disparage DoBIH or any of the websites/ apps that take data feeds but to highlight the key point that the latter (as they don’t take the Notes data feed) can be misleading as to the location of the Wainwright summit.

In this particular case, people often climb it as an out/ back from Thornthwaite Crag therefore may out on the Wainwright summit by not walking the extra 150 metres or so to the Wainwright summit position.

The object of this research was therefore to identify and highlight all those Wainwright summits that differ from the true summit location as defined in DoBIH to arrive at a more accurate ten figure grid reference for each Wainwright summit.

Data Accuracy

How accurate should the grid reference be?

A 10-figure grid reference is suitable for input to most hand-held GPS instruments.

Three independent studies have shown that the error in on the ground measurements has been determined as ±8.5m (three standard deviations), with the majority accurate to within ±5m of the summit feature. Any measurements with survey grade GPS receivers (indicated in the Survey field) will be accurate to 1m.

Different brands on GPS units may result in slightly different readings depending on their software and atmospheric conditions may mean data accuracy of 3 to 5 metres.

I therefore decided to set a standard for the ten figure grid reference to be accurate to less than 10 metres.

 

Group A

Where the Wainwright summit is a different recognised summit from the summit recorded on DoBIH. There are six summits in this group.

Gibson Knott		GR: NY 31855 09924
Hill Name	Horn Crag	DoBIH Name	Gibson Knott
Hill ID	303310	DoBIH Number	2494
Height	421.9m / 1,384ft	Height	420m / 1,378ft
Summit Feature	Cairn	Summit Feature	Cairn on rocky outcrop
Grid Reference	NY 31855 09924	Grid Reference	NY 31690 10036

 

Note DoBIH Observation: “Wainwright summit; Cairn 200m SE at NY 31855 09924 is about 2m higher.” This summit is unusual in that DoBIH does not recognise the true summit position as the highest point of Gibson Knott.

Pointers to the Wainwright summit position from the Pictorial Guide:

The sketch map shows the summit position as directly north of Horn Crag.

Spot Height of 1,379 feet. Whilst now corrected to 1,384 feet, the 1,379 feet spot height was the one recorded on old Imperial mapping.

Wainwright states “it is perhaps safer to say that Gibson Knott is the Ordnance Survey’s only trigonometrical station on the ridge and that usually the most elevated point is selected”.

“The summit is an abrupt rise, surmounted by a Cairn above a smooth rock wall.”

 

Glaramara		GR: NY 24722 10561
Hill Name	Glaramara North Top	DoBIH Name	Glaramara
Hill ID	500023	DoBIH Number	2389
Height	781m / 2562ft	Height	783m / 2569ft
Summit Feature	Rocky platform bearing two Cairns	Summit Feature	pointed rock 10m south of Cairn
Grid Reference	NY 24722 10561	Grid Reference	NY 24600 10456

 

Note DoBIH Observation: “Nuttall summit; Wainwright summit (Cairn) 160m NE at NY 24722 10561 and Cairn 55m W are lower”.

Pointers to the Wainwright summit position from the Pictorial Guide:

The sketch map shows the summit position as the southern of two Cairns on the North East Top. This ties in with latest OS mapping.

Spot Height of 2,960 feet – within the metric to imperial rounding tolerance of 3 feet.

Wainwright states “Twin summits of rock….but indisputably the finer is that to the north east…bearing two Cairns”.

Old Imperial mapping did not recognise the current true summit of Glaramara and as such various Hill Bagging Lists identified Glaramara North Top as the summit of Glaramara: Corbett25, Docharty, Falkingham, Moss2000 and Simpson.

 

Haystacks (Buttermere)		GR: NY 19336 13204
Hill Name	Haystacks North Top	DoBIH Name	Haystacks (Buttermere)
Hill ID	501446	DoBIH Number	2457
Height	595m / 1952ft	Height	597m / 1959ft
Summit Feature	Cairn	Summit Feature	Cairn
Grid Reference	NY 19336 13204	Grid Reference	NY 19335 13151

 

Note DoBIH Observation: “Wainwright/Birkett is Cairn 50m north at NY 19336 13204”.

Pointers to the Wainwright summit position from the Pictorial Guide:

The Wainwright sketch map shows the summit position as the northern of two Cairns.

Spot Height of 1,900 feet approx. – no OS Spot Height but instead twin 1,900 feet contour circles.

Wainwright states “The highest part of the fell is a small rocky ridge, fifty yards in length, with a Cairn at each end, and a tarn alongside to the west. The two Cairns are at approximately the same elevation, but the north one, lying on the line of the path across the top of the fell, is usually reckoned to be the true summit”.

The summit sketch shows a metal stake extending from the summit Cairn. This is still there.

Modern surveying equipment now show the southern Cairn as the true summit but Wainwright sits alongside Birkett and Docharty in declaring the Northern Cairn as the summit.

Interestingly Docharty is the only known hill list author to declare twin summits here recognising the second 1,900 foot contour circle in his research work.

 

Illgill Head		GR: NY 16542 04804
Hill Name	Illgill Head (Docharty summit)	DoBIH Name	Illgill Head
Hill ID	501445	DoBIH Number	2454
Height	604m / 1982ft	Height	608.8m / 1997ft
Summit Feature	Cairn	Summit Feature	rock
Grid Reference	NY 16542 04804	Grid Reference	NY 16898 04924

 

Note DoBIH Observation: “Wainwright summit is a Cairn at NY165048 which is at least 3m lower than true summit”.

Pointers to the Wainwright summit position from the Pictorial Guide:

The Wainwright sketch map shows the summit position at the western end of the summit contour overlooking the Wasdale Screes.

Spot Height of 1,983 feet – within the metric to imperial rounding tolerance of 3 feet. The old OS maps incorrectly showed the Wainwright summit as the higher of the two spot heights on Illgill Head

 

Low Fell		GR: NY 13597 22264
Hill Name	Loweswater Fell (Low Fell)	DoBIH Name	Low Fell
Hill ID	3780	DoBIH Number	2493
Height	412m / 1352ft	Height	423m / 1388ft
Summit Feature	Cairn on rock	Summit Feature	ground by small Cairn
Grid Reference	NY 13597 22264	Grid Reference	NY 13732 22616

 

Note DoBIH Observation: “An alternative location for the Wainwright is the south top at NY136223 (412m)”

Pointers to the Wainwright summit position from the Pictorial Guide:

The Wainwright sketch map shows the summit position at the southern end of the 1,300 feet contour circle but Low Fell 5 also references “map shows ‘1350’ contours at both places”.

Wainwright states “The most southerly eminence has the main Cairn” and “two Cairns 100 and 120 yards southeast of the main Cairn indicate better viewpoints”.

The summit page also has a separate smaller sketch entitled ‘Cairn on the north top’.

Wainwright estimated the summit height as approx. 1360’ which is much closer to the Loweswater Fell current height than Low Fell.

 

Thunacar Knott		GR: NY 27909 08136
Hill Name	Thunacar Knott North Top	DoBIH Name	Thunacar Knott
Hill ID	500026	DoBIH Number	2413
Height	715m / 2346ft	Height	723m / 2372ft
Summit Feature	Cairn	Summit Feature	rock 3m NNE of Cairn
Grid Reference	NY 27909 08136	Grid Reference	NY 27975 07992

 

Note DoBIH Observation: None relating to Wainwright summit location.

Pointers to the Wainwright summit position from the Pictorial Guide:

The Wainwright sketch map shows the summit position north of a small tarn.

Wainwright states “The recognised summit, surmounted by a well-made Cairn, is a mound north of the tarn; the benchmark height is 2351’”. This ties in with the mapping of the era with the 2351’ Spot Height on the northern summit.

 

 

Group B

Some 37 Wainwright summits which are greater than 10 metres from the current true summit. The average deviation (excluding Mellbreak see note) is 54 metres.

Bannerdale Crags		GR: NY 33612 29076
Wainwright Summit Feature	Cairn	DoBIH Summit Feature	rock 3m NE of pile of stones
Deviation	97m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 33529 29026

 

Birks		GR: NY 38179 14485
Wainwright Summit Feature	Cairn	DoBIH Summit Feature	no feature: grass mound
Deviation	203m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 38020 14356

 

Bleaberry Fell		GR: NY 28562 19573
Wainwright Summit Feature	windshelter	DoBIH Summit Feature	rock 10m E of windshelter
Deviation	15m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 28577 19577

 

Brandreth		GR: NY 21489 11928
Wainwright Summit Feature	Cairn	DoBIH Summit Feature	rock
Deviation	38m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 21454 11916

 

Caw Fell		GR: NY 13185 10999
Wainwright Summit Feature	Cairn	DoBIH Summit Feature	rock 13m E of Cairn
Deviation	25m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 13210 10996

 

Crag Hill [Eel Crag]		GR: NY 19270 20365
Wainwright Summit Feature	trig point	DoBIH Summit Feature	no feature 35m S of trig point
Deviation	42m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 19274 20333

 

Dale Head		GR: NY 22310 15330
Wainwright Summit Feature	large Cairn	DoBIH Summit Feature	no feature 18m W of large Cairn
Deviation	21m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 22289 15325

 

Dodd (Skiddaw)		GR: NY 24422 27354
Wainwright Summit Feature	Cairn	DoBIH Summit Feature	ground 2m NE of monument
Deviation	20m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 24442 27350

 

Due to forestry operations the summit of Dodd (Skiddaw) has changed materially since Wainwright’s era. As such it is difficult to be certain of Wainwright’s summit position. A separate analysis on the probability of the Wainwright summit position is available from ron.bowron@btopenworld.com.

 

Fellbarrow – Mosser Fell		GR: NY 13222 24247
Wainwright Summit Feature	trig point	DoBIH Summit Feature	no feature: ground 20m SE of trig point
Deviation	22m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 13240 24235

 

Gray Crag		GR: NY 42672 11869
Wainwright Summit Feature	Cairn	DoBIH Summit Feature	rock
Deviation	181m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 42756 11709

 

Great Borne		GR: NY 12391 16381
Wainwright Summit Feature	Trig Point	DoBIH Summit Feature	rock
Deviation	23m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 12394 16358

 

Great Dodd		GR: NY 34195 20557
Wainwright Summit Feature	Cairn	DoBIH Summit Feature	no feature: ground 30m SSE of Cairn
Deviation	29m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 34204 20529

 

Great Rigg		GR: NY 35584 10395
Wainwright Summit Feature	Cairn	DoBIH Summit Feature	rock 15m NE of Cairn
Deviation	14m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 35593 10406

 

Grey Crag [Sleddale Fell]		GR: NY 49707 07178
Wainwright Summit Feature	Cairn	DoBIH Summit Feature	rocky outcrop
Deviation	43m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 49714 07220

 

Hart Side		GR: NY 35887 19748
Wainwright Summit Feature	Cairn	DoBIH Summit Feature	rock within 20m of 2 Cairns
Deviation	24m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 35902 19729

 

High Raise [High Raise (High White Stones)]		GR: NY 28076 09539
Wainwright Summit Feature	trig point	DoBIH Summit Feature	rock 15m SSE of trig point
Deviation	19m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 28089 09523

 

Holme Fell		GR: NY 31531 00657
Wainwright Summit Feature	Cairn on large rock outcrop	DoBIH Summit Feature	rock 60m SSW of Cairn
Deviation	57m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 31503 00605

 

Ling Fell		GR: NY 17961 28593
Wainwright Summit Feature	trig point	DoBIH Summit Feature	no feature
Deviation	67m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 17994 28535

 

Loadpot Hill		GR: NY 45731 18083
Wainwright Summit Feature	boundary stone	DoBIH Summit Feature	no feature: ground 80m SW of trig point
Deviation	100m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 45637 18046

 

Lonscale Fell		GR: NY 28540 27171
Wainwright Summit Feature	Cairn	DoBIH Summit Feature	no feature: ground 25m S of Cairn
Deviation	28m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 28545 27144

 

Maiden Moor		GR: NY 23671 18202
Wainwright Summit Feature	Cairn	DoBIH Summit Feature	no feature
Deviation	17m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 23677 18188

 

Meal Fell		GR: NY 28258 33711
Wainwright Summit Feature	large shelter	DoBIH Summit Feature	small Cairn
Deviation	68m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 28301 33763

 

Mellbreak		GR: NY 14327 19495
Wainwright Summit Feature	Cairn	DoBIH Summit Feature	small Cairn on flat rock
Deviation	1020m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 14843 18613

 

Note: Mellbreak has North and South tops. The Wainwright summit sketch is of a cairn with a description “south-east from the north top”, behind the cairn Wainwright sketched and named outlines of various fells including the South Top.  He also commented “The more attractive of the two is the heathery north top” and “An odd thing about both summits is that the cairn on each is not quite on the highest ground”. The cairn is 35m north East of Mellbreak North Top true summit.

 

Rampsgill Head		GR: NY 44227 12772
Wainwright Summit Feature	Cairn	DoBIH Summit Feature	rock
Deviation	145m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 44333 12871

 

Rest Dodd		GR: NY 43271 13701
Wainwright Summit Feature	Cairn	DoBIH Summit Feature	grass mound
Deviation	53m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 43256 13646

 

Robinson		GR: NY 20180 16873
Wainwright Summit Feature	Cairn	DoBIH Summit Feature	rock
Deviation	13m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 20193 16872

 

Sail		GR: NY 19822 20291
Wainwright Summit Feature	Cairn	DoBIH Summit Feature	ground 10m SW of Cairn (actually 17m)
Deviation	17m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 19817 20275

  

Scar Crags		GR: NY 20749 20598
Wainwright Summit Feature	Cairn	DoBIH Summit Feature	Cairn
Deviation	119m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 20849 20662

 

Seat Sandal		GR: NY 34390 11515
Wainwright Summit Feature	Cairn	DoBIH Summit Feature	rock on knoll by ruined wall
Deviation	34m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 34420 11530

 

Seatallan		GR: NY 13944 08401
Wainwright Summit Feature	large Cairn	DoBIH Summit Feature	no feature: ground 12m SSW of small Cairn
Deviation	72m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 14003 08443

 

Selside Pike		GR: NY 49073 11186
Wainwright Summit Feature	Wind shelter	DoBIH Summit Feature	grassy rise with embedded rocks 40m SSW of wind shelter
Deviation	43m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 49062 11145

 

Sour Howes		GR: NY 42832 03198
Wainwright Summit Feature	Shaly ridge	DoBIH Summit Feature	grassy hummock
Deviation	69m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 42766 03217

 

Stony Cove Pike [Caudale Moor]		GR: NY 41867 09997
Wainwright Summit Feature	Cairn	DoBIH Summit Feature	rock
Deviation	86m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 41782 10006

 

Stybarrow Dodd		GR: NY 34296 18923
Wainwright Summit Feature	Cairn	DoBIH Summit Feature	no feature: ground 15m SE of Cairn at NY 34296 18923
Deviation	19m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 34308 18908

 

Thornthwaite Crag		GR: NY 43138 10008
Wainwright Summit Feature	beacon	DoBIH Summit Feature	rock 45m N of beacon
Deviation	47m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 43150 10050

 

Troutbeck Tongue		GR: NY 42233 06386
Wainwright Summit Feature	Cairn	DoBIH Summit Feature	grassy knoll
Deviation	45m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 42240 06428

 

Wether Hill		GR: NY 45571 16782
Wainwright Summit Feature	Cairn	DoBIH Summit Feature	no feature: rough grass
Deviation	29m	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 45596 16767

 

Group C

These Wainwright summits are correct in DoBIH but worth noting as an alternative true summit with the same/ similar name is close by. Important not to get the summits confused when bagging the Wainwright summit.

Armboth Fell
Wainwright		Alternative Summit
Wainwright Name	Armboth Fell	Alternative summit name	Armboth Fell (Birkett)
Wainwright Summit Feature	rocky mound	DoBIH Summit Feature	large smooth outcrop
Wainwright GR	NY 29584 15739	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 29679 15968
Height	475m / 1558ft	Height	480m / 1575ft

 

Brock Crags
Wainwright		Alternative Summit
Wainwright Name	Brock Crags (Wainwright)	Alternative summit name	Brock Crags
Wainwright Summit Feature	large cairn	DoBIH Summit Feature	no feature: large grassy mound
Wainwright GR	NY 41666 13662	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 41903 13699
Height	561.2m / 1841ft	Height	564.3m (1851ft)

 

Gowbarrow Fell
Wainwright		Alternative Summit
Wainwright Name	Gowbarrow Fell (Wainwright summit)	Alternative summit name	Gowbarrow Fell
Wainwright Summit Feature	trig point	DoBIH Summit Feature	embedded rock
Wainwright GR	NY 40762 21821	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 40731 21722
Height	481.2m / 1579ft	Height	481.2m / 1579ft **

** NB: the Wainwright summit hill (rock 3m SE of trig point) is 1cm lower hence no difference in height quoted due to rounding.

Graystones
Wainwright		Alternative Summit
Wainwright Name	Graystones	Alternative summit name	Graystones (Birkett)
Wainwright Summit Feature	small cairn on rocky outcrop	DoBIH Summit Feature	cairn on rocky outcrop
Wainwright GR	NY 17616 26621	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 17760 26491
Height	452m / 1483ft	Height	456m / 1496ft

 

High Stile
Wainwright		Alternative Summit
Wainwright Name	High Stile	Alternative summit name	High Stile (Grey Crag – High Stile)
Wainwright Summit Feature	large cairn	DoBIH Summit Feature	small cairn
Wainwright GR	NY 16740 14787	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 17009 14817
Height	806m / 2644ft	Height	807m / 2648ft

 

Rosthwaite Fell
Wainwright		Alternative Summit
Wainwright Name	Rosthwaite Fell – Bessyboot	Alternative summit name	Rosthwaite Fell (Rosthwaite Cam)
Wainwright Summit Feature	Cairn	DoBIH Summit Feature	rock tor
Wainwright GR	NY 25831 12479	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 25586 11828
Height	551m / 1808ft	Height	612m / 2008ft

 

Seathwaite Fell
Wainwright		Alternative Summit
Wainwright Name	Seathwaite Fell (Wainwright summit)	Alternative summit name	Seathwaite Fell (Great Slack – Seathwaite Fell)
Wainwright Summit Feature	Cairn	DoBIH Summit Feature	Cairn on rock
Wainwright GR	NY 22904 10183	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 22735 09710
Height	601m / 1972ft	Height	632m / 2073ft

 

Wansfell
Wainwright		Alternative Summits
Wainwright Name	Baystones [Wansfell]	Alternative summit name 1	Wansfell (Baystones)
Wainwright Summit Feature	Cairn	DoBIH Summit Feature	no feature: mound
Wainwright GR	NY 40314 05143	DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 40356 05275
Height	486.9m / 1597ft	Height	486.1m / 1595ft
		Alternative summit name 2	Wansfell Pike
		DoBIH Summit Feature	outcrop 6m S of fence
		DoBIH Grid Reference	NY 39416 04169
		Height	484.3m / 1589ft

In respect of Wansfell, the Wainwright summit is the true summit in this area. The naming conventions between Wansfell and Baystones makes it confusing. Also, some people confuse Wansfell with Wansfell Pike at the south western end of the ridge mainly because it’s the visible summit from Ambleside.

Group D

The final grouping to note is where the Wainwright summit is correct but there is a true summit nearby which is NOT recognised as a summit in the DoBIH.

Bakestall		GR: NY 26634 30855
Wainwright		True Summit
Wainwright Summit Feature	Cairn	True Summit Feature	Cairn
Deviation	114m	Grid Reference	NY 26644 30746
Height	658m / 2519ft	Height	673m / 2208ft

 

Blea Rigg		GR: NY 30167 07834
Wainwright		True Summit
Wainwright Summit Feature	Cairn	True Summit Feature	rocky knoll
Deviation	92m	Grid Reference	NY 30079 07807
Height	541m / 1775ft	Height	544m / 1785ft

 

Bonscale Pike		GR: NY 45348 20085
Wainwright		True Summit
Wainwright Summit Feature	small cairn	True Summit Feature	Cairn
Deviation	142m	Grid Reference	NY 45314 19950
Height	524m / 1719ft	Height	529m / 1736ft

 

Broom Fell		GR: NY 19444 27191
Wainwright		True Summit
Wainwright Summit Feature	tall cairn	True Summit Feature	Cairn
Deviation	174m	Grid Reference	NY 19545 27055
Height	504m / 1654ft	Height	511m / 1677ft

 

Tarn Crag (Easedale)		GR: NY 30371 09302
Wainwright		True Summit
Wainwright Summit Feature	cairn on rocky outcrop	True Summit Feature	No feature
Deviation	100m	Grid Reference	NY 30277 09335
Height	549m / 1801ft	Height	552m / 1811ft

 

Author – Ron Bowron

 

Author: Phil Newby

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