walking the wainwrights
A multi-day guided challenge through the Lake District’s classic fell horseshoes — choose your challenge, from a 3-day taster to the full 10-day Wainwright Collection, led throughout by a qualified Mountain Leader.
About the Challenge
Eight Classic Horseshoes. One Unforgettable Week (or Two).…
Alfred Wainwright spent thirteen years walking and drawing his way around 214 Lakeland fells. Many of the finest ones fall naturally into horseshoe-shaped rounds — high-level circuits that link a whole chain of summits around the head of a single valley in one continuous day on the ridge. Walking the Wainwrights takes eight of the very best of these classic rounds and turns them into a structured, multi-day challenge: choose a 3-day taster, or work up to the full 10-day collection.
Unlike our single-day alternative challenge events, this is a multi-day series — consecutive days on the fells, built around a small number of valley bases, with free days worked in as the itinerary lengthens so the group can travel between bases. Ikigai Adventures provides the guiding only: a qualified Mountain Leader on every challenge day, with navigation and safety cover taken care of. Accommodation and travel between valley bases are arranged independently by each participant. It’s created for experienced, fit walkers and returning corporate or charity groups looking for the next level after the Yorkshire 3 Peaks, as well as anyone working through their own Wainwright-bagging list who wants the route-finding taken care of by a qualified leader.
The Eight Challenges: Wainwrights at a Glance
Each challenge below is one big day on the hill in its own right. Rather than a turn-by-turn route description, here’s what each round includes: the named Wainwright fells (in alphabetical order), the overall distance and ascent, and a difficulty grade to help with booking decisions.
Difficulty grading scale used throughout: Easy / Moderate / Hard / Very Hard. These are relative to fit, mountain-experienced walkers already used to a full day on rough terrain — all eight challenges assume a good level of fitness as a baseline; none are suitable as a first-ever hillwalk.
Buttermere Horseshoe
Wainwrights on this challenge (A–Z): Fleetwith Pike (648m), Haystacks (597m), High Crag (744m), High Stile (807m), Red Pike (755m)
- Overall distance : ~12 miles (19km)
- Total ascent : ~1,200m
- Difficulty grade : Hard
Wainwright’s own favourite fell, Haystacks, sits at the heart of this round — his ashes were scattered near Innominate Tarn on its summit.
Coledale Horseshoe
Wainwrights on this challenge (A–Z): Barrow (455m), Causey Pike (637m), Crag Hill / Eel Crag (839m), Grisedale Pike (791m), Hopegill Head (770m), Outerside (568m), Sail (773m), Scar Crags (672m)
- Overall distance : ~11 miles (17.7km)
- Total ascent : ~1,300m
- Difficulty grade : Hard
Wainwright’s own favourite fell, Haystacks, sits at the heart of this round — his ashes were scattered near Innominate Tarn on its summit.
Fairfield Horseshoe
Wainwrights on this challenge (A–Z): Dove Crag (792m), Fairfield (873m), Great Rigg (766m), Hart Crag (822m), Heron Pike (612m), High Pike (656m), Low Pike (508m), Nab Scar (450m)
- Overall distance : ~11 miles (17.5km)
- Total ascent : ~1,050m
- Difficulty grade : Moderate
Wainwright’s own favourite fell, Haystacks, sits at the heart of this round — his ashes were scattered near Innominate Tarn on its summit.
Kentmere Horseshoe
Wainwrights on this challenge (A–Z): Froswick (720m), Harter Fell (778m), Ill Bell (757m), Kentmere Pike (730m), Mardale Ill Bell (760m), Shipman Knotts (587m), Thornthwaite Crag (784m), Yoke (706m)
- Overall distance : ~13 miles (21km)
- Total ascent : ~1,300
- Difficulty grade : Hard
Langdale Horseshoe
Wainwrights on this challenge (A–Z): Bowfell (903m), Crinkle Crags (859m), Harrison Stickle (736m), Loft Crag (682m), Pavey Ark (700m), Pike of Blisco (703m), Pike of Stickle (708m), Rossett Pike (651m), Thunacar Knott (723m)
- Overall distance : ~13 miles (20km)
- Total ascent : ~1,500m
- Difficulty grade : Very hard
The biggest single day of the eight, with an optional scramble at the Bad Step on Crinkle Crags (there’s always a walkers’ path around it).
Mosedale Horseshoe
Wainwrights on this challenge (A–Z): Kirk Fell (802m), Pillar (892m), Red Pike, Wasdale (826m), Scoat Fell (841m), Yewbarrow (628m)
- Overall distance : ~14 miles (22.5km)
- Total ascent : ~1,150m
- Difficulty grade : Very Hard
The remotest and most serious of the eight, in the heart of Wasdale. Includes a short rocky scramble (Stirrup Crag) on the ascent of Yewbarrow — a good head for heights helps. Reserved as the finale of the longest package.
Newlands Horseshoe
Wainwrights on this challenge (A–Z): Catbells (451m), Dale Head (753m), High Spy (653m), Hindscarth (727m), Maiden Moor (576m), Robinson (737m)
- Overall distance : ~11 miles (18km)
- Total ascent : ~1,100m
- Difficulty grade : Hard
Ullswater Bay
Wainwrights on this challenge (A–Z): Hallin Fell (388m) — the only Wainwright directly on the standard route
- Overall distance : ~20 miles (32km), full circuit of the lake
- Total ascent : Modest and undulating rather than mountainous (well under 1,000m cumulative)
- Difficulty grade : Moderate
A genuinely different kind of day to the other seven: a low-level, waymarked circuit of the whole lake rather than a fell-summit horseshoe. It earns its place through distance and duration, not height gained or technical terrain — useful as a change of pace within a longer package, or as a standalone endurance day. Place Fell (657m) can be taken in as an optional high-level detour but isn’t part of the standard low-level route.
At a Glance
Four fixed packages, each building on the last. Every challenge day is led by a qualified Mountain Leader; guiding only — free days are built in once the itinerary moves between valley bases, giving participants time to travel and check into their next base under their own arrangements.
Recommendations only – Ikigai Adventures does not book or arrange accommodation. These are suggested areas for participants to find their own accommodation, listed by valley base.
Ambleside / Kentmere leg | Ambleside or Windermere (Fairfield Horseshoe); Staveley or Kendal is a short drive from Kentmere itself, which has very limited accommodation |
Ullswater leg | Glenridding, Patterdale or Pooley Bridge |
Keswick / Buttermere leg | Keswick (widest choice) or Braithwaite; Buttermere village itself has very limited accommodation |
Langdale leg | Great Langdale — Chapel Stile, Elterwater, or near the Old Dungeon Ghyll |
Wasdale leg | Wasdale Head itself is very limited — Gosforth or Nether Wasdale offer more choice, a short drive from the start point |
3-Day Challenge — The Northern Fells
A single-base, back-to-back introduction from Keswick/Buttermere (accommodation arranged independently). Three consecutive Hard-graded days — a serious long weekend for fit, experienced walkers.
Day | Challenge | Grade |
Day 1 | Newlands Horseshoe | Hard |
Day 2 | Coledale Horseshoe | Hard |
Day 3 | Buttermere Horseshoe | Hard |
5-Day Challenge — Ambleside to the Buttermere Valley
Opens with the most accessible horseshoe as a warm-up, then steps up across two valley bases. Participants arrange their own accommodation and travel between bases.
Day | Challenge | Grade |
Day 1 | Fairfield Horseshoe | Moderate |
Day 2 | Kentmere Horseshoe | Hard |
Day 3 | Free day — travel to Keswick/Buttermere (self-arranged) | — |
Day 4 | Newlands Horseshoe | Hard |
Day 5 | Buttermere Horseshoe | Hard |
8-Day Challenge — The Wainwright Collection
Originally scoped as 7 days — extended to 8 to add a dedicated free day before Langdale rather than requiring travel and a Very Hard walk on the same day. Flag if you’d rather keep this at 7 days by shortening a free day elsewhere instead.
The core six challenges across three valley bases, with free days built in for participants to travel and change base under their own arrangements.
Day | Challenge | Grade |
Day 1 | Fairfield Horseshoe | Moderate |
Day 2 | Kentmere Horseshoe | Hard |
Day 3 | Free day — travel to Keswick/Buttermere (self-arranged) | — |
Day 4 | Newlands Horseshoe | Hard |
Day 5 | Coledale Horseshoe | Hard |
Day 6 | Buttermere Horseshoe | Hard |
Day 7 | Free day — travel to Langdale (self-arranged) | — |
Day 8 | Langdale Horseshoe | Very Hard |
10-Day Challenge — The Complete Wainwright Challenge
All eight horseshoes, across four valley bases, finishing with the toughest and most remote round of the collection in Wasdale. Accommodation and travel between bases are arranged independently by participants throughout.
Day | Challenge | Grade |
Day 1 | Fairfield Horseshoe | Moderate |
Day 2 | Kentmere Horseshoe | Hard |
Day 3 | Ullswater Way | Moderate |
Day 4 | Free day — travel to Keswick/Buttermere (self-arranged) | — |
Day 5 | Newlands Horseshoe | Hard |
Day 6 | Coledale Horseshoe | Hard |
Day 7 | Buttermere Horseshoe | Hard |
Day 8 | Free day — travel to Langdale/Wasdale (self-arranged) | — |
Day 9 | Langdale Horseshoe | Very Hard |
Day 10 | Mosedale Horseshoe (Grand Finale) | Very Hard |
What's included
- A qualified, first-aid trained Mountain Leader guiding every challenge day
- All route planning, navigation and group safety cover on the hill
What's not included
- Accommodation — arranged independently by each participant
- Travel to, from and between valley bases — arranged independently by each participant
- Food and drink — please bring your own snacks and water for each challenge day
Who's it for?
The Next Level After the Yorkshire 3 Peaks
Walking the Wainwrights is built for fit, experienced walkers and returning corporate or charity groups who’ve already taken on a single-day challenge and want something bigger: a properly structured multi-day test in the heart of the Lake District. It’s equally suited to individuals working through their own Wainwright list who want the logistics, navigation and safety cover handled for them, freeing them up to enjoy the fells. [link: Corporate Team Events] | [link: Charity Partnerships]
Walking the Wainwrights - Your Questions Answered
What is Walking the Wainwrights?
A multi-day guided challenge combining classic Lake District fell horseshoes, each linking a chain of named Wainwright summits in one high-level circuit. Packages range from 3 to 10 days.
How many Wainwright challenges are included?
Eight: the Buttermere, Coledale, Fairfield, Kentmere, Langdale, Mosedale and Newlands Horseshoes, plus the low-level Ullswater Way. Each package uses a different combination, building up to all eight in the 10-day Complete Wainwright Challenge.
How hard is it?
All eight challenges assume a good level of fitness and are graded Moderate to Very Hard. None are suitable as a first-ever hillwalk — this is a challenge for people already comfortable with a full day on rough mountain terrain.
Is the Ullswater Way a mountain walk?
No — it’s a low-level, waymarked 20-mile circuit of the lake, included for its distance and endurance value rather than summit height. It only crosses one Wainwright, Hallin Fell, directly on the standard route.
Do I need scrambling experience?
A short scramble is involved on Yewbarrow (Mosedale Horseshoe) and there’s an optional scrambly section on Crinkle Crags (Langdale Horseshoe, with a walkers’ path around it). No technical climbing is required, but a good head for heights helps on both.
Is this an alternative to the Yorkshire 3 Peaks?
Yes — it’s the next step up for returning corporate and charity groups, as well as individuals, wanting a longer, multi-day challenge after a single-day event.
Can I book with a private group, or do I join an open group?
Both options are available on every package. Open/shared-group bookings join you with other participants at a per-person price; private-group bookings reserve the Mountain Leader for your own group, priced per guide and split among the group.
What's included?
A qualified, first-aid trained Mountain Leader on every challenge day, plus navigation and group safety cover throughout. This is a guiding-only challenge — accommodation and travel between valley bases are arranged independently by each participant.
Do you arrange accommodation or transport between valleys?
No. Ikigai Adventures provides the guided walking only. Participants arrange their own accommodation and travel between valley bases, though suggested areas to stay are given for each leg of the challenge.
Ready to Take On the Wainwrights?
Choose your challenge — from a 3-day taster to the full 10-day collection — and let an expert Mountain Leader guide you through some of the finest fell walking in England.