Discover some of the easiest Wainwrights to bag in the Lake District, with beginner-friendly walks, big views and simple tips for starting your Wainwright journey.
There are 214 Wainwrights in the Lake District, which can feel like quite a list when you are just getting started.
But the good news is that you do not need to begin with the biggest, steepest or most remote fells.
Some Wainwrights are short, achievable and surprisingly rewarding. They still give you proper Lake District views, a real summit feeling and that lovely little buzz of ticking another one off the list.
If you are new to Wainwright bagging, or you simply want a more relaxed day in the hills, these are some of the easiest Wainwrights to bag in the Lake District.
“Easy” is always a bit personal.
A walk that feels easy on a dry, calm summer morning can feel much harder in wind, rain or low cloud. Even the smaller Wainwrights can involve steep ground, muddy paths and uneven sections.
For this list, we are looking at Wainwrights that are generally more beginner-friendly because they usually have:
That does not mean they are effortless. This is still the Lake District, so it is worth checking the weather, wearing sensible footwear and taking the basics with you.
But if you pick the right day and the right route, these fells are a great way to start building confidence.
Best for: a gentle first Wainwright
Start point: Keswick or Gale Road car park
Difficulty: Easy
Latrigg is one of the best places to start if you want to bag your first Wainwright.
Sitting just above Keswick, it gives you brilliant views over the town, Derwentwater and the surrounding fells without demanding a huge amount of effort. If you start from Gale Road car park, the route is short, straightforward and very achievable for most new walkers.
It is also a great choice if you are feeling a little unsure about hill walking. You get the satisfaction of standing on a proper summit, but you are not committing to a long or remote route.
Latrigg is simple, scenic and confidence-boosting. Exactly what a first Wainwright should be.
If you are completely new to walking in the Lakes, Latrigg is a great “first tick”. Go on a clear day, take your time, and enjoy the view from the top.
Best for: a very gentle introduction
Start point: Windermere
Difficulty: Easy
Orrest Head is another brilliant beginner-friendly Wainwright.
The walk starts from Windermere and gives you a big viewpoint for relatively little effort. It is short, accessible and ideal if you want to ease into Wainwright bagging without taking on a full fell walk.
It is also a special one in Wainwright history. Orrest Head was the first summit Alfred Wainwright climbed in the Lake District, and the view helped spark his lifelong love of the fells.
That makes it a lovely place to begin your own list too.
The route is gentle compared with many Lake District walks, but the view from the top feels anything but small. On a good day, you can see across Windermere and out towards the higher fells.
Orrest Head is a great option if you are staying in or around Windermere and want a first Wainwright that does not take over the whole day.
Best for: short walk with huge Ullswater views
Start point: Martindale / St Peter’s Church
Difficulty: Easy
Hallin Fell is short, simple and very rewarding.
It sits above Ullswater and gives you a fantastic view for a relatively quick climb. The walk is not long, but it still feels like a proper little fell, with an obvious summit and plenty of scenery around you.
This is a great Wainwright if you want something that feels more remote and peaceful than the very popular beginner options around Keswick or Windermere.
It is also a good choice for a slower day. You can bag the summit, enjoy the Ullswater views and still have plenty of time for a relaxed wander, café stop or drive around the lake.
Hallin Fell is short, but it is still uphill. Do not be fooled by the distance. Take it steadily and save a bit of time to enjoy the summit.
Best for: gentle Grasmere views
Start point: Grasmere
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Silver How is a lovely step up once you have done one or two easier Wainwrights.
Starting from Grasmere, the route gives you beautiful views over the village, the lake and the surrounding fells. It feels more like a proper walk than some of the very short options, but it is still manageable for many beginners in good conditions.
There is enough ascent to make it feel like an achievement, but it is not usually as demanding as the bigger central fells nearby.
Silver How is a good choice if you want a walk that feels gentle but not too tiny. It gives you time to settle into the rhythm of walking and enjoy the scenery without feeling rushed.
The paths around Silver How can be muddy and a little confusing in places, so it is worth having your route downloaded before you set off.
Best for: flexible routes and classic Lake District scenery
Start point: Ambleside, Rydal or Grasmere
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Loughrigg Fell is one of the best Wainwrights for beginners because it gives you options.
You can start from Ambleside, Rydal or Grasmere, and you can shape the walk depending on how far you want to go. That flexibility makes it a great choice if you are building confidence and want a route that can be adapted to your day.
The views are brilliant too. From the summit and surrounding paths, you can enjoy views over Rydal Water, Grasmere, Windermere and the nearby fells.
Loughrigg is popular, but for good reason. It has that classic Lake District feel without needing to take on a high or technical mountain.
Choose your route before you go. Loughrigg has lots of paths, which is great for flexibility, but it also means it is worth knowing which way you plan to walk.
Best for: a Keswick-based beginner walk
Start point: Keswick, Great Wood or Ashness Bridge
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Walla Crag is a brilliant beginner walk if you are staying near Keswick.
It sits above Derwentwater and gives you some of the best views in the area. It is a little more involved than Latrigg, but still very achievable for many first-time Wainwright baggers.
The walk feels varied, with woodland, open fellside and fantastic viewpoints. You can keep it fairly short or turn it into a longer route depending on where you start.
Walla Crag is a good choice when you want something that feels like a proper Lake District walk without taking on one of the larger fells.
If you want a gentler day, keep the route simple. If you are feeling more confident, you can build it into a longer loop around Derwentwater or Ashness Bridge.
Best for: quieter views away from the busiest areas
Start point: Thackthwaite / Loweswater area
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Low Fell is a great option if you want something a little quieter.
It is not as well-known as Latrigg, Catbells or Loughrigg, but it gives you wonderful views towards Loweswater, Crummock Water and the western fells.
The walk is not especially long, but it can feel more remote than some of the easier Wainwrights close to towns. That makes it a good choice once you have built a bit of confidence and want to explore a less crowded corner of the Lakes.
Low Fell is peaceful, scenic and very satisfying for the effort involved.
Because it feels a little quieter and less obvious than some beginner routes, make sure you have a clear route planned and downloaded before setting off.
Best for: Ullswater views and a slightly bigger walk
Start point: Aira Force or Dockray
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Gowbarrow Fell is a lovely Wainwright near Ullswater and a good option if you are ready for a slightly bigger beginner walk.
It can be combined with Aira Force, which makes it a great day out if you want a mix of woodland, waterfalls and fell views. The summit gives excellent views over Ullswater and the surrounding hills.
This is not the shortest walk on the list, so it is better treated as a half-day outing rather than a quick summit tick. But in good weather, it is a very manageable and rewarding next step.
Starting from Aira Force can make the day feel more varied, but it is a popular area. Arrive early if you are walking at the weekend or during holidays.
Best for: short walk with big drama
Start point: Buttermere / Rannerdale
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Rannerdale Knotts is short, but it packs a lot in.
This is a brilliant little Wainwright near Buttermere, with dramatic views over Crummock Water, Buttermere and the surrounding fells. It feels much bigger than it is, which makes it a very satisfying one to bag.
There are steep sections, so it is not the easiest in the sense of being gentle all the way. But because the route is relatively short, it can be a great option for beginners who are comfortable taking their time on steeper ground.
It is also especially popular in bluebell season, when the lower slopes of Rannerdale can look incredible.
Do not rush the steeper sections. Rannerdale Knotts is short enough to take slowly, and the views are worth stopping for anyway.
Best for: a quiet first or second Wainwright
Start point: Wythop / near Bassenthwaite
Difficulty: Easy
Sale Fell is a gentle, quieter Wainwright near Bassenthwaite.
It is a good choice if you want something simple and less crowded than the more famous beginner fells. The walk is not too long, the climb is manageable, and the views across Bassenthwaite and towards the north-western fells are lovely.
Sale Fell also pairs well with Ling Fell if you want to bag two Wainwrights in one outing. But if you are just starting out, there is nothing wrong with doing Sale Fell on its own and keeping the day easy.
Sale Fell is ideal for a relaxed outing. If you are feeling good afterwards, Ling Fell can be a natural next step, but do not feel like you have to add it on.
There is no single right answer, but here is a simple way to choose.
If you want the easiest overall introduction, start with Latrigg.
If you are staying near Windermere, choose Orrest Head.
If you want a short climb with a big view, try Hallin Fell.
If you are based near Keswick, choose Latrigg or Walla Crag.
If you are near Ambleside or Grasmere, choose Loughrigg Fell or Silver How.
If you want somewhere quieter, look at Sale Fell or Low Fell.
If you want Ullswater views, choose Hallin Fell or Gowbarrow Fell.
If you want a short walk that feels dramatic, Rannerdale Knotts is a great option in good weather.
Even beginner-friendly Wainwrights are better when the weather is on your side.
Some walks on this list are still short and manageable, but they are much more enjoyable when visibility is good and the ground is not too wet.
It is worth saving these for a clearer day:
That does not mean you cannot do them in mixed conditions. It just means the views are a big part of the reward, and navigation can feel easier when the weather is settled.
If the forecast looks poor, choose something shorter, lower and easier to retreat from, like Latrigg or Orrest Head.
You do not need every piece of walking kit under the sun, but a few basics will make your day much more comfortable.
For an easy Wainwright walk, it is worth taking:
Even if the walk looks short, remember that Lake District weather can change quickly. A little bit of preparation goes a long way.
Start with one fell rather than trying to turn your first walk into a massive route.
It is tempting to look at the map and think you can link lots of summits together, but confidence comes from having a good day out, not from overdoing it.
Check the weather and daylight before setting off. In winter, short walks can still feel serious if you leave late or get caught out by fading light.
Download your route in advance, but do not rely only on phone signal. Some areas of the Lakes have patchy coverage.
Start early if you are heading to popular places like Latrigg, Loughrigg, Orrest Head, Walla Crag or Gowbarrow Fell.
Take your time on steep or rocky sections. There is no prize for getting up quickly, and stopping for views is one of the best bits.
Be happy to turn back. If the weather changes, the path feels wrong or you are not enjoying it, there is no shame in saving the summit for another day.
And finally, log your summits as you go. It is surprisingly satisfying watching your Wainwright list slowly build.
Once you have bagged a few easier Wainwrights, you can start to build things up naturally.
You might move from short single-fell walks to slightly longer loops. You might link two nearby Wainwrights together, like Sale Fell and Ling Fell, or start exploring different areas of the Lakes.
You will also begin to learn what sort of walks you enjoy most.
Some people love short, punchy climbs. Some prefer gentle routes with big views. Others quickly get hooked on longer days, ridges and bigger challenges.
There is no rush. The Wainwrights are not going anywhere.
Start with the easier ones, build confidence and let the list grow one summit at a time.
The easiest Wainwrights are not lesser walks.
They are often the best place to begin.
They give you confidence, help you learn what to expect from the Lake District, and remind you that peak bagging does not need to be extreme to be rewarding.
Whether your first Wainwright is Latrigg, Orrest Head, Hallin Fell or somewhere quieter like Sale Fell, the important thing is getting started.
One summit becomes two.
Two becomes ten.
And before you know it, the list starts to look a little less intimidating.
Ready to start ticking off the Wainwrights?
Use Peaky Baggers to log your summits, track your progress and build your Lake District list one walk at a time.
Photo by Jonny Gios on Unsplash
