The Birketts

The idea of listing summits, as Wainwright did, is not unique, even to the Lake District. There are many other lists of hills and mountains doing the rounds, and the other significant one for Cumbria is the ‘Birketts’ — the 541 peaks listed in Bill Birkett’s 1994 book, Complete Lakeland Fells. The information on this page was originally based on the list at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Birketts, but then I managed to get a copy of the book itself, and noted inconsistencies, mostly due to the Ordnance Survey re-measuring of the altitudes of some fells in the intervening time.

Joe and Ill Crag, the highest Birkett that is not a Wainwright.

Most of the main 214 Wainwrights are also Birketts. The two exceptions are Castle Crag (as no Birkett is under 1000′ in altitude) and Mungrisdale Common (which Birkett does not trouble to include on any of the 129 walks in his book). 57 of the 116 Outlying Fells are also Birketts, with most of the omissions being the ones below 1000′ although some others, including Faulds Brow for example, are also not included. Whereas in some other areas of the District, notably in the vicinity of Wetherlam, Birkett goes bonkers with his inclusivity, designating almost every spot height visible as a ‘top’. So in the end, Mr. B’s list is just as subjective as Mr W’s. But we list addicts are not obliged to discriminate, hence this page.

I make it that 267 Birketts are not Wainwrights, and they are all listed here, along with the walks that have bagged them. If no walk number appears then I have not yet reached that summit, and these 123 unbagged Birketts are additionally highlighted in bold. (The majority of unbagged ones are those of lower altitude — which is good, as I’m getting older.) They are listed in order of altitude, and the ranking is in the list of Birketts as a whole — hence, the gaps in the numbering correspond to Wainwrights.

• 4. Ill Crag (pictured above), 3,067 feet above sea level.
• 5. Broad Crag, 3,054 feet.
• 7. Skiddaw, middle top, 3,045 feet. Walk 2 and walk 156.
• 8. Skiddaw, south top. 3,035 feet. Walk 156.
• 9. Helvellyn Lower Man (pictured), 3,033 feet. Walk 47.

View from Raise, with Helvellyn Lower Man prominent.

• 10. Skiddaw north top. 3,025 feet. Walk 156.
• 18. High Crag, Grisedale. 2,900 feet. Walk 39.
• 28. Gategill Fell Top. 2,792 feet. Walk 110.
• 29. Atkinson Pike. 2,772 feet. Walk 49.
• 33. Crinkle Crags, third Crinkle. 2,756 feet. Walk 145.
• 35. Crinkle Crags, south top, 2,736 feet. Walk 64 and walk 145.
• 36. Crinkle Crags, fourth Crinkle. 2,730 feet. Walk 145.
• 37. Broad End. 2,726 feet. Walk 156.
• 39. Black Crag. 2,717 feet. Walk 152b.
• 41. Cofa Pike [pictured], 2,700 feet. Walk 161.

Climbing Fairfield over Cofa Pike. St. Sunday Crag behind.

• 43. Gunson Knott. 2,697 feet. Walk 145.
• 45. Shelter Crags. 2,674 feet. Walk 145.
• 46. Skiddaw Lesser Man. 2,674 feet. Walk 156.
• 47. Pike de Bield. 2,657 feet.
• 49. High Stile (Grey Crag). 2,648 feet. Walk 171. (Wainwright defines High Stile‘s summit as a slightly lower point nearby, at 2,644 feet, admitting in his text that there are other candidate summits on the plateau.)
• 50. Eel Crag. 2,648 feet. Walk 200. (This is not the Eel Crag listed by Wainwright, which Birkett (and the Ordnance Survey) call ‘Crag Hill’. Birkett’s summit is the top of the crag called ‘Eel Crag’, a few hundred yards away.)
• 52. Knowe Crags, Blease Fell. 2,641 feet. Walk 110.
• 60. Green Side (White Stones). 2,608 feet.
• 65. Kirk Fell, east top. 2,582 feet. Walk 60b.
• 68. Little Dodd, St John’s. 2,575 feet. Walk 51 and walk 176.
• 70. Gavel Pike. 2,572 feet.
• 73. Pillar Rock. 2,559 feet. (As reaching this summit requires specialist rock-climbing expertise, I am never going to attain it. According to the Long Distance Walkers’ Association one can call all the Birketts bagged without including this one. Walk 16 got me near enough and counts as a spiritual bag.)
• 77. Looking Stead (Glaramara). 2,543 feet. Walk 19 and walk 123.

Great How, from the descent to Swirl Hawse

• 82. Great How, Swirl Band (pictured). 2,526 feet.
• 84. Stonesty Pike. 2,510 feet.
• 89. Pen. 2,499 feet.
• 93. Sand Hill. 2,480 feet.
• 95. John Bell’s Banner. 2,477 feet. Walk 66.
• 96. Low Raise. 2,474 feet. Walk 14 and walk 183.
• 99. Black Sails (pictured below). 2,444 feet. Walk 203.
• 101. Buck Pike. 2,441 feet. Walk 96.
• 102. Doddick Fell. 2,434 feet. Walk 49.
• 103. Little Stand. 2,428 feet.

The summit of Black Sails.

• 105. Hobcarton Crag. 2,425 feet. Walk 15.
• 110. Combe Head. 2,411 feet. Walk 123.
• 111. Jenkin Hill. 2,411 feet. Walk 156.
• 113. Thirdgill Head Man. 2,408 feet. Walk 3 and walk 136.
• 114. Little Gowder Crag. 2,405 feet. Walk 207b.
• 115. Codale Head. 2,402 feet. Walk 30 and walk 129.
• 116. Low White Stones. 2,398 feet. Walk 165.
• 118. Randerside. 2,392 feet.
• 122. Birkett Fell. 2,379 feet.
• 124. Red Beck Top, Glaramara. 2,365 feet. Walk 19 and walk 123.
• 126. Whiteside, east top. 2,359 feet. Walk 15 and walk 116.

Ladyside Pike.

• 131. Red Crag. 2,333 feet.
• 137. Ladyside Pike (pictured). 2,306 feet. Walk 116.
• 138. Lonscale Fell, east top. 2,306 feet. Walk 156.
• 139. Gasgale Crags. 2,306 feet. Walk 15 and walk 116.
• 147. Great Knott. 2,283 feet. Walk 145.
• 149. Little Carrs. 2,270 feet. Walk 143.
• 152. High House Top, Allen Crags. 2,244 feet. Walk 19 and walk 123.
• 154. Brown Pike. 2,238 feet. Walk 96.
• 155. Scales Fell. 2,238 feet.
• 156. Little Harter Fell. 2,234 feet. Walk 178.
• 159. Coldbarrow Fell, High Saddle. 2,215 feet.
• 161. High Howes, Mardale. 2,208 feet.
• 165. Sale How. 2,185 feet.
• 166. Adam Seat. 2,185 feet. Walk 178.
• 167. Tarn Crag (Bowscale Fell east top). 2,182 feet. Walk 189.
• 170. Hell Gill Pike. 2,172 feet. Walk 143.

Calfhow Pike from the north.

• 172. Calfhow Pike (pictured). 2,165 feet. Walk 51 and walk 176.
• 176. Low Saddle. 2,152 feet.
• 185. Little Calva. 2,106 feet. Walk 50.
• 186. Thorn Crag. 2,106 feet. Walk 38.
• 187. Dodd (Buttermere). 2,103 feet.
• 188. Iron Crag, Ennerdale. 2,100 feet. Walk 207b.
• 192. Harrop Pike. 2,090 feet. Walk 102.
• 193. Hobcarton End. 2,080 feet.
• 194. Honister Crag (Black Star). 2,080 feet. Walk 162.
• 196. Little Sca Fell. 2,077 feet. Walk 26 and walk 177.
• 197. Seathwaite Fell (Great Slack). 2,073 feet. Walk 56.
• 198. Dovenest Top. 2,073 feet. Walk 196.
• 199. Rough Crag, Riggindale. 2,060 feet. Walk 14.
• 201. Hare Stones. 2,057 feet. Walk 59 and walk 94.
• 202. Looking Stead (Pillar). 2,057 feet. Walk 16 and walk 152b.
• 203. Coomb Height. 2,057 feet. Walk 201.

Goat Scar from below, above the gravel flats of the River Sprint

• 204. Goat Scar (pictured). 2,054 feet. Walk 35 and walk 87.
• 205. Frozen Fell. 2,051 feet.
• 208. Rydal Fell. 2,037 feet. Walk 105.
• 211. Great Lingy Hill. 2,021 feet. Walk 59.
• 212. Stirrup Crag, Yewbarrow. 2,021 feet. Walk 194.
• 214. Rosthwaite Fell. 2,008 feet. Walk 196. (Wainwright gives this name to the point marked on the map as ‘Bessyboot‘. Birkett’s Rosthwaite Fell is what Wainwright and the OS call Rosthwaite Cam.)
• 215. Heron Pike, Glenridding. 2,008 feet. Walk 139.
• 216. Standing Crag. 2,005 feet. Walk 147.
• 217. White Maiden. 2,001 feet.
• 218. Brown Crag. 2,001 feet. Walk 139.
• 220. Miller Moss. 1,998 feet. Walk 59.
• 222. Miton Hill. 1,991 feet. Walk 59 and walk 94.
• 223. Buck Pike, Mickleden. 1,988 feet. Walk 123.
• 224. Round Knott. 1,978 feet. Walk 59 and walk 94.
• 227. White Pike, Walna Scar (pictured). 1,962 feet. Walk 99.

White Pike (on the left), with the rest of Walna Scar behind, seen from the Lickle Valley.

• 229. Burn Tod. 1,952 feet.
• 230. St. Raven’s Edge. 1,946 feet. Walk 66.
• 233. Little Dodd, Ennerdale. 1,936 feet. Walk 60a.
• 234. Black Crags, Mickleden. 1,929 feet. Walk 123.
• 236. Black Combe, south top. 1,926 feet. Walk 74 and walk 111.
• 243. High Brow. 1,886 feet.
• 244. Thorneythwaite Fell. 1,883 feet. Walk 123 and walk 196.
• 247. High Gait Crags. 1,877 feet.
• 248. Low Kop. 1,877 feet.
• 251. White Stones, The Band. 1,864 feet.

View on the way down from High Crag: Seat (Birkett #257) is the nearest lump ahead.

• 254. Angletarn Pikes, south top. 1,854 feet. Walk 55.
• 255. Herdus. 1,844 feet.
• 257. Seat (pictured). 1,841 feet. Walk 60a and walk 171.
• 259. Blea Tarn Fell. 1,834 feet.
• 263. The Tongue, Mungrisdale. 1,814 feet.
• 264. Swineside Knott. 1,814 feet.
• 266. Common Fell. 1,811 feet.
• 267. The Knight. 1,811 feet.
• 269. Brown Hills. 1,808 feet.
• 274. Ill Crag, Newlands [pictured below]. 1,791 feet. Walk 54 and walk 204.
• 275. Wrynose Fell, Long Crag. 1,788 feet.
• 276. Swarth Fell, Ullswater. 1,788 feet. Walk 84.
• 277. Carling Knott. 1,785 feet. Walk 206.

Walkers on Ill Crag, Newlands.

• 279. Lining Crag. 1,778 feet.
• 282. Hare Crag. 1,765 feet.
• 287. Blake Rigg, Little Langdale. 1,755 feet.
• 289. Great Paddy Crag. 1,745 feet. Walk 111.
• 293. High Crag, Newlands. 1,736 feet. Walk 107.
• 294. Brown Howe. 1,736 feet.
• 295. Birk Fell Man. 1,736 feet. Walk 203.
• 299. High Snockrigg. 1,726 feet.
• 301. Ullister Hill. 1,722 feet.
• 302. Whinlatter Top (pictured). 1,722 feet. Walk 18 and walk 184. (As explained on the Whinlatter page, this is the eastern of that fell’s two summits. Wainwright assigns the status of summit to the western.)

The eastern, and higher, top of Whinlatter, viewed from the western.

• 303. Demming Crag. 1,722 feet. Walk 63.
• 308. Great How, Eskdale. 1,713 feet.
• 309. Border End. 1,713 feet.
• 311. Loweswater End. 1,703 feet. Walk 206.
• 313. Gale Fell. 1,699 feet. Walk 60a and walk 148.
• 318. Watendlath Fell (Long Moss). 1,690 feet. Walk 185.
• 319. Threlkeld Knotts. 1,686 feet.
• 322. Birk Fell. 1,680 feet.
• 323. Gale Crag. 1,680 feet. Walk 36.
• 325. Whoap. 1,677 feet. Walk 28.
• 328. Lowthwaite Fell. 1,670 feet.
• 329. Mellbreak, north top. 1,670 feet. Walk 67.

Cockup in the middle distance, with Bass Lake below.

• 330. Swinside. 1,670 feet.
• 332. Wythburn Fell. 1,667 feet.
• 335. Cockup [pictured above]. 1,657 feet.
• 340. High Dodd. 1,644 feet. Walk 208.
• 341. Castle How (Raw Pike). 1,640 feet.
• 342. Yew Bank. 1,637 feet.
• 344. Low How. 1,631 feet.
• 346. Seat How, Thornthwaite. 1,624 feet.
• 351. Tarbarrel Moss. 1,617 feet. Walk 184.
• 352. Shivery Knott. 1,611 feet. Walk 147 and walk 185.
• 355. Bampton Fell. 1,604 feet.
• 358. High Nook, Gavel Fell. 1,601 feet. Walk 37 and walk 134.
• 359. High Scarth. 1,598 feet.

Wansfell Pike from Sour Howes.

• 361. Wansfell Pike (pictured). 1,589 feet. Walk 57.
• 362. Middle Crag. 1,588 feet. Walk 147 and walk 185.
• 365. Sharp Knott. 1,581 feet. Walk 206.
• 369. Glede Howe. 1,562 feet. Walk 170.
• 371. High Pen. 1,558 feet. Walk 134.
• 373. Gowk Hill. 1,545 feet.
• 377. Crook Crag. 1,539 feet.
• 378. Powleys Hill. 1,526 feet. Walk 117.
• 379. White Hause. 1,522 feet.
• 380. Brown Rigg. 1,519 feet.
• 383. Banna Fell. 1,496 feet.
• 385. Dodd (Lorton). 1,490 feet.
• 386. Red Knott. 1,483 feet. Walk 107.

Walker on Floutern Cop.

• 388. Floutern Cop (pictured). 1,480 feet.
• 391. Plough Fell. 1,470 feet.
• 393. Knock Murton. 1,467 feet.
• 394. Stile End. 1,467 feet. Walk 3 and walk 126.
• 395. The Benn. 1,462 feet.
• 396. Capple Howe. 1,460 feet. Walk 138.
• 397. Brownthwaite Crag. 1,457 feet. Walk 187.
• 398. Birker Fell. 1,457 feet.
• 401. Hawk Rigg. 1,447 feet.
• 402. Glade How. 1,444 feet. Walk 62 and walk 210.
• 403. Scar Lathing. 1,440 feet.
• 404. Green Hill, Gowbarrow Park. 1,440 feet.
• 405. Kirk Fell, Lorton. 1,437 feet. (This is the fell of which Graystones is the summit, and there is ambiguity whether Birkett’s and Wainwright’s version of Graystones are actually the same point; and this is a third summit in the same general area. I will revisit at some point to tidy this all up…)
• 406. Great Meldrum. 1,434 feet.
• 408. Low Pen. 1,427 feet. Walk 134.
• 409. Kitty Crag. 1,427 feet.
• 412. Rowling End (pictured). 1,421 feet. Walk 27.

Rowling End (left) and Causey Pike, from Skelgill.

• 413. Horsehow Crags. 1,421 feet. Walk 63.
• 415. High Fell, Hawk Rigg. 1,404 feet.
• 418. Lingmell, Ennerdale. 1,401 feet. Walk 152b.
• 419. Great Whinscale. 1,401 feet.
• 421. Lad Hows. 1,398 feet. Walk 46.
• 422. Naddle Low Forest. 1,398 feet. Walk 173.
• 424. Watermillock Fell. 1,391 feet.
• 427. Blake Rigg, Tilberthwaite. 1,388 feet.
• 428. Haystacks, Tilberthwaite. 1,388 feet.
• 429. Stoneside Hill. 1,385 feet. Walk 111.
• 430. Fisher Crag. 1,381 feet.
• 431. Long Crag, Yewdale Fells. 1,381 feet.
• 436. Four Stones Hill. 1,362 feet. Walk 14.
• 438. Lang How. 1,358 feet.
• 439. Loweswater Fell. 1,352 feet. Walk 24.
• 440. Scope End. 1,352 feet. Walk 107.
• 441. Sourfoot Fell. 1,348 feet. Walk 24 and walk 164.
• 442. Swinescar Pike. 1,348 feet.

Owsen Fell, and the coastal plain beyond.

• 443. High Wythow. 1,345 feet.
• 444. Owsen Fell (pictured above). 1,342 feet. Walk 206.
• 445. Great Intake. 1,339 feet.
• 447. Castle Crag (Shoulthwaite). 1,325 feet. Walk 69.
• 448. Throstlehow Crag. 1,325 feet.
• 449. Little Meldrum. 1,325 feet. Walk 58.
• 451. Little Cockup. 1,309 feet.
• 453. Dawsonground Crags. 1,302 feet.
• 455. Irton Fell. 1,296 feet. Walk 73.
• 456. Silverybield. 1,296 feet.
• 457. Castle Crag (Mardale). 1,296 feet.
• 458. King’s How (pictured). 1,286 feet. Walk 11 and walk 190.

The Jaws of Borrowdale: King’s How nearer the camera, Castle Crag behind.

• 459. Smithy Fell. 1,286 feet. Walk 24 and walk 164.
• 460. Darling Fell. 1,286 feet.
• 461. Blakeley Raise. 1,276 feet.
• 463. Round How. 1,270 feet. Walk 157.
• 464. Hatteringill Head. 1,263 feet.
• 465. Fox Haw. 1,263 feet. Walk 199.
• 466. Pinnacle Howe. 1,257 feet.
• 468. Sleet Fell. 1,240 feet. Walk 208.
• 471. Kinniside. 1,230 feet. Walk 197.
• 472. Kinn. 1,227 feet. Walk 15 and walk 168.
• 474. Bracken How. 1,224 feet.
• 475. Low Birk Fell. 1,224 feet.
• 476. Broad Crag, Birker Fell. 1,224 feet.
• 477. Low Wythow. 1,220 feet.
• 481. Godworth. 1,198 feet.
• 482. Cocklaw Fell. 1,198 feet.
• 484. Brackeny Crag. 1,194 feet.
• 485. Little Dodd, Loweswater. 1,188 feet. Walk 148.
• 486. Side Pike (pictured). 1,188 feet. Walk 29.

The classic view of Great Langdale, coming off Lingmoor Fell. Side Pike to the centre left.

• 489. Whin Crag (Eskdale). 1,175 feet.
• 492. Latter Barrow. 1,161 feet. Walk 197.
• 493. High Pike Haw. 1,161 feet.
• 494. Orthwaite Bank. 1,142 feet.
• 495. Eycott Hill. 1,132 feet.
• 496. Lothwaite. 1,132 feet.
• 497. Swainson Knott. 1,132 feet.
• 498. High Rigg, south top. 1,125 feet. Walk 69 and walk 141.
• 499. Brock Barrow. 1,125 feet. Walk 199.
• 501. Castle Rock of Triermain. 1,122 feet.
• 503. Scale Knott, 1,109 feet. Walk 212.
• 504. Skelgill Bank. 1,109 feet. Walk 33.
• 507. Rivings. 1,099 feet.
• 508. Swarth Fell, Kinniside. 1,099 feet.
• 510. Great How, Thirlmere. 1,093 feet.
• 511. Watches (pictured). 1,093 feet. Walk 195.

The summit of Watches.

• 512. Bowness Knott. 1,093 feet.
• 513. Birker Fell, Great Crag. 1,093 feet.
• 514. Little Eycott Hill. 1,089 feet.
• 516. Bigert. 1,086 feet.
• 517. Brown How, Ennerdale. 1,083 feet.
• 518. Great Bank. 1,079 feet. Walk 207a.
• 519. Kepple Crag. 1,076 feet.
• 521. Stone Pike. 1,056 feet.
• 522. Arnsbarrow Hill (pictured below). 1,056 feet. Walk 202.
• 524. Green How, Aughertree Fell. 1,053 feet.
• 524. Burn Edge. 1,050 feet.
• 527. Burthwaite Heights. 1,043 feet.
• 528. Birch Fell. 1,043 feet. Walk 158.
• 530. Stang Hill. 1,037 feet. Walk 202.
• 534. High Hows, Lamplugh. 1,027 feet.
• 535. Goat Crag. 1,024 feet.
• 537. Kelton Fell. 1,020 feet.
• 538. Wren Crag. 1,020 feet. Walk 69 and walk 141.
• 539. White Hall Knott. 1,020 feet.

Arnsbarrow Hill, with its tarn in front.