SCRAMBLES IN THE LAKE DISTRICT SOUTH

Discover the soaring crags, hidden gills, and classic ridgelines of the southern Lake District National Park, a landscape celebrated for its intimacy, variety, and unforgettable mountain days. From the iconic Jack’s Rake and the exhilarating Pinnacle Ridge to the wild Esk Gorge and timeless classics like Dungeon Gill and Crescent Climb, over 100 of the region’s finest scrambles await exploration.

Perfect for adventurous walkers and scramblers of all experience levels, this comprehensive Cicerone guidebook presents 106 graded scrambles across Langdale, Coniston, Eskdale, Patterdale, and High Street, with easy access from Haweswater, Longsleddale, and Duddon. Routes span scrambling grade 1 through to climbing grade V Diff, offering everything from accessible gill scrambles to challenging routes on bold rock faces. There is something for every ambition.

• Explore celebrated areas of the southern Lake District, including Langdale, Coniston, Eskdale, Patterdale, and beyond, each providing a gateway to the region’s most rewarding mountain adventures.
• Features all the classic scrambles of the South Lakes, such as Jack’s Rake, Pinnacle Ridge, Esk Gorge, Dungeon Gill, Giant’s Crawl, Middlefell Buttress, Linkcove Gill, and many more, alongside newly described routes for those seeking quieter corners and fresh challenges.
• Includes 1:25,000 OS mapping and topos for every South Lakes Scramble, ensuring straightforward navigation and confident route-finding on even the most intricate lines.
• Practical advice covers essential equipment, safety, ropework, and how to progress on steep or exposed ground, helping you build skills and tackle more demanding scrambles in the Lake District with assurance.
• Each mountain day is clearly described, with at-a-glance information on approach, grading, quality, aspect, total ascent and route length, timings, and grid references for parking and the start of each scramble, making it easy to plan your next adventure in the heart of the Lakes.
• All scrambles are designed as summer routes and are carefully graded, from gentle Grade 1 outings to classic Grade 3 challenges and technical V Diff climbs, with detailed notes and tips to help you select the right Lake District route for your skills and experience.
• Part of a 2-volume set, the accompanying Cicerone guidebook, Scrambles in the Lake District - North, is also available.

Plan your Lake District scrambling adventure with confidence using the definitive Cicerone guidebook. Whether you are seeking the thrill of a lofty ridge, the cool splash of a gill, or the satisfaction of a full mountain day linking multiple scrambles, you will discover the best of the South Lakes, where every outing promises inspiration and lasting memories amid some of Britain’s most beautiful mountain scenery.

John Fleetwood has lived in the Lake District for over 20 years, and over that time he has developed an intimate knowledge of the area. John loves exploring and has sought to visit every potential crag in the area to find new routes, some of which have been included in this guide. He is a keen runner, photographer and mountaineer and was the first person to complete the Bob Graham, Ramsay and Paddy Buckley rounds in winter, as well as being a previous winner of the FRA Long Distance Award. In 2015, John traversed the Alps in a self-supported trip taking in 60 summits over 1850km. He has climbed and walked in South America, China, Iceland, Norway and the European Alps as well as Britain. When not in the hills, John runs a sustainable investment ratings company.