“Our Fells” is putting the Lake District’s fells, routes and local knowledge at hikers’ fingertips.
For anyone who loves walking in the Lake District, there is something uniquely satisfying about planning the next fell, finding a new route or ticking another Wainwright off the list. Now, a new app called Our Fells is aiming to make that experience even easier.
Designed specifically around exploring the Lake District, Our Fells combines detailed digital hiking maps with tools for discovering fells, creating routes, navigating and tracking your progress.
What is Our Fells?
Our Fells is a new digital platform for Lake District walkers and hikers. Its pitch is simple: bring local knowledge and professional hiking maps together in one place.
The app is aimed at a broad range of walkers, from people working their way through the famous Wainwright fells to those who simply want to plan their next Lake District ramble.
Rather than being just a map, Our Fells brings together several tools designed around the experience of getting out onto the Lakeland fells.
These include:
- An interactive hiking map
- Detailed digital hiking maps
- The ability to view individual fells
- Route creation
- Navigation
- Logging and tracking your progress
- Access to routes on your phone
The service describes its maps as “professional hiking maps”, with detailed interactive mapping designed to help walkers stay on track in changing weather conditions.
A new tool for Wainwright baggers
For many Lake District walkers, the 214 Wainwrights are an irresistible challenge. Whether you’re starting your first few summits or closing in on completing the full list, keeping track of where you’ve been can become part of the fun.
Our Fells specifically mentions walkers who are “bagging the Wainwrights”, suggesting that fell-bagging and progress tracking are central to the experience. The app provides tools to log and track progress, making it easier to keep your personal record of Lake District adventures in one place.
That could make Our Fells particularly interesting for anyone embarking on a Wainwright challenge, as well as experienced walkers looking for a more dedicated way to organise their Lakeland adventures.
Interactive maps for Lake District walking
One of the main features of Our Fells is its interactive mapping.
The company says its maps are world-class, highly detailed digital hiking maps, designed to help walkers stay on track whatever the weather.
For Lake District walking, that is an important consideration. The weather can change quickly in the fells, visibility can deteriorate and familiar-looking terrain can become considerably less straightforward when cloud or mist rolls in.
Having detailed mapping available on your phone can therefore be a useful addition to a walker’s kit.
As always, however, an app should complement rather than replace sensible mountain preparation. Our Fells itself stresses that hiking and outdoor activities carry risks and that users remain responsible for their own safety.
Plan and create your own routes
Our Fells also includes route-planning tools, allowing users to create routes before heading out.
This is potentially one of the most useful features for walkers who like to venture beyond the classic routes.
Instead of simply choosing a well-known summit, you can use the platform to plan a walk around the fells and then have that route available in your pocket when you’re out.
The website describes this as “Routes in your pocket”, reinforcing the idea that the app is intended to take the planning process out onto the hill with you.
Navigation while you’re out walking
Planning a route is only half the job. Our Fells also provides navigation functionality for when you’re actually on the fell.
The platform’s feature set includes Navigate, alongside its interactive map, fell-viewing, route creation and progress-tracking tools.
The app can also use your device’s location when location services are enabled, allowing it to provide navigation and logging features.
That combination of planning, mapping and navigation could make it a useful companion for anything from a straightforward family-friendly fell walk to a more ambitious day in the high fells.
Is Our Fells free?
Our Fells uses a membership model, with options intended for different types of walkers.
The website says there is a limited free tier with restricted features, while its Pro subscription starts with a seven-day free trial. After the trial, the selected subscription automatically renews unless it is cancelled.
Subscriptions can be managed differently depending on where they are purchased. Web subscriptions are handled through Stripe, while subscriptions bought through the mobile apps are handled through the Apple App Store or Google Play.
For anyone interested in trying the service, the Our Fells website is currently inviting users to get early access.
A Lake District app built around local knowledge
Perhaps the most interesting part of Our Fells is its emphasis on local knowledge.
The website’s message is aimed squarely at people exploring the Lake District rather than presenting itself simply as another generic mapping application. Whether you’re ticking off Wainwrights or planning a casual Lakeland walk, the service is built around the geography and walking culture of the Lake District.
That local focus could be its biggest selling point.
There are plenty of mapping and navigation options available to walkers, but an app designed specifically around the Lake District has the potential to feel more relevant to people whose weekends revolve around places such as Scafell Pike, Helvellyn, Blencathra, Skiddaw and the many lesser-known fells in between.
More than just ticking summits off a list
While Wainwright bagging is an obvious use case, Our Fells isn’t aimed exclusively at peak-baggers.
The company explicitly positions the app for people who are simply planning their next Lake District ramble.
That means the appeal could extend to regular local walkers, visitors coming to the Lake District for a walking holiday and anyone who wants a better way to discover and plan routes.
The ability to create routes, navigate them and keep a record of your progress gives the app uses before, during and after a walk.
A digital companion for Lakeland adventures
The Lake District has no shortage of spectacular walks, but planning them properly is part of the adventure.
Our Fells brings several of the tools walkers need into a single platform: interactive maps, fell information, route planning, navigation and progress tracking.
For Wainwright enthusiasts, it offers a dedicated way to keep track of their progress. For other walkers, it provides a way to plan routes and take detailed mapping with them onto the fells.
And for anyone who enjoys discovering new corners of the Lake District, the emphasis on local knowledge makes Our Fells an interesting new addition to the growing collection of digital tools available to walkers.
What happens next?
Our Fells is inviting walkers to sign up for early access and is continuing to develop its platform. The website also offers an email newsletter for updates.
With the Lake District attracting walkers throughout the year, the timing could be particularly good. Whether your goal is to complete the Wainwrights, find a new circular walk or simply spend more time exploring the fells, having a dedicated Lake District hiking app could be a welcome addition to your phone.
Our Fells is one to watch for Lake District walkers.
