Recommended Ordnance Survey Map - Outdoor Leisure Map 5 - North Eastern Area (1:25,000)
Start and End Point - Main Car Park, Glenridding. Pay and Display cost. £2.
Distance - approx. 8 miles (14 kilometres)
Time - 5 or 6 hours (slightly longer in winter and adverse weather)
Alternative Start and End Point - Patterdale Car Park, Patterdale. Pay and Display approx £1.
Maximum Height Achieved - 3100 feet, 950 metres above sea level
Accommodation - There are several hotels and B&B's in Glenridding and Patterdale of varying quality. Advance booking is strongly recommended. There is a youth hostel at Glenridding (Greenside Road) & Patterdale.
Public Transport -
By Rail - Stations at Windermere and Penrith
By Bus - Mountain Goat bus service from Windermere to Glenridding; Bus service from Penrith to Glenridding.
Tourist Information Office - Glenridding 07684 82414
The description and pictures are from September 2nd May 1998 supplemented with an earlier walk on 16th September 1996. The conditions were bright and sunny early on, with a cool North Westerly breeze.
Helvellyn is probably the most popular peak in the Lake District. It is one of the four highest peaks of the Lake District and is part of the Lakeland 3000 walk. Whilst spectacular, the Summit plateau is wide and offers superb views. An aeroplane successfully landed and took off from the summit plateau in 1926, giving a measure of the size and lie of the summit.
The most popular route is ascending the summit via Striding Edge and returning via Swirral Edge. It is a classic walk, and the route taken here.
Striding Edge is the most famous of the Lakeland 'look no hands' edges. Crossing the edge can be made entirely across its crest, or alternatively by a slightly lower path for those who feel uncomfortable walking without at least one 'side'.
Swirral Edge is often underestimated being so close to Striding Edge, but it provides a descent that should be taken with care, especially in winter, where the use of crampon's and ice axes are essential.
The elements can transform the walk from a superb summer walk into a severe challenge. If you are unsure of your ability, do not attempt the walk in adverse weather conditions. The Dixon memorial along with several others serves blunt warning.
Be prepared for a scramble towards the end of Striding Edge (the Chimney), but also be prepared for great views and a wonderful walk.
Taking into account that this walk was the first weekend with decent weather and also on the Saturday of the Bank Holiday weekend, I was still amazed at the number of people crossing Striding Edge. I have never before had to queue along Striding Edge and queue again climbing the buttress of Helvellyn. It seemed more in keeping with the January sales rather than the feat it actually is. My advice - Don't do this on a Bank Holiday!
On this walk, I had the company of Paul Belsten and his son Richard (aged 9), with the added pleasure of my son Aaron also aged 9. It was Aaron's and Richard's first walk and will be the benchmark they judge all others in the future.
P.S. All photographs are point and click. Click on them for a larger, more detailed image.
Map
The car park in Glenridding is large, but soon becomes congested with cars and coaches. From the car park, head back down to the main road and cross the bridge over the stream towards Patterdale and the shops. Turn right before the shops and head past the row of houses, hotels and shops on the left. There are two distinct routes, both signposted which are Miresbeck and Lanty's Tarn. This day, I wished to ascend via Lanty's Tarn, Brownend Plantation and the valley of Grisedale. Therfore, once past the houses, follow the signpost left(South), marked Lanty's tarn and head through the trees and up the hill.
Proceed past Lanty's Tarn, taking the small path to the right over the grassy bank. Be careful not to miss the path - it is at the end of Lanty's Tarn (to go straight on is not a disaster, it just means losing some of the height gained). Follow the path through Brownend Plantation before choosing the upper or lower path (West)up to Hole-in-the-Wall. It matters not which path you take, as they both rejoin fairly quickly.
The path to Hole-in-the-Wall is a steady climb, giving good views of the valley and also of St. Sunday Crag. There is usually something of interest in the valley going on. This day, several sheep dogs were being put through their paces at the farm way below. The steeper section of the climb is towards the end up to Hole-in-the-Wall. Steps are now in place at this section making it far easier than I seemed to remember! Once Hole-in-the-Wall is behind you, there is a plateau. Head left (South West), over the stile and Striding Edge is in view in the distance.
Photo
. Helvellyn's East face greets you. High Spying How is to the left, and linking that to Helvellyn is the famous Striding Edge. Swirral Edge is on the right of the photo linking Catstye Cam (just out of shot). Head up the path towards 'the edge'. High Spying How should not be ignored. As far as I am aware, it is a peak in its own right but in any event, the views of Striding Edge are superb from its exposed position.
Photo
. The shiny, well worn stone stretches out towards the crossing and the summit. Red Tarn is way down below on the right flanked by Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam (out of view), whilst Nethermost Cove greets you to the left.At this point, walkers opinions vary. Some stand, admiring the view in anticipation of Lakeland's most famous ridge crossing, whilst others shake quietly, dreading the nauseating feeling of height and fresh air - both sides. Weather conditions can change the crossing dramatically. In the conditions pictured the crossing is a pleasure but in winter, only the experienced and fully kitted out need apply. To think that you are better than the edge is folly. Many careful walkers have come to grief, as the memorials along the way will bear testament. Having said all that, today was somehow different. People, vast hordes of people, swarmed all over the ridge. Does this ridge really rank alongside a walk along the canal or was it just that it was a Bank Holiday and the first good weekend weather of the season. To be fair, I had the same idea, and to be even fairer, it made the crossing all the more interesting as a spectacle.
Don't let the number of people on the photographs trick you into thinking it is easy. Take care crossing and enjoy the views. Remember, that this is the main attraction, and crossing should be savoured. Crossing can be made entirely along the crest, although the less heady can use a path that meanders along the ridge a few feet below allowing the comfort of a hand hold when required. Be prepared for a small but tricky step down, the Chimney. Care should be taken here. Going left is slightly easier, whilst right means climbing down backwards for 12 feet. It is a pleasurable experience looking back and watching others climb down. Some struggle - why does this increase the smugness, whilst others make it look easy. Today, one chap juggled two children down it! The good news for those thinking it looks a little difficult is that there is an easy route around that flanks the Nethermost Cove side.
After the Chimney, the steep last section is encountered, but once this is scaled, the plateau of the wide summit of Helvellyn awaits.
There is a large shelter before the summit cairn, although the better views are found at the cairn itself. Many spend their time imagining just how that plane landed here all those years ago, whilst others admire the magnificent panorama that surrounds Helvellyn. The summit is usually reached just in time for lunch, which serves to afford the time to take in the views. Be warned however, a clear view is a rare lakeland commodity. More common is the thick soupy cloud that envelopes most peaks.
Photo
. The author. Look, I did it. Catstye Cam awaits in the distanceDo not think the walk is over bar the trip down to the public house for a well earned beer. The descent of Swirral Edge should be made with caution. It is fairly steep and rocky.
Swirral Edge affords views back over Red Tarn and its backdrop of Striding Edge. A choice can be made to walk over or around Catstye Cam at this point. The usual decision is to bag the extra peak and enjoy the view of Glenridding Common and Birkhouse Moor, the next stage of the walk. The path down Catsye Cam is straighforward but does fade away lower down. Just keep going straight ahead (East)and you cannot fail to intersect the the path alongside Red Tarn Beck. The ordnance survey map does not show the path down Catstye Cam and shows the path at Red Tarn Beck as only a minor path. Don't worry, the path down Catstye Cam is very easy and the path from Red Tarn down past Red Tarn Beck is very prominent. It heads from Red Tarn (North) all the way down the valley, alongside the stream, to Glenridding Common.
A wooden bridge crosses the stream and the small path joins the larger path from Whiteside towards Glenridding via a metal bridge. Head East past the disused mine where evidence of this area's past is evident. Progress through this area, past the Blackpool Outdoor Centre, onto Greenside Road and past the Youth Hostel on the right. A pleasant, easy descent takes you down, eventually, into Glenridding.
Photo
. Greenside Road provides a sheltered walk down to Glenridding.Progress past the cottages as the road widens further and drops into Glenridding. For the thirsty, a couple of licensed establishments are passed before reaching the car park and the village of Glenridding where shops and public houses await. I chose the short drive to Patterdale for a beer at the White Lion. If you choose the same option, I recommend the little elevated room to the left of the bar. It has a large window giving glorious views of Patterdale Common and Place Fell.
This walk and pictures are protected by copyright©. Reproduction in whole or in part by any means is prohibited without the prior permission of the author. If you wish to use this document, then E-Mail me. I would also like to hear your comments and thoughts. If you use this document for your walk please give me feedback (good or bad). If you have very good quality photographs and a good narrative and want them on these pages, contact me also.
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Author - Antony Towers - 7th May 1998. I hope you enjoy this walk either virtually or in reality as much as I did. However, do not blame me if you get lost or have an accident. Your safety is your responsibility. Always use a map, compass and be equipped for the conditions.
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