Helvellyn
Explore the best of Lakeland on this Helvellyn horseshoe, with rugged crags, perfect glacial valleys and one of the finest scrambles in the UK.
Striding Edge is rightly famed as an intimidating and exposed scramble. The narrow ridge perched on the eastern approach to Helvellyn marks the highlight of this circuit of Grisedale, but the whole route offers outstanding views as well.
The approach from Patterdale affords a gentle introduction to the day, steadily climbing to reveal glorious views of Grisedale. Reaching the ridgeline at Hole in the Wall, views open up toward Red Tarn, nestled in the arms of Helvellyn and Catseye Cam to the north.
The difficulties on Striding Edge are relatively short-lived, and more than worth the commanding views from Helvellyn towards Ullswater and the Far Eastern Fells.
Fine walking continues over Nethermost Pike and Dollywaggon Pike before descending to the shore of Grisedale Tarn, where the legendary crown of the last king of Cumbria is said to rest.
A steep climb from the tarn to Fairfield is rewarded with views across to the glowering eastern crags of the Helvellyn range. Our path heads back to Patterdale via St. Sunday Crag for a longing look back at Striding Edge and Helvellyn, to the north.
1
NY399156 From Patterdale Youth Hostel, walk back towards Patterdale and then turn left onto the minor road into Grisedale. Follow the lane for half a mile to a gate marking the beginning of a private road. Leave the lane here, turning right along another lane and crossing the river before climbing uphill to open access land.
2
NY382159 Take the well-defined track leading uphill to the west, crossing two fence lines before reaching the drystone wall with a ladder stile at Hole in the Wall. Continue uphill to the south-west above the steep ground of Bleaberry Crag, eventually gaining the narrowing ridge of Striding Edge. Take care in crossing, as the steep drops either side make this extremely serious terrain. At the end of the ridge, follow the more worn route up the nose of the cliffs, scrambling to easier ground at the summit of Helvellyn.
3
NY341151 From Helvellyn, head south, staying reasonably close to the eastern cliff edge of the range. Stick to the highest ground, undulating over Nethermost Pike, High Crag and Dollywaggon Pike. From Dollywaggon, a well-defined track zigzags down towards Grisedale Tarn.
4
NY349122 Follow the track around the rim of the tarn and skirting the edge of Seat Sandal and then climb steeply up the spur towards the summit of Fairfield, following the line of a worn down drystone wall. The rough track here can be loose and steep in places, so careful footwork may be required. Towards the top, the climb becomes less steep, leading to a series of false summits before the true top of the mountain is reached. The route onwards from Fairfield isn’t obvious, so careful navigation is needed to find the descent via Cofa Pike to the north-west. From here, the route into
Deepdale Hause and on to St. Sunday Crag becomes clearer. Bear to the north-west from here, heading towards the minor top of Birks.
5
NY382145 At the eastern end of Birks, the track begins to become more obvious again and descends through a gate to a steep zigzag track back towards the road. Don’t cross the wall on the edge of the farmland. Instead, turn right and continue to follow the track to the east, eventually dropping back down to the main road close to the start point.