Helvellyn, Walking and Scrambling Routes

Walking in the English Lake District, Striding and Swirral Edges

Sep 24, 2009

Helvellyn is the third highest mountain in the English Lake District, close to Keswick with fine scrambles along Striding and Swirral Edges leading to its summit

Alfred Wainwright, author of A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells - Book One, Eastern Fells says of the mountain "Legend and poetry, a lovely name and a lofty altitude combine to encompass Helvellyn in an aura of romance."

Helvellyn is the highest point of a long north-south ridge from Keswick to Dunmail Raise, north of Ambleside encompassing nine of Lakeland's highest peaks. The western slopes plunge steeply down to the wooded Thirlmere Lake and afford short and steep routes to the summit. However it is the approach from the east that catches many people's attention, over Striding & Swirral Edges.

Striding Edge

Generally regarded as the finest ridge in Lakeland, Striding Edge is an exhilarating challenge allowing the walker to follow the crest or use the footpath just below.

Starting from Glenridding, the route climbs first to Birkhouse Moor before it narrows into a rocky ridge. For those who don't like the look of the ridge, a path leads downwards to Red Tarn, a dark foreboding place bounded by a back corrie wall and on either wing by the two edges.

Following the edge will take the hiker over a number of rock challenges before the ridge ends and the path heads upwards to the summit of Helvellyn, passing a number of monuments before reaching the OS column at its summit.

Swirral Edge

An alternative route up Helvellyn leads first past the Glenridding youth hostel and climbs up the flank of Catstycam to reach Red Tarn. A path then leads to the low point between Catstycam and Swirral Edge which gives the hiker an opportunity to first climb Catstycam. This is a mountain with a near perfect shape of a symmetrical pyramid.

Swirral Edge is much shorter and steeper than its neighbour Striding Edge. It provides a challenging scramble, particularly if snow cornices exist.

North from Helvellyn

Head north and the route takes the hiker over White Side and Raise to reach the low point of the ridge at Sticks Pass. There is a path leading back to Glenridding past the youth hostel.

Continuing north from Sticks Pass leads onto the Dodd range, first Stybarrow Dodd leading to Watsons Dodd and Great Dodd.

South from Helvellyn

A gentle slope descends to the next mountain Nethermost Pike then onto Dollywaggon Pike before the path descends to Grisedale Tarn, hemmed in by the surrounding mountains of Fairfield, Seat Sandal and Dollywaggon Pike.

A long return walk to Glenridding takes the walker down the Grisedale valley and over Keldas, passing the lovely Lanty's Tarn.

References

Alfred Wainwright A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells - Book One, Eastern Fells Michael Joseph 2001

The copyright of the article Helvellyn, Walking and Scrambling Routes in Hiking & Trails is owned by Jane Hodgson. Permission to republish Helvellyn, Walking and Scrambling Routes in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.