Helvellyn, The Lake District

Helvellyn is one of our favourite mountains and the one that your guide has ascended more than any other whether it be personal ascents, guiding clients or rescuing people during his 22 years with the Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team. Helvellyn is England's 3rd highest mountain at 3118 feet and is the easternmost 3000 foot mountain in The Lake District. Helvellyn is famous for it's scrambling routes to the summit via Striding and Swirral Edges.

We offer you four different ways to reach the summit of this fantastic mountain.

Routes from the Ullswater Valley

Via Glenridding Beck.

This first photo shows us guiding two clients on the Glenridding Beck route to reach Helvellyn from the Ullswater Valley. The pointed peak in the photo is Catstycam which is joined to Helvelleyn via Swirral Edge. The route takes us up footpaths from Glenridding Village and eventually we reach Red Tarn Beck which we follow up to Red Tarn. We can then choose to go to the summit via either Striding or Swirral Edges. If you don't fancy traversing the edges, then we can ascend Helvellyn from Glenridding Beck via Whiteside and Lower Man and this is the easiest route to the summit from the east.

Ascending from Grisedale

Another popular route to get to Helvellyn Summit from the Ullswater Valley is via the picturesque valley of Grisedale where a footpath takes a rising traverse from the valley floor to "Hole in the wall" which is at the eastern-most end of Striding Edge. However, once at "Hole in the wall" another path takes you to Red Tarn and Swirral Edge if you wish to reach the summit that way.

Fancy some scrambling??

If you have a head for hieghts and a taste for challenge, then Helvellyn via the edges is definitely for you! Striding Edge is a narrow rocky ridge and a real knife edge for some of it's length but if you want to stay off the crest, then we can follow a lower, less exposed route along the north side of the ridge. Also, at the point where the ridge meets the summit slopes of Helvellyn, there is "the bad step" to be descended, but it is actually possible to avoid this tricky downclimb altogether if you wish to. From the end of the ridge, one ascends a steep slope arriving at the summit ususally in no more than about 20 minutes.

Descending east from Helvellyn Summit

If we ascended via Striding Edge, then we'll offer you the opportunity to descend via Swirral  Edge crossing Red Tarn Beck en route back to "Hole in the wall" if we came up from Grisedale. If we ascended via Glenridding/Red Tarn Beck to the summit via one of the edges then we'll offer you the opportunity to descend by the other edge and then return to Glenridding via the same route. But then you also have the option to descend via Helvellyn Lower Man, Whiteside and the zig-zags back to Glenridding if you don't fancy descending one of the edges.

Climbing Helvellyn from the west

Undoubtedly, the best way to ascend Helvellyn from the west is via Swirls Car Park & Helvellyn Gill to Lower Man and on to the summit. 

Once at the summit, then a descent can be made via the same route back to Swirls Car Park. This route is also the shortest way to reach Helvellyn Summit but it is straight up - all the way!

A alternative circular route on the west side of Helvellyn sees us ascend via Swirls Car Park and Helvellyn Gill to Lower Man and the summit, but then we follow the easy eastern ascent/descent route over Lower Man & Whiteside continuing on over the summit of Raise to arrive at Sticks Pass. From there we descend west back to the Thirlmere Valley and walk back south to reach Swirls Car Park. The great thing about this route is that you have the opportunity to have a celebratory pint in the Kings Head Inn at Thirlspot - just ten minutes short of Swirls Car Park!

Please note - there are no opportunities to traverse either Swirral or Striding Edges when ascending from the west side of Helvellyn!

Frequently asked questions about our guided ascents of Helvellyn.

Where do we meet for climbing Scafell Pike? As there are three possible start points for this excursion please DO ask where to meet and we will give you a postcode and a what3words location for the start point for your chosen route.

What time do we start our day? Answer - We suggest 09:00 at the very latest! Any later and the car parks particularly in Glenridding or in the Thirmere Valley may already be full! 

Do I need any previous experience to be able to join you on a guided ascent of  Helvellyn? Answer - not necessarily so, but you should be fit and healthy and will, ideally, already have experience of walking on mountainous terrain in the uk.

What equipment do I need in order to be able to undertake an ascent of Helvellyn? Answer - you need a full complement of personal outdoor clothing - a Goretex or similar waterproof jacket and trousers, a hat, gloves, sunglasses, a sun hat and sun cream in Summer. You must bring spare warm layers which may be fleece or other sportswear material but on no account should you attend any guided walking day in the mountains wearing denim jeans or cotton T shirts! Bring your lunch and a cold drink in Summer or a flask of hot drink in winter. It may also be useful , but not essential to have with you, a headtorch and spare batteries. Your walking boots should be at least B1 or B2 rated, sturdy; giving good ankle support and being waterproof. It can also be useful to have one or two walking poles for the descent back to the valley floor at the end of the day.

All of the above equipment should be packed into rucksacks of at least 40 litres capacity. 

Do you provide support/guiding for speed ascents of Helvellyn or Challenge Events on this mountain? Answer - Lakes Outdoor Experience does not provide support or guiding for any challenge events of any sort on Helvellyn.

How fit should I be in order to successfully complete an ascent of Helvellyn? Answer - You need a good level of mountain fitness from regular walking in the mountains and should already have plenty of previous experience walking in amongst mountainous areas of the uk.

How much does it cost per person to undertake an ascent of Helvellyn with Lakes Outdoor Experience? Answer - To do this day with us is a minimum fee of £180.00 for 1 to 2 persons. For three persons to five persons the fee is £70 each. For six to ten persons the price is £60 each and for children under 18, the fee is £50.00 each.

Looking book a guided ascent of Helvellyn with us? Then - contact us here or call/WhatsApp us on 07761 483364.

 

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