Helvellyn - Route Two

 

Start - Glenridding NY 386 169 Distance - 4.25 miles Ascent - 2,860 feet Time - 3 hours

 

 

The LDNPA car park in Glenridding at the start of the walk.  Leave the car park by a footway, signposted Helvellyn via Greenside, which is located at its western end and leads onto Greenside Road
Birkhouse Moor from Greenside Road
Beyond the Travellers Rest the road divides.  The right branch continues uphill towards Rake Cottages from where it becomes a rough track which leads to the Helvellyn Youth Hostel and the disused Greenside Lead Mine.  The left branch leads down to Rattlebeck Bridge and Miresbeck
Birkhouse Moor from the lane to Rattlebeck Bridge
Above Rattlebeck Bridge the lane becomes a rough track which leads up to Miresbeck Cottage, leave it for a footpath running alongside a field wall
The footpath leads to a gate in the top intake wall which gives access to the open fellside below the steep north-east ridge of Birkhouse Moor
Turn right from the gate and follow a clear path contouring across the north western slopes of Birkhouse Moor
Two hundred yards from the gate a waymark post indicates the start of a path which climbs steeply to join the course of a disused water leat.  While the main path continues on alongside the intake wall, the upper path has finer views.  Both paths eventually re-unite further along the valley
Climbing up to the disused water leat below the north-east ridge of Birkhouse Moor
Stang and Green Side from the disused water leat
Looking back towards Glenridding and Place Fell from the disused water leat
Continuing along the disused water leat path which crosses two footbridges as it passes below Blea Cove
The first of the footbridges over Bleacove Beck
The remains of the old Greenside Lead Mine. Several of the former mine buildings have been converted into an outdoor study centre and bunkhouses
As the path begins to turn towards the south-west it's joined by a path from the old mine which crosses a footbridge over Glenridding Beck
Catstycam and Helvellyn Lower Man come into view as the path follows the course of Glenridding Beck
Looking back towards Sheffield Pike
Catstycam from the path alongside Glenridding Beck
The path crosses a footbridge over Red Tarn Beck and begins to climb more steeply towards Red Tarn
Looking over towards White Side from the path to Red Tarn
Looking back towards Sheffield Pike from the path to Red Tarn
Catstycam from the path to Red Tarn
Looking over to the summit of Raise from the path to Red Tarn
The summit of Helvellyn and Swirral Edge come into view as the path levels out on the approach to Red Tarn
Looking back towards White Side, Hart Side and Sheffield Pike
High Spying How, Striding Edge and Helvellyn
Swirral Edge as the path joins the Hole-in-the-Wall path
Striding Edge above Red Tarn from the Hole-in-the-Wall path
Looking back towards the summit ridge of Birkhouse Moor in the centre.  The Hole-in-the-Wall path can be seen on the right
Starting the ascent towards Swirral Edge
Looking back from the path to Swirral Edge.  The Far Eastern fells of Loadpot Hill, Wether Hill, High Raise and Rampsgill Head on the horizon
Cloud brushes across the top of Swirral Edge and the summit plateau of Helvellyn
High Spying How above Red Tarn
Approaching the col between Swirral Edge and Catstycam
Striding Edge above Red Tarn
Looking back to Catstycam
The main path traverses below the initial rock outcrops on the crest of the ridge although some walkers prefer to cross over them on a fainter path 
Looking down to Red Tarn and the route of ascent from traversing path below the rock outcrops
White Side and Raise above Brown Cove from the crest of the ridge
Striding Edge above Red Tarn from the crest of the ridge
Looking along the crest of the ridge
Passing below the largest rock outcrop
Looking back from below the largest rock outcrop
Approaching Swirral Edge
Skiddaw and Blencathra appear on the horizon beyond the summit of Whiteside from the approach to Swirral Edge
Red Tarn from the start of Swirral Edge
Looking back along the lower part of Swirral Edge
Looking down on Brown Cove from the lower part of Swirral Edge
Halfway along Swirral Edge, looking up to the steepest part, is a belt of shattered rocks known as 'The Fangs'
Red Tarn from halfway along Swirral Edge
Approaching The Fangs
Skiddaw and Blencathra beyond White Side from The Fangs
Looking over towards the summit of Helvellyn
Ullswater and Catstycam from the top of The Fangs
The final section of Swirral Edge leading up to the summit plateau of Helvellyn
Looking over Brown Cove towards Helvellyn Lower Man
Skiddaw and Blencathra from near the top of Swirral Edge
Looking down on The Fangs from near the top of Swirral Edge
Looking over towards Striding Edge from near the top of Swirral Edge
The marker cairn on the top of Swirral Edge
Looking west from the top of Swirral Edge
Helvellyn Lower Man from the top of Swirral Edge
Skiddaw and Blencathra from the top of Swirral Edge
Catstycam from the top of Swirral Edge
Red Tarn from the top of Swirral Edge
The summit ridge of Helvellyn from the top of Swirral Edge
Red Tarn and Striding Edge from the edge of the summit ridge escarpment
The trig column which is sited on the edge of the escarpment midway between Swirral Edge and the summit cairn
Looking towards the North Western Fells from the trig column
The summit of Helvellyn from the trig column
The summit cairn on Helvellyn
The connecting ridge to Nethermost Pike and Dollywaggon Pike
Coniston Water on the left with the Coniston fells in the centre and Crinkle Crags on the right
Crinkle Crags, Bowfell, Esk Pike, Scafell Pike, Great End, Lingmell and Great Gable form the horizon
Looking back to the trig column from the summit cairn
Swirral Edge from the summit of Helvellyn
White Side and Raise over Swirral Edge
Catstycam from the summit of Helvellyn
Ullswater and Red Tarn from the summit of Helvellyn
Striding Edge from the summit of Helvellyn

  

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