Helvellyn via Striding Edge

Walked on 15/10/2021

Start point: Patterdale (NY 394 160)

Patterdale – Hole-in-the Wall – Striding Edge – Helvellyn – Swirral Edge – Catstycam – Patterdale

Distance: 9 miles Total Ascent: 920 metres Time Taken: 5 hours Start Time: 06:45

Weather: Cool and sunny. 9C

Well, here we are again! It took some time from the previous post to get a follow up but at last I have managed it. We have done some walks on the fells (when you have a Bearded Collie you have to!) but alas time has not allowed me to post them and some were done without taking a camera.

Things have changed for me recently with work which will hopefully free up time to get out there once again; to be free of a stuffy office and be back on the fells in the fresh air will feel even better this time around I am sure.

So, where to walk? Striding Edge – of course! It seemed the natural place to go and I haven’t done it for a while (9 years almost to the day in fact). Friday was forecast to be good so we set off early to make the best of it. Dougal is getting on in years now so he is retired from the more arduous walks so it was just Fletcher for company today.

Good morning indeed - first light on the climb.

Morning has broken.

Birkhouse Moor from the Hole in the Wall

Helvellyn and Catstycam.

Looking back towards Ullswater.

Dollywaggon and Nethermost Pikes.

Approaching High Spying How and the edge!

Fletcher on High Spying How - I think this will be his first crossing of Striding Edge.

At the start of Striding Edge - it is very clear on the summit and only a couple of people around this early in the morning.

Dragon's teeth.

The crossing.

The climb to Helvellyn.

looking back on Striding Edge.

Catstycam across Red Tarn.

Fletcher on the summit - it is all ours today lad!

As far as the eye can see - superb clarity today looking from Coniston to Great Gable in this panorama.

A deserted summit plateau.

The way ahead, descending Swirral Edge and climbing to Catstycam.

Looking to Skiddaw and Blencathra in the distance with a brilliant shadow outline of our route down Swirral Edge and the climb to pointed Catstycam.

Looking back from the foot of Swirral Edge.

Red Tarn and Striding Edge in the bright sunlight.

Yes, it's thataway Fletcher!

Helvellyn.

Fletcher checks out the stunning view from Catstycam.

Down at Red Tarn.

It's not just good, it's golden. Autumn colours in Grisedale Valley.

A sea of ochre.

Grisedale Beck.

Catstycam

Height: 890 metres / 2920 feet Grid reference: NY 34811 15823 Category: The Eastern Fells

Catstycam summit

Catstycam in the snow

A great view of The Pennines and Ullswater from Catstycam with Place Fell, centre right, over Birkhouse Moor

Ullswater from Catstycam

Catstycam summit.

Helvellyn & Striding Edge

Walked on 09/10/2012

Start point: Patterdale (NY 394 160)

Patterdale – Hole-in-the Wall – Striding Edge – Helvellyn – Swirral Edge – Catstycam – Birkhouse Moor – Patterdale

Distance: 8.1 miles Total Ascent: 920 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 30 minutes Start Time: 08:00

Weather: Warm and sunny. 12C

The forecast was making it look to good to miss today and fortunately they got it right. Striding Edge was looking good today, very good in fact with views for miles.

Helvellyn & Striding Edge route map.

Dawn over Patterdale from Kirkstone Pass.

I couldn't resist paying Brothers Water a visit as I passed.

Beautiful reflections and sunrise. On with the walk...

On the road towards Grisedale, the fields are frozen in the valley but the sun is rising now.

Looking into Grisedale, the grass is still frosted in the early sun.

Climbing higher, St Sunday Crag towering above Grisedale.

Striding Edge and Helvellyn from the Hole in the Wall.

Looking along Birkhouse Moor to Ullswater which is under a thick blanket of cloud this morning.

Striding Edge.

A wider view.

StridingEdge on Striding Edge.

Hell's teeth.

The Chimney.

Red Tarn and Catstycam.

Looking down on Striding Edge from the climb to Helvellyn.

Red Tarn and Birkhouse Moor.

A panoramic view from Helvellyn.

The summit plateau - mine, all mine today.

Helvellyn summit.

Nice and clear today looking at Great Gable to Pillar.

Swirral Edge and Catstycam.

Red Tarn panoramic.

Go on Dougal, go for it!

The descent of Swirral Edge.

...and looking back up to Helvellyn from the bottom.

Climbing to Catstycam.

Catstycam summit.

White Side and Raise from Catstycam (nice shadow of Catstycam too) with Skiddaw beyond.

Sun on Swirral.

Helvellyn reflected.

Colour run.

Catstycam from the walk to Birkhouse Moor.

A fabulous view of 'the lot'.

Birkhouse Moor summit.

Glenridding Dodd and Ullswater from the north east ridge of Birkhouse Moor.

Glenridding.

Autumnal Place Fell.

Helvellyn via Striding Edge and Swirral Edge

Walked on 24/05/2010

Start point: Patterdale (NY 394 160)

Patterdale – Hole-in-the Wall – Striding Edge – Helvellyn – Swirral Edge – Catstycam – Patterdale

Distance: 7.6 miles Total Ascent: 900 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 30 minutes Start Time: 07:00

Weather: Mostly sunny. 19C

It has been sweltering over the weekend so I fancied getting out early today to ‘beat the heat’. I certainly managed that as it was pretty cold crossing Striding Edge this morning when the clouds swirled in. By the time I reached the summit of Helvellyn, the clouds had disappeared and the summer weather returned once more. On the way down to Patterdale I bumped into a gang of Striding Edge fans from Hull – nice to meet you all Martin and friends!

Helvellyn route map.

Early morning in Grisedale.

Climbing the path to the Hole in the Wall. The bracken is coming on quickly!

St Sunday Crag.

The head of Grisedale from the climb. It is sunny here but looks a bit murkier up on Helvellyn.

Birkhouse Moor from The Hole in the Wall and the sun has gone.

It's sunny down there, but not here now.

Striding Edge.

Red Tarn and Swirral Edge, Helvellyn lost in mist.

High Spying How.

Dougal leads the way across Striding Edge.

The mist is swirling in and out and the temperature has plummeted.

Catstycam across Red Tarn.

Continuing along Striding Edge.

I wonder if it will clear up?

At least you can just about see the top now.

Looking back.

Striding Edge from the climb to Helvellyn.

Another view of Red Tarn and it seems to be clearing now.

Striding Edge from the top.

Blue skies now on the deserted summit.

Nethermost Pike and Dollywaggon Pike across the cross shelter.

Striding Edge and Red Tarn from the summit.

A panoramic view from the top.

All is still under cloud to the west, the Coniston fells are over there somewhere.

Dougal and Casper take a breather at the summit - there is a bit more of the column on show than the last time they were here, a whole 10 weeks ago...

The path to Catstycam.

White Side.

Swirral Edge.

Dougal chooses his route carefully.

Looking back up Swirral Edge.

Brown Cove.

Swirral Edge and Helvellyn with two stubborn bits of snow visible.

Ullswater from Catstycam.

There is no water to drink on Catstycam either.

Looking across to Raise and we are not going that way either Dougal!

Striding Edge across a doggy bathing/drinking opportunity.

Helvellyn and Swirral Edge.

At last! There was no stopping these two today.

Red Tarn.

A panoramic view of Red Tarn and Helvellyn.

The path to Swirral Edge.

Catstycam.

Back at Grisedale Beck all is lovely now.

Helvellyn via Striding Edge and Swirral Edge

Walked on 11/03/2010

Start point: Patterdale (NY 394 160)

Patterdale – Hole-in-the Wall – Striding Edge – Helvellyn – Swirral Edge – Catstycam – Patterdale

Distance: 7.6 miles Total Ascent: 900 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 30 minutes Start Time: 08:15

Weather: Half beautiful, half dull! 7oC

I couldn’t resist a walk over Striding Edge today in winter conditions and at the start of the walk, it looked very promising indeed. I was glad later that I had set off relatively early for this walk as a sheet of cloud caught us and covered the fells whilst I was on the summit of Helvellyn. I cannot complain though as it was a superb walk in brilliant conditions. On the way back down to Grisedale it was nice to bump into a couple of Striding Edge followers and have a chat.

Helvellyn route map.

Amazing sky over Birks first thing this morning, taken from the main road in Patterdale.

An enticing prospect from the bridge over Grisedale Beck..

Grisedale.

Grisedale again from higher up, on the path to the Hole-in-the-Wall.

The view to Dollywaggon Pike whilst Casper and Dougal make a break for it.

Looking back to Place Fell.

Helvellyn and Catstycam from above the Hole-in-the-Wall.

A lone figure ahead on the climb towards Striding Edge. I stopped here to put crampons on and by the time I caught him at Low Spying How, he was admitting defeat and turning back as he was not equipped for the conditions - a wise move I think.

Looking across to Fairfield and Dollywaggon Pike.

Ullswater beyond Birkhouse Moor. Look at that great sheet of cloud creeping towards us from the north and east.

Striding Edge and Helvellyn.

Snowy Helvellyn.

Beautiful conditions here today.

Striding Edge from High Spying How.

Crossing Striding Edge.

There's that cloud again looking over Red Tarn to Catstycam.

Nethermost Cove and Nethermost Pike.

Onwards across Striding Edge.

Looking back along Striding Edge.

There is no side path visible today so the only option is to walk the narrow arête.

Looking back before the drop down to round The Chimney.

Dougal searches for the best way to tackle the steep climb up to the summit.

Striding Edge from the climb.

That was steep Casper!

Striding Edge from the summit plateau of Helvellyn.

Looking southwards across the cross shelter with the remains of an igloo to the left.

The view to the west.

The big cornice on Helvellyn - it's looking a bit dark over that way.

Dougal and Casper on Helvellyn - there isn't much of the trig. column sticking out of the snow, these two are almost level with it!

Looking across to Bowfell and the Scafells.

Catstycam and Ullswater with The Pennines beyond.

Crinkle Crags and Bowfell.

A lone figure crosses Lower Man looking to Bassenthwaite Lake and beyond.

Skiddaw.

The cornice from the start of the descent of Swirral Edge.

Dougal leading the way down Swirral Edge.

Looking back up Swirral Edge. The deep packed snow has smoothed out the normally rough and rocky path making the going more straightforward than usual.

Swirral Edge from the bottom.

Catstycam from Swirral Edge.

The sun has been completely obscured by that great sheet of cloud now. Casper checks out Glenridding from the top of Catstycam.

Swirral Edge from Red Tarn.

Frozen Red Tarn and Helvellyn.

Helvellyn and Catstycam from the approach to the Hole-in-the-Wall.

Birkhouse Moor from the wall crossing. I followed the old path from here - it has a much better gradient than the modern one and it is grassy, making it easier on the knees.

Helvellyn via Striding Edge

Walked on 01/06/2009

Start point: Patterdale (NY 394 160)

Patterdale – Hole-in-the Wall – Striding Edge – Helvellyn – Swirral Edge – Catstycam – Patterdale

Distance: 7.6 miles Total Ascent: 900 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 30 minutes

Weather: Beautiful warm sunshine. 23C.

What a glorious morning it was, it made it well worth the effort of getting up early and being out on the fells at the crack of dawn. Perhaps this is the start of summer now but hopefully not the end just yet. A sustained spell until September would do nicely please!

Helvellyn route map.

The head of Grisedale from the bridge over Grisedale Beck.

Climbing the path to the Hole-in-the-Wall in glorious early morning sunshine.

The northern face of Saint Sunday Crag.

Climbing higher and it was getting pretty warm even this early.

Grisedale Valley.

Saint Sunday Crag and Fairfield.

Helvellyn and Catstycam from the Hole-in-the-Wall.

Today's route - Striding Edge to the left, across Helvellyn to Swirral Edge then Catstycam and a steep descent to Red Tarn.

Catstycam.

Red Tarn and Swirral Edge with Helvellyn Lower Man peeping across it.

Dollywaggon and Nethermost Pike.

Helvellyn across Striding Edge.

Crossing Striding Edge. The cross shelter and the trig. column are clearly visible on the summit of Helvellyn from here.

Striding Edge.

The sheep are on the point where the lower path crosses from the northern side to the southern and leads around the 'difficult for dogs to negotiate' Chimney.

Striding Edge from the rough climb to Helvellyn. There is someone descending The Chimney but we used the lower path that skirts around it to the right.

Catstycam across Red Tarn.

Striding Edge.

Again, from higher up - almost at the top now.

Fairfield across the cross shelter.

The summit is all mine this morning.

Swirral Edge and Catstycam, Ullswater beyond.

Casper at the trig. column.

'Not much to drink round here dad!'.

The view to the Coniston fells.

A panoramic view from Helvellyn.

Sparkling Red Tarn and Striding Edge.

A close-up on Ullswater.

Skiddaw from the cairn that marks the start of Swirral Edge.

Descending Swirral Edge to Catstycam.

Looking back up Swirral Edge to Helvellyn.

Helvellyn from the foot of Catstycam.

Still nothing to drink for the lad on Catstycam.

Striding Edge and Helvellyn across Red Tarn from the steep descent from Catstycam.

Swirral Edge from the main path.

'That's better.'

Helvellyn across Red Tarn.

Helvellyn, Swirral Edge and Catstycam from the path back to the Hole-in-the-Wall.

Descending to Grisedale once more.

'That was alright, that walk'.

It was baking hot now and I'm glad I was out early today. I couldn't resist a shot of Brothers Water on the way home...

Striding Edge

Walked on 02/06/2008

Start point: Patterdale (NY 394 160)

Patterdale – Hole-in-the Wall – Striding Edge – Helvellyn – Swirral Edge – Catstycam – Birkhouse Moor – Patterdale

Distance: 7.8 miles Total Ascent: 925 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 30 minutes

Weather: Fine drizzle and low lying mist. 14ºC.

It seems like an age since I have been out but regular viewers will know why; it has been a lot of hard work for us with setting up the shop and the business. It will all be worth it though hopefully, but it was great to get out in the fresh air again this morning even if the weather was not the best after a week of lovely sunshine and where better to go than Striding Edge?

Striding Edge

Walked on 19/09/2007

Start point: Patterdale (NY 394 160)

Patterdale – Hole-in-the Wall – Striding Edge – Helvellyn – Swirral Edge – Catstycam – Birkhouse Moor – Patterdale

Distance: 7.8 miles Total Ascent: 925 metres Time Taken: 7 hours

Weather: Wet, clearing. 14oC.

Things didn’t look good first thing this morning, the rain was belting down throughout The Lakes and the wind was rattling the windows at home. Normally this would not be a problem, but today was the day of the inaugural StridingEdge.net walk. Would it be ruined? Should we do a low level walk? No! was the answer from the troops meeting at Patterdale. So, onward and upward…

The Grisedale Valley at the start of the climb to the Hole-in-the-Wall. This didn't look good, it was absolutely teeming down with rain.

A glimmer of sunshine? Grisedale and Saint Sunday Crag.

It is bright over on Birks but it's still raining though.

Suddenly the weather looks a bit more promising, here looking to the head of Grisedale.

Looking back to Place Fell from the path to the Hole-in-the-Wall.

Wet and bedraggled, we made it to the Hole-in-the-Wall.

Looking across to Catstycam.

Birkhouse Moor from the climb to Striding Edge.

All is clear over to Ullswater now, looking from Low Spying How.

Striding Edge.

Swirral Edge and Catstycam across Red Tarn. The white dot in the centre of the tarn is a small dinghy.

Descending The Chimney - dogs and all.

Climbing to Helvellyn, the summit shrouded in mist.

Looking back along Striding Edge.

Red Tarn and Catstycam from Helvellyn.

Casper makes sure everyone makes it along Striding Edge safely.

Walking along the Helvellyn summit plateau.

The StridingEdge summiteers - Lesley, Martin, Claire, David, Mike, Andy, Jo, Ann and Roger. Not on the photo are Angela who went east at the Hole-in-the-Wall, Alan who went north and Chris who went south!

A clearing view to Swirral Edge and Catstycam.

Casper lies perilously close to the edge of Helvellyn. Don't roll over!

White Side and Raise across Brown Cove.

Descending Swirral edge.

All is clear over to Skiddaw now.

Ullswater from Catstycam.

Casper and Angus on Catstycam wondering who all those other people and dogs are.

The route walked from Birkhouse Moor - Striding Edge, left, Helvellyn and Catstycam.

Ullswater from Birkhouse Moor.

It's sunny over Glenridding now on the descent from Birkhouse Moor. It is almost unbelievable to think it would end up like this after the start this morning, I didn't think we would see anything today. A great walk in brilliant company - thanks to everyone who joined us today, I really enjoyed it.

Striding Edge

Walked on 25/01/2007

Start point: Patterdale (NY 394 160)

Patterdale – Hole-in-the Wall – Striding Edge – Helvellyn – Swirral Edge – Catstycam – Birkhouse Moor – Patterdale

Distance: 7.8 miles Total Ascent: 925 metres Time Taken: 5 hours 30 minutes

Weather: Snowy with blue skies and a light breeze – perfect. 4°C

Wow, what a day today – bright blue skies and crisp white snow made for perfect walking conditions to Helvellyn via Striding Edge and Swirral Edge. Today I was joined by regular contributor to this site, Andy Lang; on the walk we bumped into Graham Thompson and the Trail magazine team doing a feature on Striding Edge and then Andrew Leaney on the summit of Helvellyn. Up on Catstycam we were alone and it didn’t look as though many had trod there today – only a couple of sets of footprints!

Striding Edge and Helvellyn

Walked on 17/11/2005

Start point: Patterdale (NY 394 160)

Patterdale – Hole-in-the Wall – Striding Edge – Helvellyn – Swirral Edge – Catstycam – Hole-in-the Wall – Patterdale

Distance: 7.5 miles Total Ascent: 900 metres Time Taken: 3 hours

Weather: Cold, crystal clear. 3oC valley, below freezing on the tops.

There was further excellent weather again today – cold, but with superb visibility. I couldn’t resist another visit to Striding Edge, absolutely the finest ridge in the Lake District. This is one I have been saving for just such a day and have dreamed about through all the bad weather.

Nethermost Pike and Dollywagon Pike at the head of Grisedale. The path to the Hole-in-the-Wall leads up to the right.

Catstycam from the Hole-in-the-Wall.

At the start of Striding Edge.

Angus contemplates the crossing.

Looking back to Striding Edge.

...and again from further up the steep ascent to Helvellyn.

Swirral Edge and Catstycam.

Catstycam and Ullswater from the summit of Helvellyn.

Swirral Edge running to Catstycam, left, Red Tarn and Striding Edge, right, from the summit of Helvellyn.

It was below freezing on the top of Helvellyn.

Looking west to Great Gable, the prominence on the left, and Pillar to the right of the ridge.

The view from Helvellyn. Select on the image to see a larger version.

The Skiddaw massif with Bassenthwaite Lake visible to the left.

The start of the steep descent of Swirral Edge.

Ullswater from Catstycam.

A zoomed in view.

High Street and the Far Eastern fells.

Looking along the wall to Birkhouse Moor.

Raise

Walked on 08/11/2004

Start point: Glenridding car park (NY 385 169)

Glenridding – Glenridding Dodd (199) – Heron Pike (Glenridding) (200) – Sheffield Pike (201) – Sticks Pass – Raise (202) – White Side (203) – Helvellyn Lower Man (204) – Helvellyn – Swirral Edge – Catstycam – Glenridding

Weather: Cloudy.

Today’s walk takes in a circuit of the Eastern Fells with a high point of Helvellyn. The weather wasn’t the best but a temperature inversion was always threatened but didn’t quite materialise, although there were some interesting views from Helvellyn.

Looking along Glenridding Screes to Raise from the steep climb up to Glenridding Dodd.

Ullswater and Gowbarrow Park from the summit of Glenridding Dodd.

View from the climb to Heron Pike; Ullswater and Glenridding Dodd with Place Fell behind on the right.

The iron marker post that marks the summit of Heron Pike. The 'M' marks the boundary of the Marshall estate of Patterdale, the reverse is marked 'H 1912' and marks the boundary of the Howard estate of Greystoke.

Waterfall on Sticks Gill.

Catstycam through the mist from White Side.

Looking along Glenridding Common to Ullswater from Whiteside Bank.

The Crinkle Crags and Bow Fell from Helvellyn.

The westerly view from Helvellyn.

The fearsome fangs of Swirral Edge.

Catstycam - no view!

Old mine workings at Swart Beck.

Helvellyn via The Edges

Walked on 08/06/2004

Start point: Glenridding (NY 385 169)

Glenridding – Keldas – Lanty’s Tarn – Birkhouse Moor (45) – Hole-in-the Wall – Striding Edge – Helvellyn (46) – Swirral Edge – Catstycam (47) – Glenridding

Weather: Warm and hazy.

Back up to higher ground today with a walk to Helvellyn from Glenridding, ascending via Birkhouse Moor and Striding Edge and descending via Swirral Edge to Catstycam.

Birkhouse Moor from the Glenridding path.

Ullswater from the summit of Keldas. At 331m, this summit seems to be an omission by Birkett as it meets the 1000' criteria he sets out in his book. The summit cairn drawn by Wainwright in his Birkhouse Moor chapter has now disappeared.

Looking to Birks across (a very dry) Lanty's Tarn.

Ascending Birkhouse Moor - follow the wall up to the right, then left along Birkhouse Moor to the Hole-in-the-Wall and Striding Edge to the left.

Striding Edge, Helvellyn and Catstycam from Birkhouse Moor summit cairn.

Looking to Swirral Edge across Red Tarn from Striding Edge.

Striding Edge from High Spying How

Looking back to High Spying How from Striding Edge.

Striding Edge looking towards the chimney and Helvellyn summit.

Looking back to the chimney.

Catstycam from the summit of Helvellyn. There were only hazy views to the East today and no views at all to the West as it was covered in cloud and haze.

Swirral Edge from Helvellyn; the initial descent is steep but it is not as bad as it looks.

Striding Edge from Catstycam summit.

Looking back to Catstycam from the descent into Glenridding.

It was so warm today, I couldn't resist having a dip in this inviting pool on Glenridding Beck.