Helvellyn Sunrise

Walked on 17/12/2021

Start point: Wythburn (NY 324 136)

Wythburn – Birk Side – Nethermost Pike – High Crag – Dollywaggon Pike – Seat Sandal – Wythburn

Distance: 8 miles Total Ascent: 1042 metres Time Taken: 5 hours 30 minutes Start Time: 06:30

Clear                 
Temperature      5 ℃ 
Felt like        5 ℃
Wind Speed       1.3 mi/h
Wind Direction   ENE

Regular followers of this site over the years will know I like a sunrise walk and particularly at this time of year up to Helvellyn. All the conditions looked to be good for a decent sunrise today so I felt compelled to go for it, and I am mighty glad I did as it was absolutely fantastic up there. Previously all my December walks up there have been memorably cold but this time it was not so bad. Of course you never know what the conditions are really going to be like walking up in the dark but the view of the inversion to the east when nearing the top was fabulous and I knew I was in for a treat from that moment.

Pre-sunrise and it is shaping up to be a fantastic day ahead.

Ghostly Striding Edge is completely enveloped in cloud.

I had time for a walk along the summit plateau before the sunrise proper - there were another couple of people there to witness the spectacle as well.

Here we go, the first glimpse of sunrise - it is, of course, relatively late at this time of year at around 08:30.

Catstycam looking solitary.

Well worth the wait...

...and well worth a photo or two.

Helvellyn sunrise.

It is absolutely superb this morning.

The clouds look like you could jump from the edge into them. Perhaps you could swim to Catstycam?

Striding Edge looking fantastic, like some sort of prehistoric beast emerging from the clouds.

No man is an island.

Fletcher leads the way from Helvellyn.

Striding Edge is constantly changing with more - or less - being revealed by the clouds as they ebb and flow.

Acres of fluffy clouds as far as the eye can see to the east.

Looking great from every angle.

Fletcher is oblivious to the magnificence behind him.

I did hang around on Helvellyn for a good while (for me anyway) and walked along the ridge a couple of time before heading south to Nethermost Pike, here looking to the west with Bowfell to Great Gable in view through the inversion.

The inversion clouds are sinking away from Striding Edge and Catstycam now.

A penny for them Fletcher.

Heading for High Crag.

A panorama to the west. The central part if the lakes along Thirlmere was clear of cloud.

Fairfield and the Ill Bell ridge beyond.

Seat Sandal under a cloud cap. I stopped on Dollywaggon Pike and had a coffee and watched the fascinating cloud movements unfold. The cloud was pouring from Grisedale Tarn and down Raise Beck and began to fill up the Thirlmere valley.

Looking along The Tongue from Dollywaggon Pike summit, a good place to sit for a while. Amazingly I never saw anyone along this ridge after I left Helvellyn.

...and looking back the other way.

At the old gatepost that marks the start of the steep descent to Grisedale Tarn, Seat Sandal summit is out of the clouds now so let's go for it!

More thoughts for Fletcher on the way down. Oh my, I had forgotten how steep this was!

We're going in!

Then, as if by magic, the cloud has all but gone looking to Fairfield and St Sunday Crag from the steep climb to Seat Sandal.

Grasmere, Windermere and Coniston from Seat Sandal summit.

A brocken spectre? Nearly....sort of...not quite. If the clouds were a bit thicker it would have been a cert from that position but not to worry.

The view from Low Wood on the way home - rarely is Winderemere this calm.

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.

Helvellyn

Walked on 04/12/2018

Start point: Wythburn (NY 324 136)

Wythburn – Birk Side – Nethermost Pike – High Crag – Dollywaggon Pike – Nethermost Pike –Helvellyn – Wythburn

Distance: 7.2 miles Total Ascent: 1018 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 10 minutes Start Time: 06:45

Weather: Freezing, some cloud and a strong cold wind. 0ºC

Today seemed to be the best bet for some decent wintry weather with the forecast showing wet and windy for pretty much the remainder of the week. It is always a bit of a leap of faith setting off up to the fells in the dark and hoping that the weather will be okay when you get to the top. Perhaps it wasn’t as fabulous as I hoped it may have been but still it was a great walk along the frozen Helvellyn ridge. That wind was bitingly cold up there yet at valley level it was as still as could be, especially to the south as you will see in the photos. There wasn’t a soul around this early and on such a day and it was quite special to have a sunrise and Helvellyn all to myself.

Helvellyn Map

In the twilight on Nethermost Pike. All the way on the journey and then on the climb I was intrigued by the crescent moon and close by Venus shining brightly. The indications were good that this was to be a clear day but as I approached Helvellyn I could see the cloud was already forming on the top so I cut straight across to get here, hoping it would remain clear.

Witnessing the sunrise from up on high is always a great moment and fantastic sight.

The mist was constantly swirling in and out now with a strong and cold wind blowing it.

Despite the cold it was still a beautiful sight to witness and gave some interesting perspectives on the daybreak.

To the south the low lying valleys were under a nice temperature inversion, here lit up by the rising sun. I think that makes High Crag and Dollywaggon Pike look even colder.

Looking back to frozen Nethermost Pike from High Crag.

As above, so below - there was plenty of cloud forming around us now.

Fletcher and Dougal are ready to go, they certainly don't want to be sitting around in this weather.

Frozen Grisedale, Ullswater beyond.

A similar view from The Tongue on Dollywaggon Pike.

In the mist - the ridge just walked.

It is looking quite clear over to the east now.

Wow, what a winter's view looking back to Dollywaggon.

High and mighty Striding Edge.

On my own - the frozen summit of Helvellyn.

Fletcher looking pensive.

Follow the path...but which one?

The view across to Coniston.

...and closer up. Looks like Great Langdale and Coniston Water are beneath the clouds today.

Frozen Steel Fell to Harrison Stickle.

Thirlmere to Skiddaw from the descent.

Helvellyn

Height: 950 metres / 3117 feet Grid reference: NY 34167 15158 Category: The Eastern Fells

Helvellyn is the third highest fell in the Lake District and one of the four over 3000 feet. Of course, the best way to get up there is to climb via the finest ridge in the District, Striding Edge!

Helvellyn summit

Snow on the summit of Helvellyn

Striding Edge from Helvellyn

Swirral Edge and Catstycam from Helvellyn

Beautiful sunshine, beautiful inversion, beautiful snow

A 360 degree panorama from Helvellyn.

Helvellyn

Walked on 05/12/2012

Start point: Wythburn (NY 324 136)

Wythburn – Birk Side – High Crag – Nethermost Pike – Helvellyn – Nethermost Pike – Dollywaggon Pike – Wythburn

Distance: 5.8 miles Total Ascent: 924 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 30 minutes Start Time: 06:40

Weather: Freezing, some cloud and a cold wind. 0ºC

I seem to be following a bit of a pattern here with heading out early, chasing the sunrise but I find it is well worth it. Today’s views were just jaw dropping with the sun lighting up the fells with some fabulous colours. The wind was very strong making it feel like a bit of an Arctic expedition at times and I was well layered up for this one.

Helvellyn Route Map

First light, the moon still high in the sky.

Climbing to High Crag, trying to make it in time for the sun coming over the horizon.

Made it, and well worth the effort it was too.

Big cornice lit up with a lovely pink hue by the early morning sun.

The Coniston fells.

Looking back to High Crag.

There was a strong, cold wind blowing up here as Casper and Dougal will tell you.

A jaw dropping sunrise, just fabulous.

A panoramic view from Nethermost Pike, select on the image to see a larger version.

Pink snow looking to Helvellyn from Nethermost Pike.

Catstycam and Striding Edge.

Cornice on Helvellyn and the climb to the cross shelter. Time to get the crampons on from here, there was snow on ice and it was quite treacherous in places.

My original intention was to drop down and cross Striding Edge, however I reckoned it would be a little tricky today especially with this wind so I gave it a miss.

It has calmed down a little now looking down on Striding Edge.

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

A brand new white coat for Catstycam.

The cross shelter.

The summit of Helvellyn.

Spindrift on Helvellyn.

It was quite fierce at times!

Striding Edge from the summit.

Swirral Edge.

Swirral Edge to Catstycam.

Heading back across the summit plateau.

Snowbeard has a piece of my banana!

Having a quick coffee in the cross shelter Dougal decided he would become the King of Helvellyn. People often ask how Dougal and Casper manage in the snow but remember, they are fell bred and the fells are a Beardies home turf.

At the Gough Memorial.

Of course, I can't resist another view of Striding Edge!

A panoramic view of Striding Edge. Select on the image to see a larger version.

Blue skies now the sun is up but it still oh so cold.

The view to the west from Nethermost Pike.

Seat Sandal.

Grisedale, frozen Hard Tarn below.

Sun, shadows, cloud and cornice.

Fairfield.

The summit of Dollywaggon Pike.

A lovely, windblown view.

Great Gable to Pillar across Ullscarf.

Bowfell to the Scafells.

A panorama from Dollywaggon Pike. Select on the image to see a larger version.

From the descent of Dollywaggon Pike.

At the ruined sheepfold on the descent - I managed to lose the path here, I couldn't see it anywhere!

This will do though, Thirlmere and Skiddaw from the descent.

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.

Striding Edge

Walked on 15/09/2011

Start point: Patterdale (NY 394 160)

Patterdale – Hole-in-the-Wall – Striding Edge – Helvellyn – Nethermost Pike – East Ridge – Grisedale – Patterdale

Distance: 8.8 miles Total Ascent: 960 metres Time Taken: 5 hours Start Time: 07:00

Weather: Sunny and warm. 13ºC

It was a lot cooler this morning than it has been of late, down to 3C when I set off. Once the sun was out though it soon warmed up and it turned into a superb morning. I descended via the east ridge of Nethermost Pike and even managed a quick dip in the hidden Hard Tarn.

Striding Edge route map.

Early morning Grisedale.

The head of Grisedale from the path to the Hole in the Wall - the bracken is turning now.

Dollywaggon Pike and Nethermost Pike. The east ridge from Nethermost looks interesting, I might use that for the way down later.

Fly me to the moon.

Ling-a long-a Grisedale.

That ridge has certainly caught my attention this morning and I was checking out where the best way down would be. Hard to tell from here but I decided on the scree run on the left of centre.

Looking back to Grisedale and the path climbed.

The Hole-in-the-Wall.

Striding Edge, Helvellyn and Catstycam.

Birkhouse Moor from the Hole-in-the-Wall.

Climbing to High Spying How and Striding Edge.

Red Tarn panoramic.

The jagged teeth of Striding Edge.

At the start of Striding Edge.

Dougal leads the way.

Crossing Striding Edge.

Striding Edge silhouette.

Red Tarn and Catstycam.

Striding Edge.

A panoramic from the climb to Helvellyn.

The summit plateau of Helvellyn.

Close up on Ullswater.

A fantastic view from Helvellyn across Catstycam to Ullswater with the Pennines beyond.

Dougal and Casper on Helvellyn.

Skiddaw from Helvellyn.

Blencathra across Raise and the Dodds.

Swirral Edge and Catstycam.

The Coniston fells.

The paths from Helvellyn.

There are one or two people on Striding Edge now.

Catstycam and Striding Edge from a pool on Nethermost Pike.

The summit of Nethermost Pike.

At the top of the east ridge of Nethermost Pike.

Looking across to Dollywaggon Pike, Hard Tarn below looks like it is worth a small detour today.

High Crag beyond Hard Tarn.

What a beautiful place this tarn is in, nicely secluded and off the beaten track.

Hard Tarn reflections.

A jewel.

The outflow from Hard Tarn is a strange one, it just overflows this rock lip.

The water was so clear and the location was so idyllic that I was magnetically drawn into the water for a swim. Admittedly, the water was a bit cooler than tepid but it is an unbeatable feeling to swim up on high in a clear pool such as this. I noticed my two companions weren't too bothered though!

The easier way down would probably have been down into Ruthwaite Cove but I decided to continue down from the east ridge towards Eagle Crag, here looking back to the towering east ridge.

Place Fell along Grisedale.

Nethermost Cove.

The east ridge.

Looking from the old mine workings to Nethermost Pike and Helvellyn.

Nethermostcove Beck.

Looking back to Eagle Crag.

Crossing Nethermostcove Beck.

Looking back from Grisedale.

This will do!

'Where can I get a drink around here?'.

Grisedale Horseshoe

Walked on 12/10/2010

Start point: Patterdale (NY 394 160)

Patterdale – Hole-in-the-Wall – Striding Edge – Helvellyn – Nethermost Pike – High Crag – Dollywaggon Pike – Seat Sandal – Deepdale Hause – Saint Sunday Crag – Birks – Patterdale

Distance: 11 miles Total Ascent: 1419 metres Time Taken: 6 hours Start Time: 06:45

Weather: Sunny and clear. 13C

I was up early this morning to make the most of the expected good weather to come for the day. I wasn’t disappointed and it turned into a fantastic and memorable day on the fells with incredible clarity and an inversion over the Lake District as well. When I set off from Patterdale this morning (in the dark!), the temperature gauge was showing -1C but once the sun rose it was really warm and I ended up completing the walk in shirt sleeves.

Grisedale route map.

It was below freezing when I left Patterdale and pretty chilly climbing to the Hole-in-the-Wall, here looking back towards Patterdale with Ullswater under the early morning mist.

Sun rising but not visible here yet. That mist is following me up the valley below.

The sun rising over High Street.

All a-glow heading for the Hole-in-the-Wall.

Beautiful sunrise and the inversion has flooded into Grisedale.

Climbing the steep section of the path.

Looking to Birkhouse Moor from the Hole. All the low lying ground to the east is covered with mist.

Helvellyn and Catstycam at dawn.

A panoramic view.

Looking back from the climb to High Spying How.

Even the normally dull as ditchwater Great Mell Fell looks good today, taking on a special interest in the inversion.

The Mell Fells and Gowbarrow Fell rise from the mist, Sheffield Pike in the foreground.

The mighty Striding Edge.

Flat calm Red Tarn.

The view from High Spying How.

Crossing The Edge.

Red Tarn and Catstycam.

Panoramic Red Tarn.

Looking down on Striding Edge.

There is a big inversion to the south too looking over the cross shelter. In fact the whole Lake District is surrounded by the inversion.

The view from the summit of Helvellyn.

Dougal and Casper on the summit.

The 'Isle of Skiddaw', the Vale of Keswick is beneath the cloud somewhere.

A panoramic view of the Vale of Keswick.

Swirral Edge and Catstycam, the Pennines beyond Ullswater.

Cross Fell beyond Ullswater.

Looking into the bright sunshine from Helvellyn.

Looking to the south west from the path to Nethermost Pike. That distant fell (Black Combe), in solitary peeping out in the clouds intrigued me - I wonder what it would be like to be stood on the top of it? Actually, I have had a similar experience on Hard Knott with Connie (here) and you never know whether you will actually ever get above the cloud.

All clear over Bowfell, Scafell and Great Gable.

Striding Edge.

Misty Grisedale.

The view from Nethermost Pike.

Casper takes it easy heading for Dollywaggon Pike.

The Solway Firth is also under inversion between Robinson and Grasmoor to the north.

Dollywaggon Pike from the steep climb to Seat Sandal.

Thirlmere under cloud and Skiddaw from Seat Sandal.

The Vale of Grasmere.

Thirlmere

Saint Sunday Crag and Fairfield from the descent of Seat Sandal.

Seat Sandal from the start of the climb to Fairfield.

I took the path to Deepdale Hause which turned out to be a good one to get to Saint Sunday, well worth a go. It was cold along here though in the shade looking down on Grisedale Tarn.

Seat Sandal and Grisedale Tarn.

Fairfield and Cofa Pike from Deepdale Hause.

Dollywaggon Pike across Grisedale.

Looking west from the climb to Saint Sunday Crag.

The Helvellyn ridge.

The summit of Saint Sunday Crag.

Heading for Birks below, Place Fell beyond.

Dougal and Casper on Birks.

Looking back to Saint Sunday from Birks.

On the edge of heaven?

Ullswater panoramic.

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

Walked on 18/12/2009

Start point: Wythburn (NY 324 136)

Wythburn – Birk Side – Nethermost Pike – Helvellyn – Birk Side – Wythburn

Distance: 4.7 miles Total Ascent: 813 metres Time Taken: 2 hours 30 minutes

Weather: F-f-f-freezing. -2ºC

I have wanted to get up to Helvellyn for a decent sunrise for a good while so today seemed a good day for it with it being nearly the shortest day and the sunrise being relatively late. It was cold and clear (and dark) when I set off from Wythburn and conditions were pretty extreme when I made it to the top…

Helvellyn route map.

Climbing to Helvellyn in the dark.

First light over the Coniston fells from Birk Side.

There was a red sunrise to the south and I was cursing at this point, wishing I had gone to Coniston where it looked lovely and clear yet here on the side of Nethermost Pike there were clouds - lots of them.

Heading for Nethermost Pike and perhaps it's not so bad after all.

The Coniston fells and a red sky but it was bitterly cold and the wind was really picking up now.

Looking across Nethermost Cove to Helvellyn, Catstycam and Striding Edge.

Casper attempts to show how windy it is looking into Grisedale.

The sky over Saint Sunday Crag.

A superb red sky but Fairfield is lost under cloud.

The summit of Nethermost Pike.

Coldy old Nethermost.

The Coniston fells from bitterly cold Nethermost Pike.

Nethermost Crag and Helvellyn ahead.

Clearing skies to the south.

Striding Edge.

The Gough Memorial.

It looks like there is fire in the sky over there.

It was incredibly windy along the Helvellyn ridge and I had to really plant my feet firmly to keep still enough to get a photo.

Swirral Edge and Catstycam.

Striding Edge from further along the ridge.

Looking to Ullswater over Birkhouse Moor and Red Tarn.

Wow!

Windermere and Coniston Water with Morecambe Bay beyond under a wonderful sky.

The cross shelter is frozen.

The sun appears through the clouds.

The Helvellyn summit ridge. As the sun was rising it became achingly gorgeous and absolutely wonderful to be here for this - well worth the effort of getting up early.

A cloud capped Raise.

Pink snow along Helvellyn summit with Skiddaw visible.

Looking back towards the cross shelter.

Casper braving the elements - you know he loves it.

Skiddaw and Blencathra beyond Raise.

The sun was starting to shine through now and it was turning into a fabulous sunrise with conditions constantly changing as the clouds were quickly blown through by the wind.

Skiddaw and Blencathra beyond White Side.

Simply beautiful.

Looking back along the summit.

Looks pretty cold to the east.

At the top of Swirral Edge.

Keppel Cove.

Pink cairn.

Sunshine and spindrift.

Helvellyn glory.

The summit. I stopped back at the cross shelter for more layers, another hat (yes, I wore two hats plus a fleece Buff!) and my 'big' gloves as my fingers were numb wearing ordinary gloves by this time. A look at the thermometer strapped to my bag showed the air temperature was -6C but with the wind chill it was even colder than that.

Departing Helvellyn (quickly!) and looking back to the shelter, the snow looks more like a desert in the morning sunshine.

The north western fells.

The route of return, Nethermost Pike up to the left.

Casper likes to live on the edge.

Pink Striding Edge.

Striding Edge from further along - gold and pink now.

Steel Fell in the foreground, the Coniston fells beyond.

Thirlmere from the descent.

Ullscarf across Thirlmere.

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...

Helvellyn

Walked on 26/01/2009

Start point: Lay by opposite Swirls Car Park (NY 315 170)

Swirls – Browncove Crags – Helvellyn – Helvellyn Lower Man – White Side – Raise – Swirls

Distance: 6.3 miles Total Ascent: 920 metres Time Taken: 4 hours

Weather: Cold and clear with temperature inversion. 5°C

It ended up being a day of two halves with the weather, but I really couldn’t have expected anything better than the cold and clear weather complete with a temperature inversion that covered the whole of the south Lakes that I managed to see from the summit of Helvellyn. Later the inversion lifted and completely enveloped me making it a completely different walk during the latter stages.

Helvellyn route map.

Sunlight on Blencathra along St John's in the Vale.

As soon as the snowline was reached it was time for the crampons as everything was iced over making the going slippery. This is the view from where I put them on and all is clear to the north over Skiddaw and Blencathra.

Looking across Thirlmere to the western fells.

White Side from the climb to Browncove Crags.

Ice axe definitely required for this steep section to Browncove Crags.

Finally up into the sunshine and the first view of a big inversion to the south.

Great Gable is clear towards the left but there is cloud forming now on some of the other fells around it.

Climbing higher - can't wait to get to the top.

Stybarrow Dodd, Raise and White Side. Blencathra in the left distance has a covering of cloud now.

The mist clearing from Helvellyn.

The view to the south west...

...and the contrasting view to the north west.

All clear now on Helvellyn.

It was a fantastic day to be on the fells today.

Casper living on the edge.

Swirral Edge, Catstycam with Ullswater beyond.

The Edges and Red Tarn from the summit of Helvellyn.

Swirral Edge.

The icy trig. column on Helvellyn.

The southern half of the Lake District is completely covered in cloud today.

Not many people around today.

In fact I am on my own now, here looking at the snow corniced edge of Helvellyn.

Looking to Nethermost Pike and Dollywaggon Pike.

Swirral Edge and Catstycam with Raise distant left - that's the way I am going today.

Frozen boulders and the cross shelter with Fairfield beyond.

The Master of the Universe.

Not much chance of getting a seat in the cross shelter today, it is 'full'.

The mighty Striding Edge.

The half buried Gough Memorial.

Beautiful sunshine, beautiful inversion, beautiful snow.

Casper in the winter wonderland.

Helvellyn.

A final view to the south as I head across the summit to Helvellyn Lower Man.

A 360 degree panorama from Helvellyn.

White Side and Raise from Helvellyn Lower Man.

The mist was starting to form in the Thirlmere Valley below, in fact it felt as though the inversion was moving towards me from the north and west.

The cloud starts to pour over Browncove Crags.

Still clear over Brown Cove to Sheffield Pike and Ullswater, Catstycam to the right.

White Side and Raise from the descent of Lower Man.

Swirral Edge.

It's all catching me up now.

The cloud is now pouring across Helvellyn and engulfing Swirral Edge.

I've a feeling it is going to get me pretty soon.

It certainly did! A glimmer of winter sun on White Side.

A skier on Raise.

Raise summit.

Descending from Raise the weather had completely changed and it was now a rather dull day.

A brief glimmer of blue sky once ,more on the final descent.

Striding Edge

Walked on 09/12/2008

Start point: Patterdale (NY 394 160)

Patterdale – Striding Edge – Helvellyn – Nethermost Pike – Dollywaggon Pike – Hause Gap – Fairfield – Cofa Pike – Saint Sunday Crag – Patterdale

Distance: 11 miles Total Ascent: 1410 metres Time Taken: 7 hours

Weather: Sunny spells, icy wind. 3ºC.

The snow has begun to thaw and it was all a bit dull and overcast when I set off from Patterdale this morning. Once up to the Hole-in-the-Wall though, there were regular sunny spells and the crossing of Striding Edge is a s fantastic as ever in winter conditions. I lengthened the walk by climbing to Fairfield after the Helvellyn ridge but the wind was mighty strong and cold up there and it made walking quite difficult at times. The days are pretty short at the moment and the descent was mirrored by the setting of the sun.

NOTE: This walk was done in winter conditions and it can be extremely hazardous up on Striding Edge in this weather. Just because I did it with my dog doesn’t mean to say you can. Please make sure you are properly equipped for the conditions.

It was all a bit overcast when I set off into Grisedale. Here the path to the Hole-in-the-Wall can be seen running diagonally right to left with the wall visible in the centre.

Looking to the head of Grisedale, Saint Sunday Crag to the left.

Clearing out a bit now looking back to Place Fell.

Climbing the path.

Dollywaggon Pike and Nethermost Pike under cloud.

At the Hole-in-the-Wall. The crampons were on by here.

Looking back to Birkhouse Moor and Ullswater.

Heading for Low Spying How.

Helvellyn, Swirral Edge and Catstycam.

Dollywaggon Pike, Nethermost Pike and Low Spying How.

Who's the King of the Castle?

The first view of Striding Edge.

The cloud was constantly clearing then swirling back in on the climb.

There was quite a contrast with a lot less snow on the Far Eastern fells.

I caught up with group from Sheffield on the crossing of Striding Edge. They were much hardier than me as they had camped out at Red Tarn last night.

A tricky crossing over the icy rocks. Crampons and an ice axe were essential today. The Dixon memorial is to the right.

Further along Striding Edge.

These photos make it look clear but the mist was still swirling on and around us as we crossed.

Looking back, almost at The Chimney now.

The Chimney.

The climb to reach Helvellyn.

A misty Striding Edge from the climb.

That's a clearer view.

A great view of the full length of Striding Edge.

Here's a view looking down the climb to show conditions when the mist was down and the equipment required to get up here!

The Gough Memorial.

No view from the summit for us today.

Heading for Nethermost Pike.

A bit further along the ridge and the mist has cleared again.

Fairfield, Dollywaggon Pike and High Crag from Nethermost Pike.

A view to the west.

Heading for Dollywaggon Pike with Fairfield and Great Rigg in view with a glimpse of Windermere.

Dollywaggon Pike.

High Crag from Dollywaggon Pike.

The old post marks the start of the steep descent to Grisedale Tarn.

Snowbeard on the descent.

Saint Sunday Crag and Fairfield above Grisedale Tarn.

All clear over Fairfield.

Once at Hause Gap the wind really picked up and the climb to Fairfield was pretty tough. This view is through to the Coniston fells. This is where I took my crampons off too as they were more of a hindrance rather than a help.

Seat Sandal from the climb.

The Far Eastern fells from Fairfield.

Mushroom cloud over Helvellyn.

The Helvellyn ridge recently walked. Crampons back on again for the steep and icy descent to Cofa Pike.

Saint Sunday Crag from Cofa Pike.

Helvellyn and Striding Edge in sunshine.

Grisedale Tarn and the view to the west from Deepdale Hause. Crampons off again!

The moon rising over the eastern fells from Saint Sunday Crag.

Casper at the summit of Saint Sunday Crag.

Looking across to Helvellyn and Catstycam.

It was amazing how quickly the sun began to set with the clouds over Helvellyn already tinged with red.

Sunset on High Street.

The moon rising over Place Fell.

Helvellyn

Walked on 24/06/2008

Start point: Lay-by on the A591 (NY 316 173)

Thirlspot – Swirls – Browncove Crags – Helvellyn – Helvellyn Lower Man – White Side – Brown Crag (540) – Thirlspot

Distance: 5.6 miles Total Ascent: 860 metres Time Taken: 3 hours

Weather: Overcast but clear. 15ºC.

It has been fantastic over the last few weeks to receive so much support from everyone about our new venture in Bowness, both by e-mail and in person at the shop – really lovely to meet everyone who has visited. We all know that fell walking people are warm hearted! Special mention must be made of the Gunter family from Florida in the USA who have followed the site almost since the beginning – I would love to say they flew in specially to see me, but that’s not quite true although the whole family did make a special journey during their holidays to visit the shop – thanks for coming and I’m sorry I missed you that day.

Today’s walk was to Helvellyn for the second time during June; the reason for that was to climb my penultimate Birkett peak, Brown Crag. The clarity today was quite striking even though it was overcast with long clear views for mile after mile.

Browncove Crags on the north-western slopes of Helvellyn from the A591.

Helvellyn Gill.

Early morning sunshine on Skiddaw.

Skiddaw and Blencathra from higher up. That was the last of the sunshine this morning.

I don't know what was going on here but there were thousands of gulls below Browncove Crags - perhaps they were after the caterpillars that are emerging at the moment.