Start Point: Patterdale (NY 394 160)
Patterdale – Hole-in-the Wall – Striding Edge – Helvellyn – Swirral Edge – Catstycam – Birkhouse Moor – Patterdale
Distance: 14.2 km Total Ascent: 898 metres Time Taken: 5 hours 10 minutes Start Time: 06:40
Weather: Some cloud, clearing. 4°C
After seemingly endless days of gloom and overcast skies over the last week or two, today was forecast to be a lot clearer and that was a good enough excuse to head out on the fells, today it was up to Helvellyn via Striding Edge then returning via Swirral Edge. As it was the 11th November, Fletcher wore his poppy and we had an Armistice Day silence on the descent of Birkhouse Moor – we were on The Nab at 11. There was also a thought for Jeff today as we crossed Striding Edge…


After the initial sunrise, the clouds rolled in. By the time we reached the Hole in the Wall, it was windy and cold - time to layer up!

Striding Edge - there were brief glimpses of sunshine and blue sky but they never held for long. Walking along Striding Edge there was time for more than a thought for Jeff, a friend from across the pond who sadly passed away earlier this year and his partner Cindy. As Cindy said about Jeff, his heart was always in the Lake District - RIP Jeff.