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. 15ยบC.
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.
Looking back down the steep climb. It was really clear today, look how far you can see at the top left.
That is Criffel across the Solway Firth, easily discernible today.
The north-western fells across Thirlmere, Bassenthwaite Lake to the right.
Catstycam and Swirral Edge across Brown Cove from the Helvellyn ridge.
Looking down Swirral Edge to Catstycam and Ullswater.
Red Tarn.
Helvellyn is all ours this morning Casper lad, there's not a soul around.
Looking south from the summit cairn across the cross shelter.
Looks like a big party coming across Striding Edge.
The view from Helvellyn.
Looking to Morecambe Bay across Nethermost Pike with Windermere, Esthwaite Water and Coniston Water in view.
He's spotted something down below.
The view from Helvellyn Lower Man to White Side, Raise and the Dodds.
The Scottish hills across the Solway Firth and Bassenthwaite Lake.
Ullswater.
Someone has been busy building this handsome cairn on White Side, here looking back to Helvellyn.
The view from Brown Crag.
The wooded Great How at the head of Thirlmere, one of the quartet I did last week.
High Rigg.
The steep descent to Thirlspot.
Thirlmere aqueduct.