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 Helvellyn](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2009-06-01-helvellyn-via-striding-edge/cache/Helvellyn.jpg-nggid048330-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
Today's route - Striding Edge to the left, across Helvellyn to Swirral Edge then Catstycam and a steep descent to Red Tarn.
![01.06.09-058 01.06.09-058](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2009-06-01-helvellyn-via-striding-edge/cache/01.06.09-058.jpg-nggid048301-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
Crossing Striding Edge. The cross shelter and the trig. column are clearly visible on the summit of Helvellyn from here.
![01.06.09-082 01.06.09-082](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2009-06-01-helvellyn-via-striding-edge/cache/01.06.09-082.jpg-nggid048303-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
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.
![01.06.09-088 01.06.09-088](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2009-06-01-helvellyn-via-striding-edge/cache/01.06.09-088.jpg-nggid048304-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
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.