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.