Start point: Patterdale (NY 394 160)
Patterdale – Hole-in-the Wall – Striding Edge – Helvellyn – Swirral Edge – Catstycam – Hole-in-the Wall – Patterdale
Distance: 7.5 miles Total Ascent: 900 metres Time Taken: 3 hours
Weather: Cold, crystal clear. 3oC valley, below freezing on the tops.
There was further excellent weather again today – cold, but with superb visibility. I couldn’t resist another visit to Striding Edge, absolutely the finest ridge in the Lake District. This is one I have been saving for just such a day and have dreamed about through all the bad weather.
Nethermost Pike and Dollywagon Pike at the head of Grisedale. The path to the Hole-in-the-Wall leads up to the right.
Catstycam from the Hole-in-the-Wall.
At the start of Striding Edge.
Angus contemplates the crossing.
Looking back to Striding Edge.
...and again from further up the steep ascent to Helvellyn.
Swirral Edge and Catstycam.
Catstycam and Ullswater from the summit of Helvellyn.
Swirral Edge running to Catstycam, left, Red Tarn and Striding Edge, right, from the summit of Helvellyn.
It was below freezing on the top of Helvellyn.
Looking west to Great Gable, the prominence on the left, and Pillar to the right of the ridge.
The view from Helvellyn. Select on the image to see a larger version.
The Skiddaw massif with Bassenthwaite Lake visible to the left.
The start of the steep descent of Swirral Edge.
Ullswater from Catstycam.
A zoomed in view.
High Street and the Far Eastern fells.
Looking along the wall to Birkhouse Moor.