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Helm Crag from Grasmere: Friday 18th December 2015

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A wonderful short walk to one of the most famous summits in the Lake District, written about by Wordsworth and Coleridge Helm Crag doesn't disappoint, a great little mountain with equally spectacular views over the Vale of Grasmere.

Availability: Fully Booked

£22.00
Difficulty: Easy
  A wonderful lower summit
Distance: 6km / 4 miles approx.
Ascent: 350m / 1100ft approx.
Time: 3/4 hours
Start Time: 10am
Maximum Group Size: 10
Minimum Group Size: 1

 

"The virtues of Helm Crag have not been lauded enough. It gives an exhilarating little climb, a brief essay in real mountaineering, and, in a region where all is beautiful, it makes a notable contribution to the natural charms and attractions of Grasmere."
A Wainwright

 

A wonderful short walk to one of the most famous summits in the Lake District, written about by Wordsworth and Coleridge Helm Crag doesn't disappoint, a great little mountain with equally spectacular views over the Vale of Grasmere.

 

Summits included on this route:
   
Helm Crag
405 metres/1329 feet

 

"This is a splendid little climb; if it has a fault it is that it is too short."
A Wainwright

 

From Grasmere we will follow the lane towards Easdale, past Goody Bridge to Lancrigg, here, turning off the road we head up the track passing the disused quarries and climbing by White Crag.

As we climb above the trees the views over Grasmere are spectacular, and they only get better as we climb towards the summit of Helm Crag.
The summit of Helm Crag is topped by the Howitzer, a huge rock that is the true summit of the fell, to climb to the top is classed as a grade 1 scramble, easy enough to get up when it's dry but a little trickier to descend!

The summit rock is also known as 'The Lion And The Lamb', from below these rocks give the shape of a lion towering over a smaller rock, known as the lamb.
There are actually two rocks that both, from time to time are referred to as 'The Lion And The Lamb', from the roadside near Dunmail Raise the Howitzer is the most prominent on the skyline but from the village of Grasmere the lower rocks to the south east are more prominent.

From the summit of Helm Crag we will descend a short distance north east to Bracken Hause, a large dip on the ridge, from here taking the path to the south, descending into Far Easdale Valley to meet the Bridleway along the valley back towards Lankrigg and Easdale Road, following the lane back into Grasmere.

A great shorter walk with some stunning views and one of the best summits in the Lake District.

Each participant will be required to bring suitable equipment for their chosen event, please see Kit List tab above.

 

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