Helvellyn & Striding Edge

"Striding Edge is the finest ridge there is in Lakeland, for walkers - it's traverse is always an exhilarating adventure in fair weather or foul, and it can be made easy or difficult according to choice."

A. Wainwright

One of the jewels in the crown of the Lake District is the wonderful route climbing Helvellyn by Striding Edge, an easy scramble along an airy ridge, well within the reach of most fellwalkers or those with a reasonable level of fitness.

This glorious route begins at Glenridding where we climb by the picturesque Lanty's Tarn, following the ridge up onto Birkhouse Moor, although not the most famous of summits Birkhouse Moor has one of the best views in the Lake District, on a clear day we will get our first view of Helvellyn from here, framed perfectly with Striding Edge to the left and Swirral Edge to the right.

From Birkhouse Moor an easy path follows the ridge to 'the hole in the wall', this is where the fun begins as we are soon up to High Spying How and the start of Striding Edge.

There are several ways to tackle Striding Edge, the ridge can be made as easy or as difficult as required, for those up for a challenge then sticking to the crest of the ridge gives an exhilarating scramble, for anyone else there is a path below the crest of the ridge that avoids any difficulty which can be dropped down to whenever required.

The final climb up from Striding Edge to the Helvellyn summit plateau is a short steep pull, but once on the plateau the views open up to the west, with clear views to the Scafell Range, Great Gable and the North Western Fells as well as on a good day north to Scotland and south across Morecambe Bay to Blackpool Tower, on really clear days we have seen as far as north Wales!

Our descent from Helvellyn takes down over Swirral Edge, another rocky ridge, but an easy scramble as we descend towards Red Tarn, before leaving the ridge we have the option of collecting another summit, Catstycam, a great pointy summit with a wonderful view over Red Tarn to Striding Edge and Helvellyn as well as down over Ullswater in the valley and to the Pennine Fells.

From Catstycam we descend to meet the path by Red Tarn Beck, descending to the now disused Greenside Mines, once the largest lead mines in the world, but now home to a few hostels and bunkhouses, following the track back to Glenridding.

Helvellyn & Striding Edge: Thursday 15th October 2015
£22.00

Helvellyn and the iconic Striding Edge from Glenridding on the shore of the stunning Ullswater are regular events on our Lake District guided walks diary. Learn More
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Helvellyn & Striding Edge: Sunday 18th October 2015
£22.00

Helvellyn and the iconic Striding Edge from Glenridding on the shore of the stunning Ullswater are regular events on our Lake District guided walks diary. Learn More
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Helvellyn & Striding Edge: Thursday 22nd October 2015
£22.00

Helvellyn and the iconic Striding Edge from Glenridding on the shore of the stunning Ullswater are regular events on our Lake District guided walks diary. Learn More
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Helvellyn & Striding Edge: Sunday 25th October 2015
£22.00

Helvellyn and the iconic Striding Edge from Glenridding on the shore of the stunning Ullswater are regular events on our Lake District guided walks diary. Learn More
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Helvellyn & Striding Edge: Thursday 29th October 2015
£22.00

Fully Booked

Helvellyn and the iconic Striding Edge from Glenridding on the shore of the stunning Ullswater are regular events on our Lake District guided walks diary. Learn More
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