Hike around Helvellyn Mountain

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An inevitable hike, to the most popular peak of the Lake District, Helwellyn. A hike made all the more pleasant by passing along two lakes: Red Tarn Lake and Grisedale Ran Lake.

Technical sheet

n°113685
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.86 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 924 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 926 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 944 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 156 m
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Description of the walk

Start : Greenside Road in Glenridding, Beckside Car Park. (CA11 0PA) Grid ref. NY 386 170

(S/E) From the car park, go West along Greenside Road. Shortly after Travellers Rest station, you reach a junction

(1) Leave Greenside Road taking a left onto a road heading South-West which quickly crosses Glenridding Beck and turns into a walking trail. Continue along the trail facing the road, you'll come across several paths, keep to the one along the western bank of the stream.

(2) After around 750 m, cross the stream to continue heading South-West on the Eastern bank.

(3) After around 1 Km, at the junction, take a left heading West to bypass Birkhouse Moor summit (718 m) from the southern side. Then, heading South-West, you'll reach the Coast to Coast junction.

(4) Now starts a long journey heading South-West. Maintaining this direction, start a long calm climb.

(5) Passing by Low Spying How, then High Spying How overlooking Red Tarn. Walk away from the lake before heading uphill through Stridind Edge Helvellyn (949 m).

(6).From Stridind Edge Helvellyn, change direction completely and head South, remaining on the Coast to Coast trail. Walk along Swallow Scarth, then Nethermost Pike before reaching High Crag.

(7). Keep heading South, passing nearby Dollywagon Pike (858 m).

(8). Then start your descent down stone slabs to reach Grisdale Tarn's north bank.

(9) New change of direction here. Now due North, still on the Coast to Coast trail. You'll reach a pasture at Ruthwaite Lodge after around 1.5 Km.

(10). Approximately 200 m after you reach a junction.

(11) Take a left on a path parallel to the Coast to Coast trail and, heading North-East, you'll come across several trails as you walk in the same direction for around 3.5 Km.

(12) After 3.5 Km, at the path junction, take the one that goes along Lanty's Tarn Lake heading North before going downhill towards Glenridding and reaching the car park. (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 158 m - Greenside Road car park in Glenridding
  2. 1 : km 0.55 - alt. 192 m - Carrefour Greenside Road
  3. 2 : km 1.3 - alt. 274 m - Creek crossing
  4. 3 : km 2.35 - alt. 584 m - Birkhouse Moor crossroads
  5. 4 : km 3.55 - alt. 715 m - Coast to Coast Trail
  6. 5 : km 4.78 - alt. 820 m - High Spying How
  7. 6 : km 5.5 - alt. 944 m - Helvellyn
  8. 7 : km 7.11 - alt. 849 m - High Crag
  9. 8 : km 7.8 - alt. 814 m - Under Dollywagon Pike
  10. 9 : km 9.05 - alt. 553 m - Grisedale Tarn
  11. 10 : km 10.52 - alt. 377 m - Ruthwaite Lodge
  12. 11 : km 10.81 - alt. 317 m - Carrefour Coast to Coast
  13. 12 : km 14.23 - alt. 243 m - Carrefour Coast to Coast
  14. S/E : km 15.86 - alt. 158 m - Greenside Road car park in Glenridding

Practical information

Start : Greenside Road in Glenridding, Beckside Car Park. (CA11 0PA)

Parking : Park your car in the car park by Greenside Road in Glenridding

Facilities : No water except for the torrents which would need to be purified. At the top of Helvellyn a stone hut provides shelter from the wind and gives you a well deserved break.

Accommodation : The Ruthwaite Lodge is closed.

Terrain : Hiking gear for experienced hikers as the climb by Striding Edge ridge is tricky, you'll need your hands for extra support. Beware of the wind, always present and often violent.

In the nearby area

The Lake District National Park lakes.
Tourist towns in the area: Ambleside, Glenridding, Windermere, Coniston etc...

Reviews and comments

5 / 5
Based on 2 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Clarity of route map
5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
Hogman
Hogman

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Brilliant walk. The weather was perfect, virtually no wind, bright sunshine and superb views.
virgule
virgule

Free parking is a rarity in the UK.

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OLIVET
OLIVET

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 07, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Perfectly signposted and indicated on the map, this is a magnificent route... What a day! We were lucky enough to ride it in excellent weather conditions. With wind, rain and cold, I'd like to think that the route is difficult and even dangerous! Red Tarn and Grisedale Tarn are two beautiful lakes that enhance the route... Magnificent views of the surrounding valleys from the top of Helvellyn... There were a lot of people on the trail that day, as the weather was ideal, but we did it at our own pace (about 8.5 hours).
Starting from Glenridding, the path is very pleasant and then the climb is gentle as we skirt around Birkhouse Moor. There's a lovely viewpoint at High Spying How overlooking Red Tarn. The final section to the summit is obviously tougher, with the wind making itself felt. We didn't linger at the top of Helvellyn... In rain and strong winds, it's not a good idea! The descent was a bit dangerous, with lots of rocks and we were hungry! Picnic at High Crag, sheltered by a low wall... Then a long descent through the gravel under Dollywagon Pike and a stop at Grisedale Tarn... Lots of people! We find ourselves back in the forest, where it's quieter and the Grisedale Beck stream on our right is very pleasant. The return journey is fun, even if the descent to Glenridding is a bit of a leg-breaker!
The only downside was that we had to pay for a day's parking near the tourism information centre in Glenridding! There was probably a free parking space further on...

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virgule
virgule

All right, then. Trailers and hikers arriving from all sides, that's not for me.

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bernardino
bernardino ★

Comma
Well, it's not like that any more. Lots of people on these trails, lots of people in the youth hostels (YHAs), lots of cyclists too.
And above all, some superb walks, especially this one, where hikers and trail runners come from all over.

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virgule
virgule

Hello,

I went hiking in the Lake District in the 70s. We didn't meet many people on the footpaths. Is that still the case?

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