This is a walk from the Borrowdale Valley over to Easdale Valley but it's also a ridge walk with great views over Far Easedale Gill and the surrounding landscape. Helm Crag is also known as The Lion and The Lamb due to it's profile when seen from the A591. Here's a collection of routes starting or finishing at a YHA in The Lakes. Along the way, there are three Wainwrights, one lake and one pub.
Calculated time: 5h40[?] 
Distance : 13.75km
Vertical gain : 615m
Vertical drop : 633m
Highest point : 611m
Lowest point : 83m 
Difficulty : Difficult
Back to starting point : No
Walking
Area : Lake District 
Location : Borrowdale
Starting point : N 54.517993° / W 3.152597° 
Ending point : N 54.462315° / W 3.024633° (D) From YHA Borrowdale, join the footpath next to the River Derwent and turn left, heading North-East as far as the bridge over to Peat Howe.
(1) Go over the bridge and bear left across the field to Rosthwaite village. Go North-East through the houses to reach the road (B-5289).
(2) Turn left then right to cross the bridge over The Crook. Turn right along the lane that runs parallel to the stream that becomes Stonethwaite Beck following the signs for the Cumbria Way.
(3) Go past Stonethwaite Bridge (a campsite can be seen on the other side of the stream) and past Galleny Force.
(4) Ignore a path leading off to the right (that goes up Langstrath Beck) keeping Eagle Crag ahead of you. Our route stays on the left of Greenup Gill, climbing steadily, leaving Eagle Crag to the right. The path moves away from the stream to tackle a steeper climb up Lining Crag.
(5) From Lining Crag, carry on over the top to Greenup Edge.
(6) Ignore a path bearing left to Middle How but keep straight on down Flour Gill (Esat-South-East) and round the Birks to reach a dry-stone wall. Here the path divides and in bad weather it is advisable to take the downward path that runs along the valley of Far Easedale Gill. However, the more interesting route lies to the left along the edge of Brownrigg Moss to reach Calf Crag (Wainwright fell at 537m above sea level).
(7) From the cairn, keep heading West along the Carrs, past Pike of Carrs and along the top of Moment Crag. The path continues along the ridge to reach Gibson Knott (Wainwright fell at 422m above sea level). Drop down slightly from the cairn to scramble back up to the top of Helm Crag (Wainwright fell at 405m above sea level),
(8) From Helm Crag head downhill (South-East) towards White Crag and follow the zig-zag path down to the Lancrigg country house hotel. A path through the woods goes past a poet's corner and the hotel has a Poet's Bar for refreshments.
(9) From the hotel gardens, go out onto the road, turning left to walk alongside Easedale Beck.
(10) Go past the footbridge and path that leads off right towards Sourmilk Gill. After the bridge over the beck take the footpath that runs alongside the road (avoiding traffic) but return to the road before reaching the Glenthorne Quaker Centre & Guest House. A short walk under the trees will bring you to the entrance to YHA Grasmere Butharlyp Howe. (A)
Waypoints :
D : km 0 - alt. 106m - YHA Borrowdale
1 : km 0.22 - alt. 98m - Bridge
2 : km 0.89 - alt. 90m - Bridge over The Crook
3 : km 2.24 - alt. 109m - Stonethwaite Bridge
4 : km 3.48 - alt. 136m - Galleny Force
5 : km 5.66 - alt. 512m - Lining Crag
6 : km 6.38 - alt. 611m - Greenup Edge
7 : km 8.24 - alt. 522m - Calf Crag
8 : km 11.23 - alt. 380m - Helm Crag
9 : km 12.49 - alt. 102m - The Lancrigg country house hotel
10 : km 13.19 - alt. 84m - Footbridge
A : km 13.75 - alt. 91m - YHA Grasmere
The YHA is a great institution and I guess most fell walkers have stayed at a hostel at some time in their lives. Funny how they were created "to help all, especially young people of limited means, to greater knowledge, love and care of the countryside, particularly by providing hostels or other simple accommodation for them on their travels".
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
This is a moderate walk from the Borrowdale Valley over to Easdale Valley but it's also a ridge walk with great views over Far Easedale Gill and the surrounding landscape. Helm Crag is also known as The Lion and The Lamb due to it's profile when seen from the A591. Take care of yourself and look out for wildlife along the way. Just enjoy the journey and make the most of the moment.
14.58km
+1224m
-1034m
7h40
Moderate
Starting point in Borrowdale - Cumbria The YHA is a great institution and I guess most fell walkers have stayed at a hostel at some time in their lives. Funny how they were created "to help all, especially young people of limited means, to greater knowledge, love and care of the countryside, particularly by providing hostels or other simple accommodation for them on their travels". Here's a collection of routes starting or finishing at a YHA in The Lakes. Along the way, there are 4 Wainwrights and 5 tarns.
12.19km
+322m
-325m
4h25
Moderate
Starting point in Borrowdale - Cumbria Combining the delights of Borrowdale with the rural charm of Watendlath, this Lake District walk offers some wonderful views and relatively easy walking. Route finding is generally easy although there is a steady ascent from Lodore up to Watendlath.
15.06km
+890m
-889m
6h50
Moderate
Starting point in Borrowdale - Cumbria The classic and well trodden ascent of Scafell Pike from Seathwaite in Borrowdale. Ascending via Grains Gill to Great End and then Esk Hause and Broad Crag. The descent is via the 'Corridor Route' to Styhead Tarn and then back to Seathwaite.
7.82km
+734m
-726m
4h20
Moderate
Starting point in Borrowdale - Cumbria An energetic Lake District Horseshoe walk that takes in four summits as you keep to the high ground surrounding Gillercomb. The walk could also be extended to take in Great Gable if time and energy permit!
12.69km
+941m
-941m
6h20
Difficult
Starting point in Borrowdale - Cumbria This Lake District walk includes an unpathed section of route and is for experienced walkers only and navigation skills are essential. The walk includes Great End approached from the Corridor Route before following easier ground to the summit of Glaramara. The descent from the latter summit requires careful navigation for a trouble-free descent back down to Seathwaite.
8.67km
+784m
-784m
4h45
Difficult
Starting point in Borrowdale - Cumbria To the west of the Cumbrian Mountains, both Great and Green Gable summits offer a pleasant hike.
9.63km
+407m
-404m
3h55
Moderate
Starting point in Borrowdale - Cumbria A short and fairly easy, circular walk up the ever popular Cat Bells. Starting from parking on the roadside just outside the village of Grange, this walk ascends Cat Bells from the South and descends north to join paths through the parkland and woods above and beside Derwent Water.
16.91km
+584m
-583m
6h30
Moderate
Starting point in Borrowdale - Cumbria This is a circular walk around High Spy, Maiden Moor and Cat Bells. The scenery is good and the walk is made interesting by the old mine workings, both on the way up and also at Goldscope Mine. The return leg, through the woods above Derwent Water, is a nice contrast to the first half of the walk.
It is a useful walk when the tops are in mist and walking the ridge would give you no views or when the tops are covered in snow and you don't have ice axe and crampons to hand.
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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.
