A Guide to the Helvellyn Walk via Striding Edge Lake District
The Helvellyn walk is one of the best mountain hikes you can do in the UK. It is found in the beautiful Lake District National Park and is the highest peak of the Helvellyn range.
The mountain is the third-highest peak in England (only Scafell Pike and Scafell are higher) and is one of the Wainwright mountains. The route we describe in detail begins at Glenridding and up towards “the “Hole-in-the-Wall” and via the sharp-topped ridge Striding Edge to the top, before heading to the bottom of Swirral Edge and back to Glenridding using the path that runs along Red Tarn Beck.
Therefore, this is quite an adventure. Wordsworth and Coleridge have written about it in their poetry, and it is easy to see why it has inspired them and is popular.
Luckily there are many ways to reach the top, and you can explore an array of routes. Some are more dangerous than others, and over the past 200 years, there have been recorded deaths. Since the beginning of 2018, the summit of Helvellyn, the edges and the wider Glenridding Common is now managed by the John Muir Trust as wild place conservation.
In 2018 the Helvellyn walk was named the most popular fell walk in England. Not only is it an adventure – the scenery is unbelievable. You have to see it to believe it!
As Wainwright himself said:
“The smooth slopes curving up from the west break abruptly along the ridge, where in complete contrast, a shattered cliff of crag and scree falls precipitously eastwards: here are the most dramatic scenes Helvellyn has to offer” (Wainwright 1955 Helvellyn 5).
Helvellyn Height: 950m/ 3118ft
Helvellyn Elevation: 850m
Helvellyn start point: Glenridding Car Park
Map: Ordnance Survey OL5
Distance: 13km/ 8 miles
How long does it take to walk Helvellyn?
Walking Helvellyn usually takes between 5 and 7 hours. We were just over 5 hours, and we had plenty of stops, took our time and had a picnic along the way. The time will depend on your fitness level and how many breaks you have. Plan for 7 hours; if you finish earlier, you can explore the village or have a celebratory drink!
Helvellyn walk time: 5- 7 hours
Top Tips for Walking Helvellyn:
- Take your time as you go up, and remember that you can have lots of breaks.
- Use the facilities in the car park, as there are none when you set off.
- Take food and plenty of water with you. There will be nowhere to buy anything when you set off.
- Start as early as possible to give yourself plenty of time and daylight hours.
- Take layers and a waterproof. You’ll be lucky if it doesn’t rain – the heavens opened twice for us.
- Take all litter home with you and leave no trace.
- Go for a drink after at the Inn on the Lake. It is absolutely beautiful and a well-deserved treat.
How to get to Helvellyn
We recommend starting from the village of Glenridding, as the peak is southwest of the village. You can park off the A592 in the main car park.
You can catch the 508 bus from Penrith to reach by public transport. The bus stop is on Greenside Road.
Helvellyn Walk Parking
There is a pay and display car park in Glenridding which costs £8 for 9 hours. We recommend this- else you may feel like you have to rush your walk to get back on time. The postcode to reach it is CA11 0PD. Alternatively, you can follow the Google Map Directions or type in Ullswater Information Centre.
The car park has a visitor centre and toilets (50p – payable by card). There is useful information about the weather to have some last-minute preparation.
Routes up Hellvelyn
There are many Helvellyn routes and we hope you can choose the right walking route for you.
Striding Edge
Striding Edge links Birkhouse Moor to the Helvellyn Plateau and, in our opinion, is the best route to reach the top. Many regard this route as challenging, and we have seen people struggle to reach the top. It is a Grade 1 Scramble, which means that even if you are quite confident, you might struggle on the steep ridges.
Therefore, do not underestimate the scramble. What we thought was great about this route was how you can scramble at the top or walk on the path slightly below. It is great for the most part, but there does come the point where you cannot avoid the scramble, and you will be quite exposed along the ridge.
There is a steep drop (roughly 7m), and it is best to find the best drop for you, and then you will have a walk up to the top and the summit shelter. The views over Red Tarn are amazing, though.
Remember, if you or someone walking finds the ridge too difficult – it is possible to turn back and meet up at Red Tarn later. Be careful if you are overtaking people on the ridge. Patience is key because some people may be frightened, and it could add to their anxiety.
Catstye Cam and Swirral Edge
Catstycam and Swirral Edge join together and are the high ground north of Red Tarn. Swirral Edge is another rocky ridge, which is another impressive Grade 1 scramble but slightly less challenging than its neighbour. If you decide to go up this way, you can reach another fell, Catstye Cam. Many people decide to go down this way after conquering Striding Edge.
Thirlmere
Thirlmere is said to be the easiest route to the top of Helvellyn. It avoids the two tricky ridges and is the shortest route. Before reaching the Helvellyn summit, you can climb via Helvellyn Gill and Lower Man.
You can park for free in Swirls Car Park. The postcode is CA12 4TW, or you can follow the Google Maps Directions here.
If you are getting there by public transport, you can catch service 555 from Kendal to Lancaster.
Helvellyn Weather
If the weather is poor, then the conditions on the mountain can become quite dangerous. There have been recorded deaths from the route, so please check the winds and conditions before you set off. Even if you have checked the night before, check again in the morning as things change.
Please remember that the rocks can become very slippery during wet weather, so you should avoid or take extra caution. We usually check both sources below to get an accurate picture.
Met Office Lake District Mountain Weather
Mountain Weather Information Service
In winter, there are Felltop Assessors, whose job is to climb the mountain to report weather conditions!
What is the Best Route up Hellvelyn?
For us, the best route is from Glenridding via Striding Edge and then down along Swirral Edge. It is breathtaking and the right amount of challenge. It can get busy sometimes, but if you’re new to the ridge, walking a queue can help you feel less alone!
Glenridding to Helvellyn Circular Walk Directions in 4 Stages
Stage 1 – The Car Park to Hole in the Wall
From the car park, cross right to go over Glenridding Beck Bridge and turn immediately right to go past the outdoor shops and corner shop. Continue walking along the path, and after 0.4 km, turn right following the sign for Hellvelyn. Continue walking along the river and walk beside Gillside campsite. Once you get to the road, turn right to head up the path following the stone wall.
Keep going straight up, following the direction of Hellvelyn (3 miles), which you will see on a new wooden sign. The path is gravelly!
By the house, take a right to continue uphill after you go through the large wooden gate. Turn left and continue uphill, crossing the waterfall and following the hill with it on your right. The path is made of man-made stones, making it quite easy to walk up. The path then curves around, and you will walk uphill with the stone wall on your left.
Eventually, the path curves to the right because the old main path curves that go straight up have been closed due to erosion. The path eventually comes to where this would have taken you, and you will walk by the stone wall again. Go past the Hole in the Wall, and you will begin walking along the Striding Edge soon. Follow the cairns and stay to the left a bit higher than you’d expect!
Stage 2 – Hole in the Wall to Helvellyn Plateau
There are many paths you can take, which are of different difficulties! You can take a lower path if you don’t want to scramble the whole way. Although, you will have to at some point anyway!
Once you reach the top, turn right and walk along the tops. Take in all the magnificent views! You will go past a shelter, where you can hide from the wind no matter the direction. If you keep going, you will soon arrive at the trig point, where you can take your obligatory trig shot!
Stage 3 – Helvellyn Plateau to Catstye Cam via Swirral Edge
Keep going, and when you reach the cairn, you should turn right to go downhill down Swirral Edge. Take your time because there is a lot of scree.
You can now continue down to walk with the tarn on your right, or you can head up Catstye Cam and then down again to rejoin the same path. Either way, you are going down. Eventually, you will walk with a beautiful waterfall on your right and then another on your left.
Stage 4 – Catstye Cam to the Car Park
You will go over two wooden bridges to cross them. Then continue heading down. Do not cross the bridge but continue straight. You can now take the lower or upper paths, which both lead back towards Glenridding.
We took the upper path as it seemed quite straightforward. The path naturally goes down to meet the lower path anyway. You should be able to see the campsite that you walked past at the beginning.
Go through the wooden gate you went through at the start of the walk, and keep going down. Go past the campsite and retrace your steps back to the car park. Helvellyn walk completed!
There is plenty to do back in Glenridding if you want to explore the area before you depart!
Honest Review
The walk becomes strenuous at Striding Edge, where caution is required. It is due to the scrambling on the rocks and how you will have to find your path. It is possible to go down and come back up at certain points. You need to be a confident climber to reach the top because it is quite steep.
However, there are plenty of rocks to hold onto, and it’s just a matter of continuing up and making your way to the summit. It’s well worth the effort when you reach the top. The views are breathtaking.
The descent down Swirral Edge is hard, but not nearly as much as the ascent unless you have bad knees. Following the route we took towards Glenridding is a long way; therefore, we’d suggest following the route from the bottom in Red Tarn, which leads back to the “Hole-in-the-Wall”, to rejoin the route you started on if you are looking to complete it a bit quicker.
It would miss some waterfalls, but you will be a lot faster. It was an exhilarating, fantastic hike that we are sure you’ll enjoy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Helvellyn?
Helvellyn is in the Lake District National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the North West of England. The fell is between Ullswater, Thirlmere and Grasmere and lies towards the North-West of Ambleside.
Can I take my dog up, Helvellyn?
We would say the walk is dangerous for dogs if you go up Striding Edge or Swirral Edge. There are steep drops and uneven grounds that pose many challenges. If you want to take a dog, you should go up from Thirlmere.
When is the best time to climb Helvellyn?
The best time is in summer when there is less wind, less rainfall, and more visibility. It is because you are heavily exposed along the ridge and want to be in as much control as possible. If you are a novice hill climber, you should not attempt this route in winter for your safety.
Which is the easiest route up Helvellyn?
The easiest way to climb Helvellyn is from Thirlmere. The longest is Glenridding to Striding Edge.
Can you drive to the top of Helvellyn?
No, it is not possible to drive to the top of Helvellyn. You will have to walk there!
What is Helvellyn classified as?
Wainright, Marilyn, Hewitt, Birkett, Historic Country Top and Furth Munro.
How easy is Helvellyn?
We would not classify Helvellyn as an easy mountain to climb. The easiest path is from Thirlmere to avoid Striding and Swirral Edge. All routes up require decent fitness to reach the top.
How many miles is Helvellyn?
A direct route to the top of Helvellyn is 2 miles.
Is there a shop at the top of Helvellyn?
No, there are not many shops at the top. However, there are plenty at the bottom in Glenridding.
What does Helvellyn mean?
The name Helvellyn is thought to mean moorland of pale yellow. However, it is unclear why it has this name.
Thanks for reading this guide to the Helvellyn walk. Of course, as conditions change, if there is anything that needs updating, please get in touch and let us know. Alternatively, if you have any questions – we’d love to help.
For more on the lakes, please read:
Best Things to do in Ambleside
Photo Credits: averagelives.com
We want to stress that ‘Average Lives’ cannot be held liable for any injuries or accidents that may occur while walking our routes. We strongly advise that you wear proper footwear to reduce the risk of injuries, and carry a paper map and compass to ensure your safety while walking. You can read more on our About Page.
