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| Helvellyn is one of the Lake Districts most popular walks and I’ve done it plenty of times on various routes with friends of all levels of experience and fitness. Here’s my top 4 routes with maps that you should know about. |
The 4 best Helvellyn walks
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| Read on to discover the 4 best Helvellyn walking routes, but first here are answers to the most common questions about Helvellyn |
Helvellyn WALK questions answered:
HOW HIGH IS HELVELLYN?
Helvellyn is 950m in height and is the 3rd highest mountain in England after Scafell Pike (978m) and the nearby Sca Fell (964m).
HOW LONG IS THE WALK UP TO HELVELLYN?
To climb to Helvellyn it will take anywhere from 5 to 7 hours. It depends where you start form and which route you take. The 4 best Helvellyn routes are listed on this page below.
IS HELVELLYN OK FOR BEGINNERS?
Striding Edge can look imposing – but in good, dry weather conditions the walk is ok for beginners if you have walking experience and a good level of fitness and don’t mind using your hands on occasions to scramble the summit. Beware though it can be dangerous on Striding Edge in wet or winter conditions.
IS HELVELLYN A HARD WALK?
Helvellyn is a challenging walk, it’s the 3rd highest mountain in England, so you have to be comfortable with heights and be fit. It’s difficulty also depends on which route you take. Read on to learn about the 4 best routes.
ROUTE #1.
Helvellyn Walk from Patterdale, via Striding Edge, Swirral Edge and Red Tarn
This Helvellyn walk is the shortest Striding Edge route and a simple route to follow from the small village of Patterdale (it can be modified to start from Glenridding also). You start by heading up to Helvellyn via Grisedale Valley towards the ‘Hole-in-the-wall’ (literally just a gap through a wall haha, but a good place to stop and have a snack) and then you’ll head onto Striding Edge to the summit of Helvellyn. You’ll descend via Swirral Edge and the shores of Red Tarn. You then simply then re-trace your steps after passing by the ‘Hole-in-the-wall’, back to Patterdale for a simple end to the walk. I’d probably recommend this simpler, shorter route for first-timers who want to tackle Striding Edge & Swirral Edge but have a quicker return route where the going is easier on the legs!
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Striding Edge looking towards the summit of Helvellyn with Red Tarn to the bottom right. What a view! I always think it’s best to walk Striding Edge on the way to Hellvellyn to get these incredible views all along the ridge and summiting Helvellyn will seem like more of an achievement. There are a few paths along Striding Edge, experienced walkers will try and stick to the ridge top, but rest-assured there is some less challenging and less exposed path just to the right of the ridge top (which you can see in the centre of this photo) which you can drop down to at any point. I’m sure anyone with a bit of walking experience and a reasonable level of fitness/head for heights can do it – just make sure the weather is good on your first attempt (dry and no ice/snow or the rock can become very slippy).
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The last bit of Striding Edge is quite tricky and slow to navigate, and called for good reason ‘The Bad Step’. You have to use your hands (and bum) here to shuffle down in between a little gully – but it’s pretty straightforward as long as you take your time. There is usually a bit of a queue to get down (or up) this bit on a busy weekend as it can be quite slow going. Most people go along Striding Edge on the way to Helvellyn, so you will be going against the traffic if you try to go up the Bad Step rather than down.
HELVELLYN WALK ROUTE 1 MAP: |
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| A straightforward Helvellyn walk route from Patterdale, going up via Striding Edge and descending via Swirral Edge – this is the best direction to walk to Helvellyn and is the ideal route for first timers |
WALK OVERVIEW:
WALK DISTANCE: 7.1 miles
WALK TIME: 5 hours
WALK DIFFICULTY: DIFFICULT
ROUTE #2.
Helvellyn Walk from Glenridding, via Striding Edge, Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam
This longer Helvellyn route is my personal favourite as it’s the most exhilarating and perfect for those who love a challenge. You will box off all the highlights of Striding Edge, Helvellyn, Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam, and give you a variety of stunning views. Its one of the best walking challenges in all the Lake District.
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You can see the path to the summit of Catstye Cam which continues on from Swirral Edge towards the top left of the pic which adds another point of interest on this walk and will give more great, closer views of Ullswater.
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HELVELLYN WALK ROUTE 2 MAP:
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| The Helvellyn walk that is perfect for adventure seekers and those who want a good physical challenge. If your legs are feeling it after Swirral Edge, you can miss out Catstye Cam and still take the path into Glenridding Common. |
WALK OVERVIEW:
WALK DISTANCE: 7.83 miles
WALK TIME: 5-6 hours
WALK DIFFICULTY: DIFFICULT
ROUTE #3.
Helvellyn Walk from Thirlmire
This Helvellyn walk from Thirlmire is a good one to try if you want something a little bit different from the Striding Edge route, or simply want to avoid Striding Edge! The route from Thirlmire is the quickest and shortest walk to the summit of Helvellyn – but therefore quite steep from the off and a bit of an uphill slog. You will though get fine views of Thirlmire that you can’t get if you walk from Glenridding side. It’s definitely a route to try out – but for your first time I would recommend the Striding Edge route. However in winter conditions when Striding Edge is a bit dangerous – then this would be an excellent route to try and the views of the surrounding Lake District fells will be incredible.
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| You’ll get stunning views of Thirlmire and the surrounding Lake District Fells on this Helvellyn walking route. It’s steep, and you’ll get a sweat on, but you’ll get to the summit of Helvellyn quite quickly (if your fit anyway haha!) |
HELVELLYN WALK ROUTE 3 MAP:
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| The shorter, but steeper, Helvellyn walk route from Thirlmire that avoids the ridges of Striding Edge and Swirral Edge. This is a less popular way to summit Helvellyn and ideal if you want to avoid the crowds, the ridges or if it’s easier for you to start from the Thirlmire side. |
WALK OVERVIEW:
WALK DISTANCE: 5.8 miles
WALK TIME: 4 hours
WALK DIFFICULTY: HARD
ROUTE #4.
Helvellyn Walk, long route from via Grisedale, Dollywagon Pike and Nethermost Pike
If you want to increase the distance or avoid the ridges then this Helvellyn walk (which can be done from Glenridding or Patterdale) is a grand day out. You’ll get a lot of variety on this Helvellyn walk and bag a few Wainwrights tooo! You walk up Grisedale Valley towards Grisedale Tarn and then onto Dollywagon Pike, Nethermost Pike and to the summit of Helvellyn. Returning via Lower Man and above Keppel Cove down into Glenridding Common. It’s a long route at 11.5 miles, but great if you have the time.
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This photo is not taken on this walk – but from a distance to show the route you will take along the mountain range. You’ll head up Grisedale valley – pictured bottom left – then will tackle the mountain range from far left to right, going over the summits of Dollywagon Pike, Nethermost Pike and then onto Helvellyn which is snowy covered in this photo towards the right. It’s a fantastic longer Helvellyn walking route.
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HELVELLYN WALK ROUTE 4 MAP:
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| A Helvellyn walk that’s perfect if you want to increase the walking distance for a grand day out! |
WALK OVERVIEW:
WALK DISTANCE: 11.52 miles
WALK TIME: 6-7 hours
WALK DIFFICULTY: MODERATE
So there you are – that’s my 4 best Helvellyn Walks and if you’ve never done before then they should help you in planning your walk to Helvellyn – one of the Lake Districts best mountains. It is also the Lake Districts 3rd highest peak and no easy feat – so you need to be sure of the variosu map routes before undertaking any of these walks. I’ve shared links on this page to interactive OS maps – and I do recommend saving these to your phone to keep you on track and avoid taking wrong turns!
Helvellyn Walk – why it’s a must-do Lake District Hike
A Helvellyn walk is one of the most rewarding and popular hiking experiences in the Lake District National Park. It’s one of the must-do Lake District classics.
Helvellyn, standing at 950 meters (3,117 feet), is the third-highest mountain in England and offers stunning views across the surrounding fells and lakes. A walk up Helvellyn takes you through breathtaking landscapes, including the dramatic Striding Edge and the picturesque Red Tarn. Whether you’re an experienced hiker or a keen adventurer, a Helvellyn walk is a fantastic way to experience the beauty of the Lake District. With multiple routes available, from challenging scrambles to more straightforward ascents, there’s a Helvellyn walk suitable for everyone.
The allure of a Helvellyn walk was further popularized by Alfred Wainwright, the legendary fellwalker and author of A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells. Wainwright wrote extensively about Helvellyn, describing the exhilarating experience of crossing Striding Edge as one of the finest ridge walks in the Lake District. His guidebooks have inspired generations of walkers to tackle a Helvellyn walk and experience the breathtaking views from the summit. Wainwright’s detailed descriptions continue to be a valuable resource for anyone planning their own Helvellyn walk, providing insight into the best routes and the mountain’s fascinating history.
Planning a Helvellyn walk does requires preparation, and weather conditions on the exposed ridges can change rapidly. Make sure to wear proper footwear, carry navigation tools, and check the weather forecast before setting off. Helvellyn is not a hike to be taken lightly and is one of the toughest in the U.K.
A Helvellyn walk isn’t just a hike, it’s an adventure through some of England’s most spectacular landscapes, making it a must-do for anyone visiting the Lake District.
Thanks for taking the time to put this post together. I'm hoping to hike Helvellyn this weekend and will probably go with route #2 for the change of scenery on the way back down, compared to route #1 which retraces the same path. Cheers!
I’m pleased you have found it useful. Route 2 is superb – I hope you get the weather and clear skies as the views are superb. On your descent you can always decide whether to do Catstye Cam or not depending on how you feel! Best of luck with your Helvellyn walk
This was so helpful. I did route 2 yesterday using the os map app and absolutely loved all the scrambling! Sadly no views from the summit of hellvelyn and catstye but the clouds/mist made striding edge look even more exciting!
It’s a great walk isn’t it – that Helvellyn route is perfect for scrambling and glad you enjoyed it. I’ve probably only been able to see off the summit of Helvellyn half the time I’ve been up there so the views aren’t guaranteed haha – walking in the mist gives it a whole different feel – at least it wasn’t raining!
Hi sadly I couldn’t do striding edge as I have problem with knee and couldn’t really scramble and felt I did not have the adequate balance. Is there less of a scramble on route 4
Hi – sorry to hear that – yes there is no scrambling on Route 4 – however it is long and requires good fitness
Went up Hellvelyn via Striding Edge (Route 1) on 4 June. The weather was sparkling. The views were incredible. A fantastic experience. Flexible climbing shoes are better suited to this walk than trekking shoes.
Glad you enjoyed it Mustafa. Shoes are a little subjective I think – I like Taril Shoes on most walks – but on steep decents I like walking boots to support the ankles a bit more