Weekly Route - Striding Edge, Helvellyn

Patterdale > Striding Edge > Helvellyn Summit > Dollywagon Pike > Patterdale

Distance: 9.5miles (15.2Km)	Height Gain: 3112ft (948m)
Overview: A variant on the classic eastern approach to Helvellyn, taking in the classic ridge of Striding Edge with a return over Nethermost Pike and Dollywagon Pike before the descent of Grisedale	Maps: Ordnance Survey: OL5 Online: Streetmap
Strenuousness: 2 Technicality: 2 Photogenic Grade: 3	Start Point: NY 390 161

A variant on the classic eastern approach to Helvellyn, taking in the easy Grade 1 scramble ridge of Striding Edge with a return over Nethermost Pike and Dollywagon Pike before the descent of Grisedale.

It's a longer alternative to the classic but short return from Striding via Helvellyn summit and Swirral Edge which many walkers find too short for a satisfying day out.

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Section 1 - Patterdale to Hole In the Wall

Distance: 2.36miles (3.8Km)

Height Gain: 1866ft (569m)

The route starts off up the narrow road heading up Grisedale from Patterdale. At the end of the road take a right turn by an iron bench and head uphill towards the kennels. Continue past the kennels to a junction where a path runs left to right parrallell with the wall, turn left initially then take the steep path that slowly zig zags its way westwards towards Birkhouse Moor.

A classic view of Striding Edge by David Thompson from his OM gallery album

After half a mile the ground levels temporarily before climbing once again to the renowned and instantly recognisable Hole In The Wall (marked on OS maps). Down to the left lies the eventual descent route alongside Grisedale Beck, but for now the way lies upwards so keep going young person.

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Section 2 - Hole In the Wall to Dollywagon Pike

Distance: 2.56 miles (4.1Km)

Height Gain: 1130ft (344m)

From Hole In The Wall the route starts to unfold in front of you, with the knife edge ridge appearing ahead and Red Tarn making its appearance down to the right.as you climb over Bleaberry Crag. From Low Spying How to High Spying How the ridge climbs steadily, with a choice of route between the ridge top itself or a less exposed option down to the left.

Looking back at a snowy Striding Edge by Andy Wallace from his OM gallery album

Beyond the high point of High Spying How comes the most difficult section, with a "bad step" which involves about 15 foot of down climbing on good holds, followed by a tricky final ascent on unstable rock to the summit of Helvellyn. After a quick detour to the summit cairn, and maybe a break in the summit shelter, it's time to turn south.

A broad, well-defined, path leads down to Swallow Scarth. Take the left-hand branch where the path splits, then head left again fifty yards ahead to lead to the summit cairn of Nethermost Pike. Rejoin the main path from the summit cairn and continue south, passing High Crag on the way. The main path misses the summit of Dollywagon Pike, but either a short detour left or in good weather a cliff edge path leads to the summit cairn.

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Section 3 - Dollywagon Pike to Patterdale

Distance: 4.55 miles (7.3Km)

Height Gain: 116ft (35m)

The descent from Dollywagon Pike to Patterdale is relatively straightforward, and the chosen route is good even in bad weather. The path continues south, passing the edge of Falcon and Tarn Crags along the way - with stunning views out over the dog leg of Ullswater.

The view from Dollywagon Pike by Andy Wallace from his OM gallery album

From the top of Tarn Crag the route zig zags down to Grisedale Tarn, with Grasmere down to the right. A cairn at the eastern end of Grisedale Tarn marks the major path junction where you turn north east, skirting the base of Tarn Crag. Continue down past Falcon Crag and Spout Crag to the obvious Ruthwaite Lodge climbing hut.

The path forks a few yards below the hut, where you should take the right hand branch to a footbridge over Grisedale Beck. The path now continues alongside the beck, passing isolated farmhouses along the way, to emerge at the roadhead met on the outward journey. Continue down the road to your starting point.

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Route Map