bespoke mountain and water journeys
Helvellyn Via Striding and Swirral Edge
Distance: 12.5km/7.8m
Climbing: 850m/2789ft (2/3 Wainwright Summits)
Difficulty: Challenging
Summon your courage to follow the most iconic Lakeland ridge, Striding Edge, to reach the much loved summit of Helvellyn. We return by the equally dramatic Swirral Edge before following Red Tarn Beck back to Glenridding.
Equipment Needed:
Waterproof jacket and trousers, sturdy lace up walking shoes, warm layers, gloves, hat, plenty of water and a packed lunch. Bring these in a rucksack with a waterproof cover. If you do not have one, putting your items in a plastic bag or dry bag within your rucksack will also do the job!
If it is a particularly hot day, please bring a hat and suncream - plus extra water.
Price: £150.00 (Maximum 6 People)
Fitness Requirements:
This is a challenging walk with a lot of climbing. We will go at a steady pace and not leave anyone behind - but it is recommended that you have a good level of fitness and some previous experience hiking up big hills (above 500m). You should also be comfortable spending a long time on your feet as we will be walking for 5-6 hours. Some sections of this walk are quite steep - so a good head for heights would also be advised.
If you do not have this experience yet but are still keen to come hiking in the fells, please take a look at our first summit walks that are specifically designed for beginners.
Time: 5-6 Hours
Full Itinerary Below
Detailed Itinerary:
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Our walk starts from Ullswater Information Centre in Glenridding. We will meet in the Car Park outside the information centre. This car park has charges and it also has toilets (which have a 50p charge). During the summer months this car park can become busy so I recommend arriving as early as possible to secure a space.
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We leave the car park and follow Glenridding Beck for a short time, giving our legs to warm up before the climbing begins.
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Once through the camp site, we leave the beck to begin the steep ascent of Birkhouse Moor, a somewhat overlooked Wainwright summit that sits in the shadow of its famous neighbour.
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When we reach the summit plateau of Birkhouse Moor (~700m), we are treated to a rest as we traverse the flat top of the moor to the base of Striding Edge, where our climb to the summit truly starts. Striding Edge, true to its name, is a narrow and steep sided ridge which tests the nerve of hikers as they slowly move towards the summit. Time should be taken here to safely traverse the ridge, but also to enjoy the dramatic views down to Red Tarn and beyond.
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A steep climb from the ridge will take us to the summit of Helvellyn (950m) where, weather permitting, we will take a short stop for a cup of tea and a sandwich.
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After our short break, we will begin the descent, this time via the equally dramatic Swirral Edge which leads us back down to the tarn, some 200m below the summit.
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Optional extra summit of Catstycam here - group and weather dependent.
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Once off the ridge, we can enjoy a relaxing walk, surrounded by giant peaks, back down the valley of Red Tarn Beck to Glenridding. We round off the walk by following Glenridding Beck back into the village.
Interested in booking a guided walk?
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