The view from the walk up Helvellyn over Ullswater
Why walking up Helvellyn is so popular
Helvellyn is one of those red-letter mountains for your Lake District bucket list. It has:
- Stunning views over the Lakes including Red Tarn, Ullswater and more
- Satisfying trek to the top (it is the 3rd highest mountain in the Lake District!)
- Scrambling along Striding Edge – the famous ridge close to Helvellyn’s summit
This walking guide has the best route up Helvellyn and some quieter nearby fells while you’re up there.
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Although it’s one of the most popular mountains in the Lake District, Helvellyn can be dangerous if you’re unprepared. Please make sure to have sensible gear and footwear and start when you’ll have daylight for most of the walk.
HELVELLYN ROUTE STATISTICS
- Walk length: 12.5km (7.7 miles)
- Total ascent: 929m (3048ft)
- Walk time: 5-7 hours
- Walk type: Linear (public transport accessible)
Recommended route from glenridding to dunmail raise
- Stage 1: Glenridding to Hole-in-the-Wall 3.8km – The initial ascent
- Stage 2: Striding Edge to Helvellyn +2.2km – A scramble to the top
- Stage 3: Helvellyn summit – What to spot from the top
- Stage 5: Helvellyn to Dollywagon Pike +2.5km – Along the mountain range
- Stage 5: Dollywagon Pike to Dunmail Raise +4km – The scenic descent
Helvellyn via Striding Edge and Grisedale Tarn Walk Guide
STAGE 1: Glenridding to Hole-in-the-Wall
This linear route starts in Glenridding and ends in another valley. So catching the bus is one of the easiest ways to enjoy the walk. To get to Glenridding from Keswick or down the road from Castlerigg Hall:
- During May – October, catch the 208 bus
- From November – April, take the X4 or X5 to Penrith then the 508 bus
Though the charming village of Glenridding suffered terrible floods in 2015, you wouldn’t know it today. The bridges and river banks are reinstated and it looks so much better. It’s certainly worth a visit, especially if you want something to do on a rainy day.
Instructions from Glenridding to Hole-in-the-Wall
1. From Glenridding, head towards Helvellyn by following the river (keep it on your right)
2. When you reach the campsite and caravan park entrance turn left at this T junction and follow the road uphill until you reach the start of the path.
3. After about 300 metres you reach the gate in the stone wall. Go through the gate and take the path on your left continuing uphill.
4. Keep following the path until you cross the small stream (Mires Beck), then keep the stream on your right going up the mountain.
5. Eventually, the path edges away right from the stream, (look out for two circular sheep folds at this point) continuing along it with a stone wall on your left.
Don’t forget to turn around for terrific views of the village and Ullswater.
6. You’ll eventually swing around a corner to get to Birkhouse Moor. This plateau at about 700m high is a chance to catch your breath after the previous climb. Continue across this to get to Hole-in-the-Wall and prepare yourself for one of the walk’s highlights – Striding Edge.
STAGE 2: Hole-in-the-Wall to Helvellyn via Striding Edge
Striding Edge looks more intimidating in photos than real life, but it’s not for the faint-hearted
To reach Helvellyn’s summit, there are two ridges to choose between. Striding Edge is the more famous, it may look precarious but it’s a real adventure to scramble across. Swirral Edge, though easier to pass, still has some tricky sections.
Whichever route you choose there’s a real feeling of accomplishment after crossing them. This isn’t just fell-walking, this feels like mountain climbing.
Instructions from Hole-in-the-Wall to Helvellyn’s Summit
7. From Hole-in-the-Wall, take the left path to climb up the Striding Edge ridge. Don’t forget to take in the view from Striding Edge. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Blackpool.
8. Make your way along Striding Edge carefully. If you don’t want to walk along the ridge at the top, there is a path lower down which is easier to follow.
As you clamber across this polished igneous rock, it’s worth reflecting that it formed 450 million years ago and that the Ice Ages subsequently created this wonderful ridge or ‘Arete.’ Below you to your right sits Red Tarn in a glacial corrie, is 25 metres deep and home to the rare Schelly fish.
9. At the end of the ridge, there is a steep section which you have to climb down. But once you’ve got to the bottom here, there’s a wonderful scramble to get to the summit of Helvellyn.
Blackpool Tower visible from Striding Edge
STAGE 3: The Summit of Helvellyn
What the view from Helvellyn’s summit can look like vs how it was for me!
Helvellyn is a beautiful summit and on a clear day offers fantastic 360° views of the Lake District. Even on a less clear day, you’ll still have the achievement of conquering a 950m mountain.
It’s often cited as the most popular fell-walk in the Lake District. A fact echoed by its near-perfect Google score… who knew even mountains can have interview reviews! At the time of writing, it has an impressive 4.9 out of 5. (At Castlerigg Hall we’re very proud of our 4.7.)
Now, you can turn around at this stage and head back. However, this Helvellyn walking guide hasn’t quite finished yet, as there are plenty more beautiful sites to behold just beyond. Including…
The memorial plaque you have to find on Helvellyn
One of the best favourite stories about the mountain is the unusual way Bert Hinkler and John Leeming got to the top in 1926…
They actually landed a plane close to the summit of Helvellyn. An incredible achievement in itself! But the adventure didn’t stop there. The fell is so steep that to prevent the plane from rolling off down the mountainside, they had to keep it on full throttle while Leeming jumped out to chock the wheels.
STAGE 4: Helvellyn to Dollywagon Pike via Nethermost Pike
This section of the walk is less crowded and made worth it by the Grisedale Valley views
Continuing on our recommended walking route, you’ll enjoy fantastic views with fewer people on Nethermost Pike and Dollywagon Pike. They are well worth the walk along the mountain range, especially since if you’ve made it this far, you’ve already climbed the highest fell of the day!
Instructions from Helvellyn to Dollywagon Pike
10. Take the southern path off Helvellyn (the path which has the drop to your right) and follow it for about 1km.
Take the left path going off Helvellyn
11. When the path splits, take the furthest to the left to get to the peak of Nethermost Pike
12. After admiring the view from Nethermost Pike, head south and take the middle of the three paths off the summit (it’s the one that doesn’t descend).
13. Continue along the mountain range for another 1.5km. You should have a drop to your left which looks down Grisedale Valley and up ahead you can see Dollywagon Pike.
14. Summit Dollywagon Pike and enjoy the view. At this stage, you’ve walked all the way along an impressive range of mountains and it’s time to head back down to ground level.
STAGE 5: Dollywagon Pike to Dunmail Raise via Grisedale Tarn
Legend has it that at the bottom of Grisedale Tarn is King Dunmail’s crown, dropped into the lake after defeat
During this descent, there are still some great sights down the gyll. Although there are more direct routes down to the bottom (which you can take if you’re feeling tired) we would recommend making the slight detour down towards Grisedale tarn for some lovely views.
Instructions from Dollywagon Pike to Dunmail Raise via Grisedale Tarn
15. Follow other the path off Dollywagon Pike (i.e. not the way you came)
16. You’ll get to a crossroads, if you want to take a more steep but direct route down the mountain go straight on, but to head to Grisedale Tarn, turn left
17. Follow this path as it zigzags down the side of Dollywagon Pike with the imposing bulk of Fairfield in front of you
18. When you get quite close to the water (about ¾ of the way down), the path splits. Take the right path so you are traversing the fell rather than descending and this will then avoid a boggy walk back up along the tarn edge.
19. Skirt above the northern edge of the tarn, when you get to the top of it, take a right turn rather than following it all the way around.
20. Continue along this path down the valley, walking alongside a stream.
Over the stile, cross over the A591 and follow the road down to the bus stop.
21. Get to the ground-level road- Dunmail Raise (A591) and, taking care crossing the dual carriageway, head left down the verge to the bus stop which is about 500 metres.
You may see a large pile of stones up to your right as you cross sitting between the two carriageways. This is where legend says King Dunmail is buried. You’ve reached the end of this epic walk!
Catch the bus back to Castlerigg
To get back, catch the 555 bus which comes from Lancaster, via Windermere, Ambleside and Grasmere. It’s wise to have a bus timetable (as the bus only runs hourly) so that you can reduce your wait by timing your descent.
It also has a stop right on the lane to Castlerigg Hall. Catch a north-bound bus towards Keswick and get off on the 11th stop “Rakefoot”, then head up the lane for 5 minutes to get back to the holiday park.
Conquering Helvellyn
I hope you have a great time going along one of my favourite routes. Whether you have brilliant or cloudy weather, Helvellyn via Striding Edge and Grisedale Tarn is not a walk you’ll soon forget, for all of the right reasons. Do tag me on Instagram or Facebook with #CastleriggHall if you try out this route, I would love to see your pictures!
Other walking guides:
Find all our walking guides to find your next Lake District adventure:
Some days though, it’s just a little too rainy to take on the Lake District fells. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do in the Lake District… far from it! We’ve listed plenty of brilliant things to do on a rainy day. With categories including the best museums, fun things to do with children and unique attractions to the Lakes, you’ll never be left at a loose end again!
Staying safe in the Lake District
If you’re planning on walking Helvellyn please be mindful of your own abilities. Different walks are suitable for different people, so choose your route with your group’s walking level in mind to ensure an enjoyable experience.
These walking instructions were correct at the time of writing. However, we’d always recommend taking a map just in case things have changed, or you fancy getting off the beaten path!
Finally, please remember to check the weather forecast and wear appropriate clothing and footwear before setting off on a walk. We’d always recommend waterproofs in the Lakes – better to be safe than soggy!