Walk : Helvellyn (3,118ft)
from Patterdale
Date : 31st August 2010
Weather : Fair, variable cloud and dry
Distance : 5 miles round trip
Difficulty : Hard – care needed when crossing
Striding & Swirral Edges
Which
part of Lakeland is this walk situated
Terrain
Overview
Overview
The classic route from Patterdale
that journeys up to the Hole in the Wall from the side of Birkhouse
Moor
and then traverses Striding Edge
and returning via Swirral Edge
The walk starts from St Patricks
Church in Patterdale and follows a tarmac road that leads to the base of
Birkhouse Moor seen
here on the right
Looking down the Grisedale Valley towards Dollywaggon
Pike and Nethermost Pike from the path up the
side of Birkhouse
Moor
Higher still and the bulk of
Fairfield comes into view
Along the path now and Sue pauses
for a breather
Ste, just before we approach the
Hole in the Wall
After a long steady climb – The
Hole in the Wall.
The first view of Helvellyn from the Hole in the Wall
From the hole in the wall make a
left turn and climb up to High Spying How – the first rock tower at the
start of Striding Edge. Here a shot
of Swirral Edge and Catstye
Cam across Red Tarn
The moderate scramble up to High
Spying How
The full extent of Striding Edge
At the start of the Edge
On the Edge now and no turning
back. For those not wishing to cross over the apex there is a side
path lower down
Red Tarn and Swirral
Edge
The Chimney at the end of Striding
Edge that has to be negotiated before scaling the final pull up
to the summit
At the top of the scramble to the
summit and “Goughs Plaque” to commemorate the fatal accident in 1803
where Charles Gough fell to his death
from the Edge. His dog remained by his master’s side for nearly
three months before he was found,
and this inspired the poem “Fidelity” by William Wordsworth
On the summit looking over Red Tarn
Looking to Catstye
Cam and the return route down Swirral Edge
Looking at Striding Edge from Swirral Edge
Back down on the valley floor now
and the ridges of Dollywaggon Pike and Nethermost
Pike
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