Route Length: 7½ Miles
Time: 4hrs 30min
I left the house around 06:30 as I wanted to make an early start due to the fact it was the beginning of Easter Holiday and expected the the roads to be busy. Arrived at Glenridding at 08:30 after a 102mile drive from the Wirral and there was only a handful of people about!
The first photo shows a view from the Ullswater Information Centre car park with Place Fell (657m) in the backdrop.
A view to the north shows Glenridding Dodd(442m)
The Ullswater Information car park with Birkhouse Moor(718m) in the distance.
Headed out of the car park, took a left and another left again then over the bridge of the Red Tarn Beck, I arrived at the start of my walk heading towards Birkhouse Moor after passing some outdoor gear shops.
This path runs parallel to the stream of Red Tarn Beck.
Towards Westside the gradient increases through the woodland.
With a little height gained the two peaks of Sheffield Pike (675m) and Glenridding Dodd can be seen in the north.
Out of the woods along this path takes me to the foot of Birkhouse Moor.
Looking back to Glenridding and Ullswater.
A view over Grisedale towards Birks.
The path that runs along the side of Birkhouse Moor also takes you along this wall until it suddenly disappears and it heads up to the summit of Birkhouse Moor.
Trekking off the summit of Birkhouse Moor takes you onto this well defined path and from here on the first glimpses of Helvellyn massif comes into view.
A clear view from left to right of Striding Edge, Helvellyn, Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam.
At Grisedale Brow the wall runs ahead to the start of Striding Edge.
A closer view of the flat topped Helvellyn, still clinging on to its last winter snow. The first view of Red Tarn(25m depth) at its base.
Looking back to Birkhouse Moor and Ullswater beyond.
From Striding Edge to the left the view to Nethermost pike(891m) and Dollywagon Pike(858m) can be seen.
Striding Edge with its steep drops to either side connects to Helvellyn itself.
A closer view of some of its pinnacles and some easy paths to the right. The most fun way, weather permitting, is straight over the middle of the ridge. As you can see from today's dry conditions there was no problem tackling each pinnacle head on and traversing along the top of the arête.
Looking back shows the crags that needed to be down climbed.
This time of the day there was in fact 1 more person on the ridge!
Nearing the end of the ridge shows a very steep grade1 scramble to the top of Helvellyn. The Headwall!
At the end of the ridge was this steep down climb section, known as the Chimney.
Looking back up of what I climbed down, there are plenty of had holds in the rocks. The quality of the rocks were superb, not flaking or breaking away so that each hold felt really secure.
A classic view of Striding Edge from the top of Helvellyn. Notice the path to the right side of the pinnacle. This is a useful path to take if you don't fancy down climbing the "Chimney" or have a dog with you.
Trig point on Helvellyn summit plateau. Helvellyn(950m).
A shot of the trig point and Catstye Cam with Ullswater in the distance.
The view from my lunch spot on top of Helvellyn, sublime!! Hardly any wind wind too.
Swirral Edge and Catstye cam, my next destination.
Summit Cairn of Catstye Cam (890m). Catstye Cam takes on a classic mountain shape of a pyramid.
As Wainwright said "If Catstycam stood alone, remote from its fellows, it would be one of the finest peaks in Lakeland. It has nearly, but not quite, the perfect mountain form with true simplicity in its soaring lines, and a small pointed top, a real summit that falls away on all sides"
A view back to Helvellyn and Swirral Edge from Catstye Cam.
Red Tarn from Catstye Cam and of course Striding Edge.
At the lower slopes of Glenridding Common we look back to a final view of the brilliant Catstye Cam.
In the end, I was pleased that I have attempted this great classic route of the Lakedistrict. It has certainly lived up to it's reputation as one of the finest horseshoe routes in the Lakes.
