This map was created using GPS Visualizer's do-it-yourself geographic utilities.
Please wait while the map data loads...
Date: 26/09/2015
From: Glenridding
Parking: Greenside Road
Start Point: Glenridding
Region: Eastern Fells
Route length: 7.8 miles (12.5 km)
Time taken: 03:30
Average speed: 2.2 mph
Ascent: 974m
Descent: 966m
Wainwrights on this walk:
Birkhouse Moor (718m), Helvellyn (950m), Catstye Cam (890m)
Other Summits: High Spying Howe (863m)
Other points of interest: Striding Edge, Swirral Edge, Keppel Cove, Greenside Mine
A bit of a rarity this one; a free weekend coinciding with a spell of fine, settled weather thanks to the high pressure that's draped across the country at the minute. It feels more like mid-summer than early autumn and I was keen to make the most of it. We've just returned from a trip abroad where it's fair to say eating and drinking were in abundance so I was feeling a little out of practice - all the more reason to get some miles back into the legs.
With the fine weather comes a lull in the wind and a certain stillness greeted me as I arrived in Glenridding, the kind of stillness that makes a crossing of Striding Edge a no-brainer. Striding Edge is Helvellyn's famed arĂȘte, one of the single most popular routes in the Lake District and for good reason. Tackling Helvellyn via the edges is an absolute must for anyone interested in hill walking or just walking for that matter. It is sensational.
For me, this would be my second crossing and a chance to see whether I've gained the necessary head for heights required to walk right along the top. The route is obvious as Striding Edge can only really be started from the Patterdale side of Helvellyn so it was in Glenridding where I left the car to set out in pursuit of some excitement.
The path climbs out of Glenridding alongside Mires Beck following the course of the stream right up the fellside. This is the territory of Birkhouse Moor, a fell often overlooked by those with their sights set on Helvellyn. The climb up is fairly uninteresting though is not so steep as to make it unpleasant. The view of Ullswater gets better and better every time you glance behind you to see how far you've come.
Heading to Rattlebeck Bridge, Birkhosue Moor and Little Cove are ahead |
The path alongside Mires Beck to Little Cove |
Looking back to Glenridding |
A cluster of hazy Far Eastern Fells |
Panorama of Glenridding, Patterdale and Grisedale |
St. Sunday Crag rises up across the valley |
View from the cairn on Birkhouse Moor |
Looking to Helvellyn and Catstye Cam |
The summit of Birkhouse Moor |
Catstye Cam, White Side and Raise above Keppel Cove |
Catstye Cam |
Helvellyn and Red Tarn |
Striding Edge from Low Spying How |
Panorama from Striding Edge |
Striding Edge |
Striding Edge |
Another Striding Edge panorama |
Looking back to High Spying How |
On what is probably the narrowest part |
Striding Edge |
The Chimney - an awkward final scramble |
Red Tarn |
Nethermost Cove |
Looking back along Striding Edge |
Striding Edge |
Charles Gough memorial |
Memorial to Bert Hinkler |
Summit shelter on Helvellyn |
Looking down to Red Tarn from the summit |
Swirral Edge |
Swirral Edge |
Looking back up Swirral Edge to Helvellyn |
Red Tarn and Striding Edge |
Walkers on Striding Edge |
Helvellyn and Swirral Edge |
Catstye Cam's summit |
Helvellyn and Swirral Edge once again |
The northwest ridge |
A near aerial view of the dam |
Glenridding Common |
One last view of Swirral Edge |
Keppel Cove dam |
The warning sign on Keppel Cove dam |
The breached Keppel Cove tarn |
The breach in the concrete dam |
Catstye Cam |
Glenridding |
Swart Beck |
I know I've used the term 'classic' before but this is probably the iconic Lake District walk that encompasses everything that's great about the National Park. It's accessible; it's exciting; it visits one of the most revered mountains in the District; it's not too long and perhaps most importantly, it's great fun. I would wholly recommend a visit to Striding Edge, just make sure you're aware of the risks that are associated with it.
No comments :
Post a Comment