Helvellyn

Helvellyn

Eastern Lake District

Route: Helvellyn 

Area: Eastern Lake District

Date of walk: 10th July 2015

Walkers: Andrew and James

Distance: 12.8 miles

Ascent: 3,400 feet

Weather: Cloud and mist on tops and windy, warm and sunny later

Having bagged four Wainwrights yesterday, our son James had just 5 fells to go to complete a round of all 214 lakeland fells. It was set to be another tough day as the plan was to tick off the remainder in the course of one walk

We parked in Glenridding and followed the Mires Beck route for a while before diverting to climb to the top of our first fell, Birkhouse Moor. We then returned to the main path and passed by the Hole in the Wall and Red Tarn before taking another diversion to climb up to the shapely top of Catstycam – a beautiful fell

We descended back to the main path again and as we did so Swirral Edge loomed ahead of us – the mist had come down by now and it was a dramatic and quite foreboding sight. Having climbed up the edge we emerged onto the flat top of Helvellyn. Sadly the views were non existent as we were in the clouds, so without lingering we marched on to the next top, Nethermost Pike – so easily attained it felt as though we were cheating somehow. We had our sandwiches here but conscious that there was still a lot of walking ahead we were soon on our way to Dollywagon Pike

After some huffing and puffing we made it to the top and James had completed his mission – well done son!

After a brief celebration we started the long descent back to Glenridding. Having climbed about 3,500 feet we were quite tired by now and the 5 mile return journey seemed to take an eternity. We eventually arrived back in Glenridding hot but happy after one of those never to be forgotten days in the fells

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