Hiking Helvellyn, Lake District – The Striding Edge Route
Some places just have a certain draw, don’t they? A kind of pull or magic. We’re talking about the Lake District, that glorious patch of moody mountains and glittering waters in the North West of England. And in that glorious patch, there’s a king: Helvellyn.
But we’re not just nipping up the easy path. We’re here to talk about the slightly terrifying, the utterly brilliant Striding Edge. It’s the kind of hike that has you buzzing for days. So, if you’ve got a bit of grit, and a head for heights, let me show you how you can conquer this iconic ridge. You won’t regret it (well, maybe your legs will, a bit, the next day!).
So, What's All the Fuss About Hiking Helvellyn Anyway?
Look, hiking Helvellyn is a bit of a big deal, especially if you tackle Striding Edge. It’s England’s third-highest peak, standing proud at 950 metres (3,116 ft). But it’s not just about the height, is it? It’s about the journey. Striding Edge isn’t just a path; it’s a Grade 1 scramble, think of it as a narrow, rocky tightrope walk with the most incredible views you can imagine (and some pretty hefty drops to keep you focused!).
It’s the kind of day that strips everything back. It’s just you, the rock under your fingers and toes, and the wind in your hair (not me, obviously). You feel alive up there. And the pint at the end? Mate, it tastes like victory.
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Getting There: Glenridding and the Car Park Dash
Your adventure kicks off in Glenridding, a cracking little village snuggled at the end of Ullswater. You’ll be aiming for the main Pay and Display car park (chuck CA11 0PD into your phone). It costs around £8.50 for a 24 hour stay on the car park.
🔹 Hot Tip: This car park is notorious. On a sunny day, especially a weekend, it fills up quicker than a pint glass on a hot afternoon. Seriously, aim to be there before 9 am. No, scratch that, aim for 8:30 am if you want to be sure and avoid that pre-hike stress. If it’s chocker, there are a few other bits of parking around, but they’re like hen’s teeth.
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Right, Be Honest: Are You Up For This?
Before we go any further, let’s have a frank chat. Striding Edge is absolutely epic, but it’s not a gentle stroll. You need:
Not to mind heights: Those drops are real, and they are significant. If you get wobbly looking down from a stepladder, this might not be your cuppa.
To be reasonably fit: It’s about an 10-mile round trip, with a good chunk of uphill graft. Your legs will know about it!
To be okay with scrambling: This means using your hands. It’s not rock climbing, but it’s definitely hands-on in places.
If you’re a regular hill walker looking for a bit more excitement, you’ll be in your element. If you’re brand new to big hills, maybe try one of Helvellyn’s easier routes first, eh? Get a feel for the place.
Your Kit List: Don’t Be a Muppet on the Mountain!
Listen, the Lake District weather can change faster than a politician’s mind. One minute it’s sunny, the next it’s chucking it down and blowing a hoolie. Packing the right gear isn’t just about comfort; it’s about safety. Please, please don’t be that person in jeans and fashion trainers. You’ll be miserable, hikers will look at you funny, and potentially you’ll be a liability.
| What You Need | Why You Absolutely Need It (Trust Me) |
| Proper Boots | Sturdy hiking boots with good ankle support and grippy soles. Not your trainers, not your wellies. Boots! |
| Layers, Layers, Layers! | Base layer (not cotton!), fleece, and a properly waterproof and windproof jacket AND trousers. |
| Map & Compass | An actual paper map (OS Explorer OL5 is your friend here) and a compass. And know how to use ’em, at least basically. Your phone GPS is a great backup, but batteries die. |
| Food & Drink | At least 2 litres of water. More if it’s hot. High-energy snacks – think flapjacks, nuts, can of pineapples (my personal fave for a sugar rush!), a proper packed lunch. A flask of tea or coffee? God-tier. ☕️ |
| The Other Essentials | Small first-aid kit (blister plasters are a must!), head torch (even if you plan to be down by dusk, things happen), hat and gloves (yes, even in summer!), sun cream, fully charged phone in a waterproof bag. A whistle is a good shout too. |
The Walk Itself: Breaking Down the Beast
Right then, boots on, bag packed? Let’s get walking (and scrambling!).
Part 1: The Gentle Tease from Glenridding
From the car park, wander back to the main road, cross the little bridge over Glenridding Beck, and you’ll see the signs for Helvellyn. The path starts off lovely and easy, winding up through some woods. It’s a nice gentle start, a chance to get the legs moving and have a bit of a natter. Don’t get too comfy, though!
Part 2: The Uphill Slog to Birkhouse Moor
Soon you’re out of the trees, and the path rears up. It’s a bit of a zig-zagging slog up the open hillside. This is where you start to feel it in your calves. Keep plodding, take a breather when you need one, and don’t forget to look back – Ullswater will be showing off behind you.
Part 3: The Hole-in-the-Wall: Decisions, Decisions…
You’ll come to a very obvious gap in a long dry-stone wall – this is the famous “Hole-in-the-Wall.” It’s a natural spot for a quick breather and a swig of water. And it’s here you get your first proper, “Crikey!” view of Striding Edge itself, snaking its way up to Helvellyn’s bulk. It’s a proper sight. Your tummy might do a little flip – a mix of excitement and “What have I got myself into?”
Part 4: Showtime! Striding Edge – Don't Look Down (Too Much!)
From the wall, the path leads you right onto the start of the ridge. It’s fairly wide at first, lulling you into a false sense of security. Then, wham! It narrows, and you’re on the crest. It truly is a ‘knife-edge’ in places.
To your right, a very long drop down to Red Tarn. To your left, an equally impressive drop into Nethermost Cove. For the brave (or slightly daft), the best line is right along the top. You’ll be picking your way carefully, using your hands for balance. If you’re feeling a bit nervy, there’s a slightly lower path that skirts some of the most exposed bits on the right-hand (Red Tarn) side. No shame in taking that, plenty of people do!
The crux, the bit everyone talks about, is “The Chimney.” It’s a short, seven-metre down-climb. It looks a bit gnarly, but honestly, there are plenty of hand and footholds. Just take your time, don’t rush it. (Or go left for an easier route). Once you’re past that, it’s one last steep, rocky pull up to the summit plateau.
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Part 5: The Summit! You've Made It! Time for a Brew! 🥳
YES! You’re there! Crack open that flask, find a comfy rock (out of the wind, if poss – the stone cross shelter is good for this), and enjoy your sandwiches. You’ve earned ’em. The summit of Helvellyn is a massive, flat, stony expanse – a world away from the narrow ridge you just conquered.
On a clear day, the views are simply mega. 360 degrees of Lake District gorgeousness. You can see for miles – Scafell Pike, the Langdales, the lot. Get your photo at the trig point, obviously. And take a moment at the memorial to Charles Gough, the artist who fell from the Edge back in 1805. A sobering reminder to always respect these big hills.
Part 6: The Way Down: Swirral Edge – Not Done Yet!
The adventure isn’t quite over. The classic return is via Swirral Edge. As you look out from the summit shelter, it’s the other rocky ridge heading down, to your left. It’s shorter and generally considered a tad easier than Striding Edge, but that top section is still a steep, rocky scramble. Don’t switch off just yet; it needs your full attention, especially when you’re tired.
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Part 7: The Long (but pretty) Walk Back to the Pub via Red Tarn
Once you’re safely off Swirral Edge, the path winds down to the banks of Red Tarn. What a spot! This little mountain lake is stunning, nestled perfectly between Striding and Swirral Edges. It’s a great place for a final breather and to look back up at what you’ve just achieved. Seriously, give yourself a pat on the back.
From Red Tarn, it’s a fairly long, but mostly straightforward, yomp back down the valley. The path is pretty obvious and eventually joins up with the one you came up on, leading you all the way back to Glenridding. Your legs will probably be screaming by now, but you’ll have a grin a mile wide.
Alternative Route
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Playing it Safe: How Not to End Up on the News 🧗♀️
Mountains are amazing, but they can be serious places. The local Mountain Rescue teams are absolute legends (all volunteers, too!), but your aim should be to never need them.
Weather, Weather, Weather: Check it religiously. The Mountain Weather Information Service (MWIS) is your bible. If it’s forecasting gales, heavy rain, or (heaven forbid in summer) snow, Striding Edge is a definite no-go. It’s just not worth the risk.
Know Your Limits (and Your Mates’): Be honest. If it feels too much, turn back. The mountain will still be there another day. It’s not weak to turn back; it’s smart.
Tell Someone Where You’re Going: Let a responsible person know your route and roughly when you expect to be back. Simple stuff, but important.
Map & Compass are King: Seriously, in mist, the Helvellyn plateau is a confusing place. Your phone is not enough.
Best Time to Go? Good Question!
- Spring (April – June): Often the sweet spot. Decent weather, long daylight hours, and it’s not too mobbed.
Summer (July – August): Can be glorious, but it’s peak season. That car park will be a bunfight. And the ridge can get busy, leading to queues at tricky bits like The Chimney.
Autumn (September – October): Stunning colours, crisp air. But the weather can be more “interesting,” and daylight hours are shrinking.
Winter (November – March): STOP. Unless you are a seasoned winter mountaineer with an ice axe, crampons, and the skills to use them properly, Striding Edge in winter is a whole different, much more dangerous, ball game. It’s a winter climb, not a hike. Don’t even think about it otherwise.
The Reward: That Post-Hike Pint in Glenridding
You’ve done it! You’re down! Your knees are aching, you’re probably a bit sweaty, but you’re buzzing! Time for the best bit: the pub. Glenridding has a couple of great boozers. The Traveller’s Rest is a classic walkers’ pub and you can’t miss it on the way down. That first sip of cold lager or ale, as you sink into a chair and relive the day’s drama? Pure, unadulterated joy.
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Hiking Helvellyn via Striding Edge isn’t just a walk, it’s a proper adventure. It’s a day you’ll be banging on about for ages. It’s got that perfect mix of challenge, a little bit of fear (the good kind!), and utterly massive rewards in terms of views and that “I bloody well did that!” feeling. It’s the kind of experience that we at The Travel Tinker absolutely live for, proving you don’t need to go to the ends of the earth for a world-class day out. It’s right here, in our own glorious backyard. 🌍 ✨
Right, Your Turn…
Have you tackled Striding Edge? Got any top tips of your own? Or are you psyching yourself up for it? Chuck your thoughts, stories, or any questions in the comments below. I’d genuinely love to hear them! Cheers!👇🗣️
Adventure on,
The Travel Tinker Crew 🌍✨
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FAQs: Your Burning Questions Answered (Hopefully!)
So, just how hard is Striding Edge? Be honest!
It’s a Grade 1 scramble. What does that mean in real money? It means it’s at the easier end of scrambling, but it is still scrambling. The main thing is the exposure – those big drops. If you’ve got a decent head for heights and you’re reasonably fit and confident on rocky ground, you’ll likely find it exhilarating. If you’re scared of heights, it could be your worst nightmare. No two ways about it.
How long's it gonna take me? I've got a pub booking...
For most reasonably fit folk, the whole circular route from Glenridding, up Striding Edge and down Swirral Edge, will take somewhere between 6 and 8 hours. That includes stops for scoffing sarnies, taking photos, and generally admiring the view (and catching your breath!).
Can I bring the dog? Loves a good walk!
This is a really tough one. And it totally depends on your dog. A super-agile, mountain-goat-of-a-dog might be okay. But for many dogs, Striding Edge is genuinely dangerous. There are bits where they might struggle, and you might have to lift them. I’ve seen some dogs breeze it, and others look terrified (along with their owners). Personally, unless your dog is a seasoned four-legged mountaineer, I’d probably leave them at home for this one, or choose an easier route.
Is there a less scary way up Helvellyn? My mate's a bit of a wimp.
Absolutely! The most popular “easy” (it’s still a big hill!) route is from Thirlmere, starting at Swirls car park on the A591. It’s a well-made path that zig-zags all the way up. No scrambling, no terrifying drops. Just a good, honest slog with cracking views. Perfect if Striding Edge feels a bit much, or if the weather’s dodgy.
Will I get phone signal? I need to Instagram this!
Don’t count on it! It’s incredibly patchy. You might get a bar or two (There is some 5g) on the summit if the wind’s blowing in the right direction, but for most of the walk, especially in the valleys and on the ridge itself, expect zilch. Yet another reason why a map and compass are your best friends, not your smartphone!
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Nick Harvey
Hi, I am Nick! Thank you for reading! The Travel Tinker is a resource designed to help you navigate the beauty of travel! Tinkering your plans as you browse!
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