Meet time: 9.15am
Start time: 9.30am
Estimated finish time: 3.15pm to 3.45pm.
Distance: About 8.1 miles (13.03 kilometres).
Ascent: About 3300 feet (1006 meters).
Ramblers walk grading: A (Strenuous).
Start point: Grasmere Village Green (between the Mathilde’s Café and Sam Read Bookseller)
Postcode: LA22 9SX
Car parking: Stock Lane Car Park. There are also a few lay-bys on the A591 around Grasmere which has free parking.
It is the responsibility of each walker to make sure they understand where to park. If you are not sure where the car parking/meeting point is, you must contact the walk leader at the latest the day before the walk. You should not rely on mobile phones or postcodes. There is often no mobile reception near walk meeting points and postcodes are for the nearest place nearby but should only serve as a guideline. Please allow plenty of time to find a parking space so that walks can start promptly.
Description: A linear route over Helvellyn is one of the ways to really experience the mountain and this route does a south to north traverse of Helvellyn. We leave Grasmere and briefly follow the A591 before picking up the path to Grisedale Tarn via ascending Tongue Gill. This is moderate though steady ascent which comes to an end when we reach the cove housing Grisedale Tarn – a lake between Fairfield, Seat Sandal and Dollywagon Pike.
There comes the steepest part of the walk with the 1000 foot ascent to Dollywagon Pike which is the first mountain and Wainwright of the walk. Now the summit of Dollywagon Pike (858 meters) has an amazing view looking down the valley of Grisedale and into Patterdale.
From Dollywagon Pike it is a gradual ascent to first Nethermost Pike (891 meters) and at last Helvellyn (950 meters). Possibly the prettiest and most graceful of the Lake District’s 3000 foot plus mountains, the views from Helvellyn are truly mighty with perhaps the best looking out eastwards down into Ullswater, the Eden Valley and beyond towards the Pennines.
The walk becomes linear as the route continues northwards, just passing Helvellyn Lower Man, and following a moderate descent downwards, close to Browncove Crags, into Thirlmere. This path makes pretty much a beeline to the Swirls Car Park and is an easy ascent as most of the path consists of stepping stones.
Upon arriving at Swirls Car Park there will be a few cars parked to take us all back to Grasmere and to a well-earned café stop.
Please contact Miles on 07842 783319 by 10pm on Friday 19 August if you are coming on this walk (text or phone, WhatsApp, or message on Facebook (Miles Saunders-Priem)).
Please check the weather and bring appropriate clothing (waterproofs and spare warm clothing), footwear and enough food and water. The leader reserves the right to turn away any walker not suitably equipped. The leader may cancel the walk or modify the route dependent on conditions.
Car sharing may be possible – please contact the walk leader to arrange.
New members: please note the walk leader may ask for more information about your walking experience. This is to ensure you have the fitness required to complete the walk that is planned safely.