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My sister planned today’s hike—she wanted to do it again for her birthday. She loves the scramble along Striding Edge! I was joined by my awesome childhood friend, my nephew, and my brother-in-law, which made it even better.
Total Distance: 9 Miles
Steps: ~28,000 Steps
Highest Point: 3113 Feet
Total Realistic Time: ~6 Hours
Helvellyn is a mountain in the English Lake District, the highest point of the Helvellyn range, a north–south line of mountains to the north of Ambleside, between the lakes of Thirlmere and Ullswater.
Helvellyn is the third-highest point both in England and in the Lake District, and access to Helvellyn is easier than the two higher peaks of Scafell Pike and Scafell. The scenery includes three deep glacial coves and two sharp-topped ridges on the eastern side (Striding Edge and Swirral Edge). Helvellyn was one of the earliest fells to prove popular with walkers and explorers; beginning especially in the later 18th century. Among the early visitors to Helvellyn were the poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth, both of whom lived nearby at one period. Many routes up the mountain are possible so that it may be approached from all directions.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helvellyn
We all met up at the Glenridding car park around 9:00 AM. There are public toilets available (60p at the time), and a few coffee shops nearby if you want to grab something before setting off. It was already getting busy when we arrived—luckily, it’s a fairly spacious car park and we managed to find a few spots. All-day parking cost £9 at the time. It’s a great place to start the hike up Helvellyn.
This is the route we took this time—there are plenty of other great routes to explore in the area too.
Leaving the Glenridding car park, you follow the stream, and you’ll soon see signs marking the start of the ascent to Helvellyn. There are a few different routes to choose from, depending on how adventurous you’re feeling.
Check out that reaction on someone’s face… priceless! 😂
Fun to look back at the path we just tackled!
On the way back to the car park, we made a well-deserved stop at the Travellers Rest for some hearty pub grub and a refreshing pint.
Conclusion:
The drive to Glenridding didn’t fill us with much hope—it was raining, and the weather looked pretty miserable. But luckily, most of the hike turned out to be clear, with just the occasional bit of wind and rain. Just as we reached Striding Edge, the clouds lifted and the sun came out to play—perfect timing!
I actually found the start of the route the toughest. That long, gradual incline felt like it went on forever 🥵. By the time we got to Striding Edge, we were pretty shattered, so the hands-on scrambling across the ridge was a fun change of pace and kept things exciting.
All in all, it was a fantastic day. My sister had an amazing time celebrating her birthday—crazy idea, I know, but definitely worth the effort. Being surrounded by such awesome people made it a real laugh and honestly made the hike feel a lot easier than it was.
Hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did! 😍
GENERAL EQUIPMENT
- Apple iPhone 15 Pro (for taking photos/videos and mapping using OS Maps)
- Comfy walking shoes (most important)
- Waterproof Jacket (so you don’t get caught out)
- Flask with Hot/Cold drink (a good cuppa is always welcome)
- ibuprofen (helping hand if you have any aches and pains)
- Food and snacks (fuel to keep you going)