Mountain (Hewitt), Wainwright, Nuttall, Marilyn & OS Trig Point Icon

Helvellyn
950m (3118ft)

The Eastern Fells, The Lake District, Cumbria, England

The summit of Helvellyn is marked by an Ordnance Survey Trig Point.


Record Helvellyn as Bagged, Climbed & Conquered


English Mountain Icon

English Mountain
3rd highest in England,
12th in England & Wales

English Nuttall Icon

English Nuttall
4th highest in England,
14th in England & Wales

English Marilyn Icon

English Marilyn
2nd highest in England,
165th highest in Great Britain

English Trig Point Icon


English Trig Point (Pillar)

Walk Helvellyn walking UK Mountains in The Eastern Fells The Lake District National Park Cumbria, England

Helvellyn Summit

Photo: William Ringwood

You can find Helvellyn & all the walks that climb it on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps: (click/TAP to select)

The Lake District National Park


1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (the ones with orange/yellow covers):

OL5 The English Lakes - North Eastern area


1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Map (the ones with pink/magenta covers):

90 Penrith & Keswick, Ambleside


See Helvellyn and the surrounding tops on our free-to-access 'Google Style' Peak Bagging Maps:

See Helvellyn and the surrounding tops on our downloadable PDF Peak Bagging Maps:

NB: Whether you print off a copy on to paper or download it to your phone, these PDF Peak Baggers Maps will prove incredibly useful when your are up there on the tops and you cannot get a phone signal!


You can walk to the top of Helvellyn by using any of these 12 easy‑to‑follow route maps:
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Walk c432 Helvellyn from Thirlmere

The 'easiest' way up Lakeland's most climbed mountain

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 5ml (8km)
Ascent:2,649ft (807m)
Time:4½ hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 6 Icon (Moderate)
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Walk c427 Helvellyn via Striding Edge from Patterdale

Lakeland's 3rd highest via the infamous Striding Edge

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 8ml (12.5km)
Ascent:2,990ft (911m)
Time:6 hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 6 Icon (Moderate)
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Walk c213 Helvellyn from Glenridding

Lakeland's 3rd highest via the infamous Striding & Swirral Edges - not for the faint hearted

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 8.5ml (13.5km)
Ascent:3,278ft (999m)
Time:6½ hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 7 Icon (Hard)
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Walk c113 Helvellyn from Thirlmere

Lakeland's most popular mountain

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 8.75ml (14km)
Ascent:3,296ft (1,005m)
Time:6½ hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 7 Icon (Hard)
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Walk c220 Helvellyn via Striding Edge from Glenridding

Lakeland's most climbed mountain via the infamous Striding Edge - not for the faint hearted

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 10ml (16km)
Ascent:3,382ft (1,031m)
Time:7 hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 7 Icon (Hard)
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Walk c124 Helvellyn Ridge from Thirlmere

Lakeland's most popular mountain with a fine ridge walk

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 10.5ml (17km)
Ascent:3,575ft (1,090m)
Time:7½ hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 7 Icon (Hard)
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Walk c224 Helvellyn via Swirral Edge and Raise from Glenridding

Lakeland's most popular via the easier Swirral Edge

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 10.75ml (17km)
Ascent:3,449ft (1,051m)
Time:7.25hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 7 Icon (Hard)
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Walk c394 Helvellyn, Catstye Cam and Sheffield Pike from Glenridding

Superb high level walk

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 10ml (16km)
Ascent:4,020ft (1,225m)
Time:8 hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 8 Icon (Hard)
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Walk c269 The Grisedale Horseshoe from Patterdale

Lakeland's most climbed mountain - not for the faint hearted

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 11.5ml (18.5km)
Ascent:4,582ft (1,396m)
Time:8.75hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 8 Icon (Hard)
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Walk c286 The Glenridding Skyline from Glenridding

Superb high level walk

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 11.5ml (18.5km)
Ascent:4,418ft (1,346m)
Time:8½ hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 8 Icon (Hard)
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Walk c192 Helvellyn Ridge from Glenridding

An exhilarating high ridge walk

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 13ml (21km)
Ascent:4,359ft (1,329m)
Time:9.25hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 8 Icon (Hard)
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Walk c264 The Grisedale Round from Patterdale

Superb high level ridge walk

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 13.25ml (21km)
Ascent:5,189ft (1,581m)
Time:10 hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 9 Icon (Very Hard)

Other walkers who hiked, climbed, bagged and summited Helvellyn Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Helvellyn

Iain Jones walked up Helvellyn on April 16th, 2011 [from/via/route] Swirral Edge [with] Jim Hamilton, Oliver Sage, Alex Walker, James Cunnington & Rob Argent - 29 March 2013 - via Brown Cove Crags (Winter Climb) with Graeme High & Ralph Simpson; 05 August 2017 - The Wainwright 60 - Day 3 (Helvellyn); 02 December 2023 - via Swirral Edge with Fell Top Assessor

Richard Beardsley climbed Helvellyn on October 23rd, 2023 [from/via/route] Swirls car park. [with] Myself, Paula, Andy and Dylan. [weather] Nice fine day but cold. - Commenced walk at 0800hrs from Swirls car park. Route taken to Helvellyn was via Dollywagon Pike & Nethermost Pike.

Chris Hughes bagged Helvellyn on June 28th, 2023 [from/via/route] Thirlmere car park [weather] mist / drizzle

James Hughes hiked Helvellyn on May 30th, 2023 [from/via/route] Birkhouse Moor, Hellvellyn Striding Edge, Nethermost Pike, Dollywagon Pike 29/5/23 - Glenridding Dodd, Sheffield Pike, Raise, White Side, Hellvellyn Swirral Edge, Catstye Cam [with] Solo [weather] Beautiful day, clear, warm. blue skies & no wind. - Pearler of a day...

Christine Shepherd summited Helvellyn on August 17th, 1997 [from/via/route] Walked from Glenridding via Striding edge. [with] My husband Peter. [weather] Glorious sunshine - A brilliant mountain! I have 'bagged' Helvellyn several times since my initial visit. My second visit was in snow on 19.2 06 from Thirlmere, my third using walk c394 included the descent over Swirral Edge. On my 4th visit on 11.6.09, I took two friends over Striding Edge & my fifth visit was by myself on a gloriously clear day on 25.9.10, again walking over Striding Edge & going on to take in Nethermost, Dollywagon , St Sunday Crag & Birks.(Walk c269) Repeated the walk starting with Glenridding Dodd solo on 15.4.21 on a glorious day. Made another ascent from Raise beck via, Dollywaggon & Nethermost on 7.5.22

Angeline Grieveson conquered Helvellyn on April 5th, 2023 [with] Dotty

Melfyn Parry scaled Helvellyn on May 23rd, 2023 [from/via/route] Started walk from the car park at the Patterdale Hotel, followed route C427 with a couple of changes. Climbed over Striding Edge & then on to Helvellyn but then took a detour to walk out to Lower Man then doubled back to Helvellyn before descending Swirral Edge to then climb too summit of Catstye Cam. From here we descended to Hole in the Wall & then went out to Birkhouse Moor & rather than doubling back to Hole in the Wall to repeat the path back to the carpark we continued beyond the summit along easy to follow paths which led back down to join the return route at NY377158, making a total of 16.4Km [with] With DS [weather] Sunny spells & quite warm at times especially on uphill sections when in lea of the breeze. On the tops the breeze was chilly. - Stunning views in all directions.

Nina Adams walked up Helvellyn on April 22nd, 2023 [from/via/route] Helvellyn YHA @Glenridding - Glenridding Common - White Side - Lower Man - Helvellyn - Lower Man - Whiteside - YHA [with] Craig [weather] 7.8° Rain Poor visibility

Keith Tolley climbed Helvellyn on February 26th, 2023 [from/via/route] Glenridding (YHA) - up Swirral Edge, down striding edge [with] National Park Fell Assessor and 4 others [weather] Clould/ sun. Dusting of snow - Fantastic day with dusting of snow but peacefully windless on top of Helvellyn

Geoff Hand bagged Helvellyn on February 14th, 2023 [from/via/route] From Glen Ridding climbed Birkhouse Moor on the way to Helvellyn back over Nether Most Pike, White Crag & Dolly Waggon Pike [with] Tess [weather] Cold & clear at first followed by squally showers. - Birthday walk taking in Striding Edge, a bit of a challenge with Tess but did get some help from other walkers. Following the old pack horse trail down Patterdale common was great to see how the valley changed from the top at Grisedale Tarn to Braesteads Farm.

To add (or remove) your name and experiences on this page - Log On and edit your Personal Mountain Bagging Record

. . . [see more walk reports]



More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Helvellyn

Towards Helvellyn from Sheffield Pike

Towards Helvellyn from Sheffield Pike

Photo: David Hayter (333)

On Striding Edge with Helvellyn summit beyond

On Striding Edge with Helvellyn summit beyond

Photo: Stella Whittaker (15)

Helvellyn Summit

Helvellyn Summit

Photo: Richard Nicholls (41)

Eric and me on Helvellyn, 5 months after his hip replacement :)

Eric and me on Helvellyn, 5 months after his hip replacement :)

Photo: Amanda Hamlyn (1)

The head of the Grisedale Valley with Dollywaggon Pike to the left, High Crag, Nethermost Pike and then Helvellyn (far right) from near Brownend Plantation

The head of the Grisedale Valley with Dollywaggon Pike to the left, High Crag, Nethermost Pike and then Helvellyn (far right) from near Brownend Plantation

Photo: Mike Renny (4)

The Helevllyn Ridge featuring: Great Dodd, Watson's Dodd, Stybarrow Dodd, Raise (Helvellyn), White Side, Helvellyn, Nethermost Pike, Dollywaggon Pike, St Sunday Crag, Fairfield, Great Rigg and Heron Pike with Steel Fell (mid distance) and Calf Crag, Gibson Knott and Helm Crag  (foreground) from Brownrigg Moss

The Helevllyn Ridge featuring: Great Dodd, Watson's Dodd, Stybarrow Dodd, Raise (Helvellyn), White Side, Helvellyn, Nethermost Pike, Dollywaggon Pike, St Sunday Crag, Fairfield, Great Rigg and Heron Pike with Steel Fell (mid distance) and Calf Crag, Gibson Knott and Helm Crag (foreground) from Brownrigg Moss

Photo: Alan Wainwright (211)

Descending Helvellyn via Swirral Edge

Descending Helvellyn via Swirral Edge

Photo: David Cooper (3)

Helvellyn

Helvellyn

Photo: Derek Cambers (1)

Musicians on the summit of Helvellyn

Musicians on the summit of Helvellyn

Photo: Brian Lavery (4)

Striding Edge basking in glorious September Sun viewed from Helvellyn

Striding Edge basking in glorious September Sun viewed from Helvellyn

Photo: Dean Richardson (5)

Raise (Helvellyn) from White Side

Raise (Helvellyn) from White Side

Photo: Roy Smith (4)

Red Tarn and Striding Edge from Helvellyn

Red Tarn and Striding Edge from Helvellyn

Photo: Roger Stone (1)

On Striding Edge (Helvellyn)

On Striding Edge (Helvellyn)

Photo: Iain Macdonald (1)

Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam from Helvellyn

Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam from Helvellyn

Photo: Chris Oakley (2)

Swirral Edge, Catstye Cam, Red Tarn (Helvellyn) and Ullswater from the summit of Helvellyn

Swirral Edge, Catstye Cam, Red Tarn (Helvellyn) and Ullswater from the summit of Helvellyn

Photo: Katherine Horrex (14)

Myself, Emma Cooper & Rachel Hargreaves on the summit of Helvellyn after tackling Striding Edge

Myself, Emma Cooper & Rachel Hargreaves on the summit of Helvellyn after tackling Striding Edge

Photo: David Cooper (2)

Helvellyn from Wythburn

Helvellyn from Wythburn

Photo: Paul Holroyd (6)

On Striding Edge on the way to Helvellyn

On Striding Edge on the way to Helvellyn

Photo: Alan Wainwright (20)

With work colleagues on the summit of Helvellyn on a sponsored walk

With work colleagues on the summit of Helvellyn on a sponsored walk

Photo: Kate Daniel (1)

Great Langdale and Blea Rigg with The Helvellyn Massiff in the distance under a deep blanket of snow from the lower slopes of Pike of Blisco (Pike o' Blisco)

Great Langdale and Blea Rigg with The Helvellyn Massiff in the distance under a deep blanket of snow from the lower slopes of Pike of Blisco (Pike o' Blisco)

Photo: Simon Barnett (56)


. . . see all 224 walk photographs & pictures of views from, on or of Helvellyn


Send us your photographs and pictures on, of, or from Helvellyn

If you would like to add your walk photographs and pictures featuring views from, on or of Helvellyn to this page, please send them as email attachments (configured for any computer) along with your name to:



and we shall do our best to publish them.

(Guide Resolution = 300dpi. At least = 660pixels (wide) x 440 pixels (high).)

Send us your photographs and pictures on, of, or from Helvellyn via Facebook

You can also submit photos via our Facebook Page.

NB. Please indicate where each photo was taken.






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