Helvellyn
950m (3118ft)
The Eastern Fells, The Lake District, Cumbria, England
The summit of Helvellyn is marked by an Ordnance Survey Trig Point.
Not familiar with this top?
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 5ml (8km) |
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| Ascent: | 2,649ft (807m) |
| Time: | 4½ hrs |
| Grade: |  (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
The Swirls - Helvellyn Gill - Browncove Crags - Lower Man (Helvellyn) - Helvellyn - Lower Man (Helvellyn) - Browncove Crags - Helvellyn Gill - The Swirls
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 8ml (12.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 2,990ft (911m) |
| Time: | 6 hrs |
| Grade: | (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Patterdale - Patterdale Church - Grisedale Bridge - Grisedale Beck - Brownend Plantation - Lanty's Tarn - Hole-in-the-Wall - Red Tarn (Helvellyn) - Bleaberry Crag - Low Spying How - High Spying How - Striding Edge (High Spying How) - Helvellyn - Swirral Edge (optional) - Hole-in-the-Wall - Grisedale Beck - Patterdale
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 8.5ml (13.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,278ft (999m) |
| Time: | 6½ hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Glenridding - Birkhouse Moor - Hole-in-the-Wall - Red Tarn (Helvellyn) - Bleaberry Crag - Low Spying How - High Spying How - Striding Edge (High Spying How) - Helvellyn - Swirral Edge - Catstye Cam - Hole-in-the-Wall - Brownend Plantation - Grisedale Beck - Lanty's Tarn - Keldas - Glenridding
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 8.75ml (14km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,296ft (1,005m) |
| Time: | 6½ hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
The Swirls Car Park Thirlmere - Browncove Crags - Lower Man (Helvellyn) - Helvellyn - White Side - Raise (Helvellyn) - Sticks Pass - Sticks Gill - Stanah Gill - Legburthwaite - Thirlmere - Thirlspot - The Swirls Car Park Thirlmere.
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 10ml (16km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,382ft (1,031m) |
| Time: | 7 hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Glenridding - Birkhouse Moor - Hole-in-the-Wall - Red Tarn (Helvellyn) - Bleaberry Crag - Low Spying How - High Spying How - Striding Edge (High Spying How) - Helvellyn - Nethermost Pike - High Crag (Helvellyn) - Dollywaggon Pike - Grisdale Tarn - Ruthwaite Lodge - Grisedale Beck - Brownend Plantation - Lanty's Tarn - Keldas - Glenridding
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 10.5ml (17km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,575ft (1,090m) |
| Time: | 7½ hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
The Swirls Car Park Thirlmere - Browncove Crags - Lower Man (Helvellyn) - Helvellyn - White Side - Raise (Helvellyn) - Sticks Pass - Stybarrow Dodd - Watson's Dodd - Great Dodd - Legburthwaite - Thirlmere - Thirlspot - The Swirls Car Park Thirlmere.
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 10.75ml (17km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,449ft (1,051m) |
| Time: | 7.25hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Glenridding - Birkhouse Moor - Hole-in-the-Wall - Red Tarn (Helvellyn) - Catstye Cam - Swirral Edge - Helvellyn - Lower Man (Helvellyn) - White Side - Raise (Helvellyn) - Sticks Pass - Lucy's Tongue - Glenridding Beck - Glenridding
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 10ml (16km) |
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| Ascent: | 4,020ft (1,225m) |
| Time: | 8 hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Glenridding - Glenridding Dodd - Sheffield Pike - Nick Head - Sticks Pass - Raise (Helvellyn) - White Side - Lower Man (Helvellyn) - Helvellyn - Swirral Edge - Catstye Cam - Glenridding Beck - Glenridding Youth Hostel - Glenridding
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 11.5ml (18.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 4,582ft (1,396m) |
| Time: | 8.75hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Patterdale - Grisedale Bridge - Grisedale Beck - Brownends Plantation - Hole-in-the-Wall - Birkhouse Moor - Hole-in-the-Wall - Red Tarn (Helvellyn) - Bleaberry Crag - Low Spying How - High Spying How - Striding Edge (High Spying How) - Helvellyn - Nethermost Pike - High Crag (Helvellyn) - Dollywaggon Pike - Grisedale Tarn - Deepdale Hause - St Sunday Crag - Birks - Patterdale
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 11.5ml (18.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 4,418ft (1,346m) |
| Time: | 8½ hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Glenridding - Glenridding Dodd - Sheffield Pike - Nick Head - Glencoyne Head - Hart Side - Green Side (White Stones) - Stybarrow Dodd - Sticks Pass - Raise (Helvellyn) - White Side - Lower Man (Helvellyn) - Helvellyn - Swirral Edge - Catstye Cam - Red Tarn Beck - Glenridding Beck - Glenridding Youth Hostel - Glenridding
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 13ml (21km) |
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| Ascent: | 4,359ft (1,329m) |
| Time: | 9.25hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Glenridding - Glenridding Dodd - Sheffield Pike - Green Side - Stybarrow Dodd - Sticks Pass - Raise (Helvellyn) - White Side - Lower Man (Helvellyn) - Helvellyn - Nethermost Pike - High Crag (Helvellyn) - Dollywaggon Pike - Grisdale Tarn - Grisedale Beck - Brownend Plantation - Lanty's Tarn - Keldas - Glenridding
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 13.25ml (21km) |
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| Ascent: | 5,189ft (1,581m) |
| Time: | 10 hrs |
| Grade: |  (Very Hard) |
Route Summary:
Patterdale - Grisedale Bridge - Grisedale Beck - Brownend Plantation - Hole-in-the-Wall - Birkhouse Moor - Hole-in-the-Wall - Red Tarn (Helvellyn) - Bleaberry Crag - Low Spying How - High Spying How - Striding Edge (High Spying How) - Helvellyn - Nethermost Pike - High Crag (Helvellyn) - Dollywaggon Pike - Seat Sandal - Grisedale Tarn - St Sunday Crag - Birks - Arnison Crag - Patterdale
See Helvellyn and the surrounding tops on our free-to-access 'Google Style' Peak Bagging Maps:
The Eastern Fells of The Lake District National Park
Less data - quicker to download
The Whole of The Lake District National Park
More data - might take a little longer to download
See Helvellyn and the surrounding tops on our downloadable Peak Bagging Maps in PDF format:
NB: Whether you print off a copy or download it to your phone, these PDF Peak Baggers' Maps might prove incredibly useful when your are up there on the tops and you cannot get a phone signal.
*This version is marked with the walk routes you need to follow to Walk all 214 Wainwrights in just 59 walks.
You can find Helvellyn & all the walks that climb it on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps:
1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (orange/yellow covers):
1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Map (pink/magenta covers):
Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Helvellyn
Tim Winn walked up Helvellyn on April 4th, 2025 [from/via/route] Glenridding [with] Barry, Paul, Roger, Dave and Andy Last [weather] Dry. Sunny.
Nick Tippins climbed Helvellyn on December 31st, 2019 [from/via/route] Helvellyn Circular from Glenridding via Birkhouse Moor, Striding Edge, & Catstye Cam [with] Fran
Hazel Gilbert bagged Helvellyn on May 12th, 2017 [with] Lawrence
Vincent Clarke hiked Helvellyn on May 31st, 2024 [from/via/route] Glenridding on route to Helvlynn [with] Chopper [weather] Early morning
Daniel Moran summited Helvellyn on June 20th, 2024 [from/via/route] Bagged a few times [with] chel wardy
Kate Peacock conquered Helvellyn on May 25th, 2024 [from/via/route] Parked at Wanthwaite as well as leaving a car at the end. Up via Clough Head. [with] Me, Sheila & Skye [weather] Sunny at times, breezy & cold when the sun was behind the clouds - Longest hike to date
Richard Fulcher scaled Helvellyn on May 20th, 2024 [from/via/route] Parked in Glenridding & set off along the path that follows Glenridding Beck on it's south side. Following the is path around the bend at the Youth Hostel this becomes the Red Tarn Beck path. I turned off this & ascended Catstycam up it's eastern shoulder whilst Jen took the easier Swirral Edge path. We met up on Swirral Edge & climbed over the steep rocky terrain up to the ridge & across to Helvellyn. After watching the cricket match in the mist (!) we then walked along to Nethermost Pike & further to Dollywaggon Pike (this was a mistake as it extended the walk too far for us & our level of fitness. We then returned to Helvellyn by the well trodden path along the ridge & then down to Lower Man & down & up to White Side. Jen then took the zigzag path down the side of Keppel Cove whilst I trudged up to Raise to bag my sixth Wainwright of this outing. I returned back down & followed Jen down the Keppel Cove path (right knee complaining). I eventually caught up with Jen at a bridge near to the old mine. We then completed the day's hike with a well deserved pint & meal (uhhg) at the Travellers Rest pub in Glenridding. A 12 hour walk … very tired with every muscle aching … but what a great day on the fells! [with] Jen [weather] Very sunny & warm to start with, turning cloudy & misty on the tops later.
Andrew Gayne walked up Helvellyn on May 20th, 2024 [with] Becky Gayne [weather] Cloudy Day on top - Walked up from Thirlmere, Swizels Car Park, cloudy at the top. Bizarrely a cricket match at the top going on for charity. Walked to Whiteside & Raise & dropped back down to Thirlmere.
Jason Mcmillan climbed Helvellyn on July 7th, 2021 [from/via/route] Helvellyn from Thirlmere
David Higginbottom bagged Helvellyn on November 16th, 2018 [from/via/route] Striding edge [with] Carolyn [weather] Good
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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Helvellyn
*Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left), Helvellyn, Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam (far right) from near Hole-in-the-wall
*Codale Tarn (left) and Easedale Tarn from the Blea Rigg ridge with Helvellyn (left), Seat Sandal (centre) and Fairfield (right) on the horizon
Catstye Cam (left), Helvellyn (centre) and Lower Man (Helvellyn) (right) from near White Side
Dunmail Raise and Grasmere Village in the valley with Helvellyn (left), Fairfield (centre) and Seat Scandal, Great Rigg and Heron Pike beyond from Lang How
The Helvellyn 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
Starting the climb from Striding Edge (High Spying How) up onto Helvellyn
Grisedale with Birks beyond from near the Hole-in-the-wall between Birkhouse Moor and Helvellyn
Glenridding Dodd (left), Ullswater and Place Fell from near Hole-in-the-Wall on the lower slopes of Helvellyn
Sunset on Helvellyn, Fairfield (centre) and Seat Sandal from High Seat (Ashness Fell)
*Lakeland panorama featuring a snow-topped Helvellyn (centre left) and Fairfield (centre right) from above Grasmere
Dave Munro and Red Tarn from Helvellyn with Striding Edge (High Spying How) beyond
Striding Edge (High Spying How), (left), Helvellyn and Catstye Cam (right) from Birkhouse Moor
Helvellyn Summit flanked by Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left) and Swirral Edge (right) from Hole-in-the-Wall in the snow
Striding Edge (High Spying How) and Red Tarn (Helvellyn) from the summit of Helvellyn
Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left), Helvellyn and Catstye Cam from Birkhouse Moor
Myself, Emma Cooper & Rachel Hargreaves descending Helvellyn via Swirral Edge
Striding Edge (High Spying How) and Helvellyn (in mist) with Birkhouse Moor in front, Catstycam and Sheffield Pike from Gowbarrow Fell (Airy Crag)
Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left), Helvellyn and Swirral Edge (right) from above Hole-in-the-Wall
Glenridding and The Helvellyn Massiff from Long Crag on the shores of Ullswater
Me (in orange jacket) and my mate Neil on our way to the top of Helvellyn on a drizzly and bitterly cold day.
*The Coniston Fells, The Langdale Pikes, High Raise, The Helvellyn Ridge, Fairfield, Seat Sandal, Great Rigg, Heron Pike and finally Loughrigg Fell from Lang How
Catstye Cam, White Side and Raise (Helvellyn) from the summit of Birkhouse Moor
Dollywaggon Pike, Nethermost Pike and Helvellyn from Cofa Pike near the summit of Fairfield
Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left) and Helvellyn from the approach to Hole-in-the-Wall
The Howitzer on Helm Crag with Helvellyn and The Pass of Dunmail Raise beyond
Striding Edge (High Spying How) and Helvellyn above Red Tarn from the col between Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam
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
Hayeswater with the Fairfield and Helvellyn Ridges beyond from High Street
*Little Langdale with the Langdale Pikes, Helvellyn and Fairfield beyond from Wetherlam
Helvellyn from Hole-in-the-Wall at the start of Striding Edge (High Spying How)
Me and my father John at the summit of Helvellyn at the beginning of Feb 2012
Catstye Cam (centre) with Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left), Helvellyn and Lower Man (Helvellyn) (right) in the background from Sheffield Pike
Red Tarn (Helvellyn) and Striding Edge (High Spying How) from Helvellyn summit
The Helvellyn Massiff under a deep blanket of snow from the lower slopes
of Pike of Blisco (Pike o' Blisco)
Cofa Pike and Fairfield from High Crag (Helvellyn) with Red Screes in the distance
Lesley and the 2 Cocker Spaniels, Millie and Monty, on Helvellyn in November 2011
Catstye Cam (shoulder left) and Raise (Helvellyn) above Keppel Cove from Red Tarn Beck in the snow
The Wythburn Fells (left) Thirlmere, Helvellyn (in mist) and Seat Sandal (right) from Steel Fell (Dead Pike)
Birkhouse Moor summit cairn - with Striding Edge (High Spying How), Helvellyn, Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam beyond
Looking up Grisedale to St Sunday Crag & Fairfield (left), Grisedale Hause, Dollywaggon Pike, High Crag (Helvellyn) & Nethermost Pike from below Hole-in-the-Wall
Helvellyn (centre left) and Seat Sandal (right) above The Pass of Dunmail Raise from Helm Crag
Myself, Emma Cooper & Rachel Hargreaves on the summit of Helvellyn after tackling Striding Edge (High Spying How)
Red Tarn (Helvellyn) with Catstye Cam beyond from Striding Edge (High Spying How)
*The Helvellyn summit ridge, Whiteside, Thirlmere and Watson's Dodd from Raise (Helvellyn) summit
Helvellyn, Red Tarn, Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam from Striding Edge (High Spying How)
Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left), Helvellyn and Catstye Cam from the Birkhouse Moor
Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left), Helvellyn and Catstye Cam from the summit of Birkhouse Moor
Striding Edge (High Spying How), Helvellyn, Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam from Hole-in-the-Wall
Striding Edge (High Spying How), Helvellyn and Red Tarn from below Swirral Edge
Nethermost Pike, Helvellyn and Striding Edge (High Spying How) from High Crag (Helvellyn)
Swirral Edge and Red Tarn (Helvellyn) from Striding Edge (High Spying How)
Clough Head, Fisher's Wife's Rake, Calfhow Pike, Great Dodd, Watson's Dodd, Stybarrow Dodd, Raise (Helvellyn) and Helvellyn from the summit of High Rigg
Striding Edge (High Spying How), Helvellyn, Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam from Birkhouse Moor
Striding Edge (High Spying How) basking in glorious September Sun viewed from Helvellyn
Approaching Striding Edge (High Spying How) and Helvellyn via Low Spying How and Bleaberry Crag
Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left) and Helvellyn from near Hole-in-the-wall
This is me scrambling to the summit of Helvellyn after surviving Striding Edge (High Spying How)!
Grisedale Hause, Dollywaggon Pike (centre), Nethermost Pike, Helvellyn and Striding Edge (High Spying How) (far right) from Great Rigg
Striding Edge (High Spying How) from Swallow Scarth, between Helvellyn and Nethermost Pike
A very grumpy Shaun post walk in Glenridding after scaling Helvellyn via Striding Edge (High Spying How) on a very, very wet day!
Red Tarn (Helvellyn) and Striding Edge (High Spying How) in all it's glory from Helvellyn
Mike, Tim and Shaun at the summit trig point on a very wet Helvellyn - I swear there were seals on the summit!
The Helvellyn Ridge featuring Dollywaggon Pike, Nethermost Pike, Helvellyn and Striding Edge (High Spying How) from Fairfield
Swirral Edge, Catstye Cam, Red Tarn (Helvellyn) and Ullswater from the summit of Helvellyn
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)
Helvellyn, Swirral Edge and Red Tarn taken from Hole-in-the-Wall at the beginning of Striding Edge (High Spying How)
Helvellyn (left), Swirral Edge and Red Tarn (Helvellyn) from the approach to Striding Edge (High Spying How) near Hole-in-the-Wall
Birkhouse Moor (foreground left), Catstye Cam (foreground centre), White Side (centre right) and Raise (Helvellyn) (right) with Striding Edge (High Spying How), Helvellyn and Lower Man (Helvellyn) in the background from Sheffield Pike
Steel Fell, Gibson Knott and Helm Crag below Seat Sandal (with Helvellyn and Fairfield in mist beyond) from Tarn Crag summit cairn
Blencathra or Saddleback (left), Clough Head, Fisher's Wife's Rake, Calfhow Pike, Great Dodd, Watson's Dodd, Stybarrow Dodd, Raise (Helvellyn) and Helvellyn in the centre with a glimpse of Thirlmere (right) from the summit of High Rigg
Clouds rolling in over Fairfield (left), Dollywaggon Pike and Nethermost Pike from Helvellyn
Chelmsford YHA members on Fairfield looking to Helvellyn, Striding Edge (High Spying How) and Catstycam
Family group having completed Striding Edge (High Spying How) before the last pull up to Helvellyn.
Helvellyn from the 'Bad Step' at the western end of Striding Edge (High Spying How)
*Hayeswater with the Fairfield and Helvellyn Ridges beyond from High Street
Looking towards Bassenthwaite and The Skiddaw Massif from Raise (Helvellyn)
. . . see just 20 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.
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You can also submit photos via our Facebook Page.
NB. Please indicate where each photo was taken and whether you wish us to credit your photos with a Username or your First Name/Last Name.
Not familiar with this top?
