Helvellyn (extend for Nethermost Pike & Dollywaggon Pike)
Park at: Swirl Car Park Thirlmere (pay and display car park with toilets)
Distance: 5 mile in total returning same way or 15 mile circular route
Duration: 3.5 - 4 hours returning same way or 7-8 hours circular route
Height: 950m / 3,117 ft
Wainwright height ranking: 3 of 214
This is considered to be the shortest and easiest route to climb Helvellyn. It avoids the more difficult scrambling experience of Striding Edge and Swirrel Edge.
1) Exit the back of Swirl Car Park along a path signposted Helvellyn.
2) Cross the wooden bridge over Helvellyn Gill. Go through a gate and walk up the stony path beside the ghyll.
3) Go through a second gate and over a small bridge. Turn right over a second bridge shortly after signposted Helvellyn 2 miles.
4) Continue up to cross a large wooden bridge. Continue further up the path and soon go through a gate. Follow the engineered stone path which becomes more stepped as you climb higher.
5) Around an hour and half into your journey the path will take the form of large rocks as you reach what appeared to be the summit from the bottom.
6) Once over the rock area, the path flattens out before ascending more gently again on the final stretch to the summit.
7) From the summit you can choose to simply retrace your steps or alternatively follow the extended circular route below back to the start visiting two more Wainwrights along the way, Nethermost Pike and Dollywaggon Pike- see 8)
8) Follow the main ridge path south from Helvellyn summit until it forks, take the left most branch and follow it south along the cliff edge to Nethermost Pike marker with a cairn.
9) Continue in the same direction before arriving at Dollywaggon Pike also marked with a cairn.
10) From Dollywaggon Pike continue in the same direction and descend the steep zig zag steps to Grisedale Tarn.
11) Before reaching the tarn branch off turning right across a grassy path following the line of the tarn until you reach the head of a beck called Raise Beck.
12) Join the path on the left side of Raise Beck and follow it down towards the A591 road in the distance.
13) Before reaching the road turn right and follow a signposted public footpath. You will need to cross over the beck to reach this footpath.
14) The path will wind up and down through the mountainous forest with the A591 in sight below. Continue along the path for around 3 miles before reaching Swirls Car Park.