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

Helvellyn
950m (3118ft)

The Eastern Fells, The Lake District, Cumbria, England


Tap/mouse over a coloured circle (1-3 easy walks, 4-6 moderate walks, 7-9 hard walks) and click to select.



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:
Walking Boot Print Icon

Walk c432 Helvellyn from Thirlmere

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

Walk GPS Icon
Walk GPX Icon
Walk PDF Icon

Vital Statistics:

Length: 5ml (8km)
Ascent:2,649ft (807m)
Time:4½ hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 6 Icon (Moderate)
Walking Boot Print Icon

Walk c427 Helvellyn via Striding Edge from Patterdale

Lakeland's 3rd highest via the infamous Striding Edge

Walk GPS Icon
Walk GPX Icon
Walk PDF Icon

Vital Statistics:

Length: 8ml (12.5km)
Ascent:2,990ft (911m)
Time:6 hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 6 Icon (Moderate)
Walking Boot Print Icon

Walk c213 Helvellyn from Glenridding

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

Walk GPS Icon
Walk GPX Icon
Walk PDF Icon

Vital Statistics:

Length: 8.5ml (13.5km)
Ascent:3,278ft (999m)
Time:6½ hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 7 Icon (Hard)
Walking Boot Print Icon

Walk c113 Helvellyn from Thirlmere

Lakeland's most popular mountain

Walk GPS Icon
Walk GPX Icon
Walk PDF Icon

Vital Statistics:

Length: 8.75ml (14km)
Ascent:3,296ft (1,005m)
Time:6½ hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 7 Icon (Hard)
Walking Boot Print Icon

Walk c220 Helvellyn via Striding Edge from Glenridding

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

Walk GPS Icon
Walk GPX Icon
Walk PDF Icon

Vital Statistics:

Length: 10ml (16km)
Ascent:3,382ft (1,031m)
Time:7 hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 7 Icon (Hard)
Walking Boot Print Icon

Walk c124 Helvellyn Ridge from Thirlmere

Lakeland's most popular mountain with a fine ridge walk

Walk GPS Icon
Walk GPX Icon
Walk PDF Icon

Vital Statistics:

Length: 10.5ml (17km)
Ascent:3,575ft (1,090m)
Time:7½ hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 7 Icon (Hard)
Walking Boot Print Icon

Walk c224 Helvellyn via Swirral Edge and Raise from Glenridding

Lakeland's most popular via the easier Swirral Edge

Walk GPS Icon
Walk GPX Icon
Walk PDF Icon

Vital Statistics:

Length: 10.75ml (17km)
Ascent:3,449ft (1,051m)
Time:7.25hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 7 Icon (Hard)
Walking Boot Print Icon

Walk c394 Helvellyn, Catstye Cam and Sheffield Pike from Glenridding

Superb high level walk

Walk GPS Icon
Walk GPX Icon
Walk PDF Icon

Vital Statistics:

Length: 10ml (16km)
Ascent:4,020ft (1,225m)
Time:8 hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 8 Icon (Hard)
Walking Boot Print Icon

Walk c269 The Grisedale Horseshoe from Patterdale

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

Walk GPS Icon
Walk GPX Icon
Walk PDF Icon

Vital Statistics:

Length: 11.5ml (18.5km)
Ascent:4,582ft (1,396m)
Time:8.75hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 8 Icon (Hard)
Walking Boot Print Icon

Walk c286 The Glenridding Skyline from Glenridding

Superb high level walk

Walk GPS Icon
Walk GPX Icon
Walk PDF Icon

Vital Statistics:

Length: 11.5ml (18.5km)
Ascent:4,418ft (1,346m)
Time:8½ hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 8 Icon (Hard)
Walking Boot Print Icon

Walk c192 Helvellyn Ridge from Glenridding

An exhilarating high ridge walk

Walk GPS Icon
Walk GPX Icon
Walk PDF Icon

Vital Statistics:

Length: 13ml (21km)
Ascent:4,359ft (1,329m)
Time:9.25hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 8 Icon (Hard)
Walking Boot Print Icon

Walk c264 The Grisedale Round from Patterdale

Superb high level ridge walk

Walk GPS Icon
Walk GPX Icon
Walk PDF Icon

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

Hazel Gilbert walked up Helvellyn on May 12th, 2017 [with] Lawrence

Vincent Clarke climbed Helvellyn on May 31st, 2024 [from/via/route] Glenridding on route to Helvlynn [with] Chopper [weather] Early morning

Daniel Moran bagged Helvellyn on June 20th, 2024 [from/via/route] Bagged a few times [with] chel wardy

Kate Peacock hiked 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 summited 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 conquered 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 scaled Helvellyn on July 7th, 2021 [from/via/route] Helvellyn from Thirlmere

David Higginbottom walked up Helvellyn on November 16th, 2018 [from/via/route] Striding edge [with] Carolyn [weather] Good

Iain Jones climbed 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 bagged 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.

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

My husband just before tackling Sstriding Edge on Helvellyn

My husband just before tackling Sstriding Edge on Helvellyn

Photo: Kaz Bridges (1)

Starting the climb from Striding Edge up onto Helvellyn

Starting the climb from Striding Edge up onto Helvellyn

Photo: Terry Maddocks (3)

Swirral Edge, Catstye Cam and Red Tarn from Helvellyn

Swirral Edge, Catstye Cam and Red Tarn from Helvellyn

Photo: Alan Wainwright (35)

On Striding Edge on the way to Helvellyn

On Striding Edge on the way to Helvellyn

Photo: Alan Wainwright (20)

Helvellyn from the 'Bad Step' at the western end of Striding Edge

Helvellyn from the 'Bad Step' at the western end of Striding Edge

Photo: Alan Wainwright (30)

*Striding Edge and Helvellyn from Nethermost Pike

*Striding Edge and Helvellyn from Nethermost Pike

Photo: Ian McCutcheon (16)

Darryl at the top of Helvellyn

Darryl at the top of Helvellyn

Photo: Nanci Moll (3)

Helvellyn above Thirlmere from Raven Crag (Thirlmere)

Helvellyn above Thirlmere from Raven Crag (Thirlmere)

Photo: Rob Barklamb (39)

Striding Edge from the top of Helvellyn

Striding Edge from the top of Helvellyn

Photo: Iain Macdonald (4)

Striding Edge from the top of Swirral Edge on Helvellyn

Striding Edge from the top of Swirral Edge on Helvellyn

Photo: Gerry Ball (12)

Swirral Edge from Helvellyn

Swirral Edge from Helvellyn

Photo: William Ringwood (41)

The Helvellyn and Fairfield Massif from Dale Head (Newlands)

The Helvellyn and Fairfield Massif from Dale Head (Newlands)

Photo: Rob Barklamb (34)

Striding Edge, Helvellyn, Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam from Birkhouse Moor

Striding Edge, Helvellyn, Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam from Birkhouse Moor

Photo: Andy Malcolm (7)

Me and my father John at the summit of Helvellyn at the beginning of Feb 2012

Me and my father John at the summit of Helvellyn at the beginning of Feb 2012

Photo: Helen Robinson (1)

The Helvellyn Massiff under a deep blanket of snow from the lower slopes<br>of Pike of Blisco (Pike o' Blisco)

The Helvellyn Massiff under a deep blanket of snow from the lower slopes
of Pike of Blisco (Pike o' Blisco)

Photo: Simon Barnett (57)

On the summit of Helvellyn

On the summit of Helvellyn

Photo: Dean Richardson (6)

*Striding Edge (left), Helvellyn, Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam (far right) from near Hole-in-the-wall

*Striding Edge (left), Helvellyn, Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam (far right) from near Hole-in-the-wall

Photo: Richard Heeley (4)

Angle Tarn with the Helvellyn range beyond

Angle Tarn with the Helvellyn range beyond

Photo: Chris Haselden (6)


. . . 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.






Follow go4awalk.com on Twitter Follow go4awalk.com on Facebook


Home






Find new Friends to go walking with

Walk all 214 Wainwrights in just 59 Walks. Download GPS Waypoints - Great Walks you must not miss!

Walk The Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge Walk - All the Latest Route Information, GPS Waypoints and Split Times to keep you on Schedule

Walk The British Three Peaks Challenge Walk - All the Latest Route Information and GPS Waypoints

See our pick of The Best Walks in The Lake District - Great Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of the Best Lake District Ridge Walks - Great Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of the Best Lake District Walks to do in the rain - Great Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of The Best Walks in Snowdonia - Great Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of The Best Ridge Walks in Wales - Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of The Best Walks in The Brecon Beacons - Great Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of The Best Walks in The Yorkshire Dales - Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of The Best Walks in The Peak District - Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of The Best Walks in The Forest of Bowland - Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of The Best Walks in Shropshire - Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of The Best Walks in Cheshire - Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of The Best Walks in Lancashire - Walks you must not miss!

Not sure where to walk next? Try Peak Bagging - Great Walks you must not miss!

Not sure where to walk next? Walk part of a National Trail - Great Walks you must not miss!

Walks with Downloadable and Uploadable GPS Waypoint Data

Walking Kit and Gear Tested by Walkers

Full Site Search