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.
Not familiar with this top?
You can walk/hike to the top of Helvellyn by using any of these 12 easy‑to‑follow route maps:
Walk c432 Helvellyn from Thirlmere
The 'easiest' way up Lakeland's most climbed mountain
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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
Walk c427 Helvellyn via Striding Edge (High Spying How) from Patterdale
Lakeland's 3rd highest via the infamous Striding Edge
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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
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) |
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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
Walk c113 Helvellyn from Thirlmere
Lakeland's most popular mountain
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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.
Walk c220 Helvellyn via Striding Edge (High Spying How) 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) |
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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
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) |
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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.
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) |
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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
Walk c394 Helvellyn, Catstye Cam and Sheffield Pike from Glenridding
Superb high level walk
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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
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) |
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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
Walk c286 The Glenridding Skyline from Glenridding
Superb high level walk
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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
Walk c192 Helvellyn Ridge from Glenridding
An exhilarating high ridge walk
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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
Walk c264 The Grisedale Round from Patterdale
Superb high level ridge walk
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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 unique, downloadable, PDF Peak Bagging Maps:
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, scaled, summited, hiked & bagged Helvellyn
Sarah Moore walked up Helvellyn on December 31st, 2025 [from/via/route] My own Hellvellyn route - from Glenridding up the zig zag to WhiteSide. I didn't want to do the edges & given the wind & conditions it was a very good decision. Across the ridge from Whiteside along to Dollywaggon Pike & then down to Grisedale Tarn & back along the valley. [with] My, myself and I. More people about - certainly on the tops it's something I was grateful for. [weather] Great winter conditions. Started off thinking I was going to get the morning colours, then when the cloud came I thought I might get a cloud inversion. Instead I got strong winds & cloud that reduced visibility at the top to not much. - This one pushed me - it was just so cold. Again, felt slow going up to Whiteside & I have to stop regularly but then the time overall isn't bad & the wind was truly ferocious & I was walking into it almost from constantly from Glenridding YHA to the top. Very glad I did this route & missed the edges - great to be able to do it myself & a lovely box ticked.
Tim Winn climbed it on April 4th, 2025 [from/via/route] Glenridding [with] Barry, Paul, Roger, Dave and Andy Last [weather] Dry. Sunny.
Nick Tippins bagged it on December 31st, 2019 [from/via/route] Helvellyn Circular from Glenridding via Birkhouse Moor, Striding Edge, & Catstye Cam [with] Fran
Hazel Gilbert hiked Helvellyn on May 12th, 2017 [with] Lawrence
Vincent Clarke summited on May 31st, 2024 [from/via/route] Glenridding on route to Helvlynn [with] Chopper [weather] Early morning
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
Clouds rolling in over Fairfield (left), Dollywaggon Pike and Nethermost Pike from Helvellyn
Swirral Edge, Catstye Cam, Red Tarn (Helvellyn) and Ullswater from the summit of Helvellyn
*Little Langdale with the Langdale Pikes, Helvellyn and Fairfield beyond from Wetherlam
Myself, Emma Cooper & Rachel Hargreaves on the summit of Helvellyn after tackling Striding Edge (High Spying How)
Catstye Cam (left), Helvellyn (centre) and Lower Man (Helvellyn) (right) from near White Side
Mike, Tim and Shaun at the summit trig point on a very wet Helvellyn - I swear there were seals on the summit!
Striding Edge (High Spying How), Helvellyn and Red Tarn from below Swirral Edge
*Hayeswater with the Fairfield and Helvellyn Ridges beyond from High Street
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) (left), Helvellyn and Swirral Edge (right) from above Hole-in-the-Wall
Striding Edge (High Spying How) from Swallow Scarth, between Helvellyn and Nethermost Pike
*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
Helvellyn Summit flanked by Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left) and Swirral Edge (right) from Hole-in-the-Wall in the snow
Nethermost Pike, Helvellyn and Striding Edge (High Spying How) from High Crag (Helvellyn)
*Lakeland panorama featuring a snow-topped Helvellyn (centre left) and Fairfield (centre right) from above Grasmere
The Howitzer on Helm Crag with Helvellyn and The Pass of Dunmail Raise beyond
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
Myself, Emma Cooper & Rachel Hargreaves descending Helvellyn via Swirral Edge
Striding Edge (High Spying How), Helvellyn, Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam from Birkhouse Moor
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
Helvellyn (left), Swirral Edge and Red Tarn (Helvellyn) from the approach to Striding Edge (High Spying How) near Hole-in-the-Wall
A very grumpy Shaun post walk in Glenridding after scaling Helvellyn via Striding Edge (High Spying How) on a very, very wet day!
Grisedale Hause, Dollywaggon Pike (centre), Nethermost Pike, Helvellyn and Striding Edge (High Spying How) (far right) from Great Rigg
*Codale Tarn (left) and Easedale Tarn from the Blea Rigg ridge with Helvellyn (left), Seat Sandal (centre) and Fairfield (right) on the horizon
*The Helvellyn summit ridge, Whiteside, Thirlmere and Watson's Dodd from Raise (Helvellyn) summit
Steel Fell, Gibson Knott and Helm Crag below Seat Sandal (with Helvellyn and Fairfield in mist beyond) from Tarn Crag summit cairn
Red Tarn (Helvellyn) with Catstye Cam beyond from Striding Edge (High Spying How)
Lesley and the 2 Cocker Spaniels, Millie and Monty, on Helvellyn in November 2011
Sunset on Helvellyn, Fairfield (centre) and Seat Sandal from High Seat (Ashness Fell)
Catstye Cam, White Side and Raise (Helvellyn) from the summit of Birkhouse Moor
Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left) and Helvellyn from the approach to Hole-in-the-Wall
This is me scrambling to the summit of Helvellyn after surviving Striding Edge (High Spying How)!
Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left), Helvellyn and Catstye Cam from the Birkhouse Moor
Helvellyn, Red Tarn, Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam from Striding Edge (High Spying How)
The Wythburn Fells (left) Thirlmere, Helvellyn (in mist) and Seat Sandal (right) from Steel Fell (Dead Pike)
Cofa Pike and Fairfield from High Crag (Helvellyn) with Red Screes in the distance
Striding Edge (High Spying How) and Helvellyn (in mist) with Birkhouse Moor in front, Catstycam and Sheffield Pike from Gowbarrow Fell (Airy Crag)
Dollywaggon Pike, Nethermost Pike and Helvellyn from Cofa Pike near the summit of Fairfield
Striding Edge (High Spying How), (left), Helvellyn and Catstye Cam (right) from Birkhouse Moor
Striding Edge (High Spying How) and Helvellyn above Red Tarn from the col between Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam
Catstye Cam (centre) with Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left), Helvellyn and Lower Man (Helvellyn) (right) in the background from Sheffield Pike
Helvellyn from the 'Bad Step' at the western end of Striding Edge (High Spying How)
Striding Edge (High Spying How), Helvellyn, Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam from Hole-in-the-Wall
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
Catstye Cam (shoulder left) and Raise (Helvellyn) above Keppel Cove from Red Tarn Beck in the snow
Swirral Edge and Red Tarn (Helvellyn) from Striding Edge (High Spying How)
Helvellyn (centre left) and Seat Sandal (right) above The Pass of Dunmail Raise from Helm Crag
The Helvellyn Ridge featuring Dollywaggon Pike, Nethermost Pike, Helvellyn and Striding Edge (High Spying How) from Fairfield
Grisedale with Birks beyond from near the Hole-in-the-wall between Birkhouse Moor and Helvellyn
Red Tarn (Helvellyn) and Striding Edge (High Spying How) from Helvellyn summit
Chelmsford YHA members on Fairfield looking to Helvellyn, Striding Edge (High Spying How) and Catstycam
Helvellyn from Hole-in-the-Wall at the start of Striding Edge (High Spying How)
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
Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left), Helvellyn and Catstye Cam from Birkhouse Moor
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)
The Helvellyn Massiff under a deep blanket of snow from the lower slopes
of Pike of Blisco (Pike o' Blisco)
Striding Edge (High Spying How) and Red Tarn (Helvellyn) from the summit of Helvellyn
Glenridding and The Helvellyn Massiff from Long Crag on the shores of Ullswater
Approaching Striding Edge (High Spying How) and Helvellyn via Low Spying How and Bleaberry Crag
Dave Munro and Red Tarn from Helvellyn with Striding Edge (High Spying How) beyond
Looking towards Bassenthwaite and The Skiddaw Massif from Raise (Helvellyn)
*Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left), Helvellyn, Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam (far right) from near Hole-in-the-wall
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
Family group having completed Striding Edge (High Spying How) before the last pull up to Helvellyn.
Looking up Grisedale to St Sunday Crag & Fairfield (left), Grisedale Hause, Dollywaggon Pike, High Crag (Helvellyn) & Nethermost Pike from below Hole-in-the-Wall
Birkhouse Moor summit cairn - with Striding Edge (High Spying How), Helvellyn, Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam beyond
Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left) and Helvellyn from near Hole-in-the-wall
Me and my father John at the summit of Helvellyn at the beginning of Feb 2012
Helvellyn, Swirral Edge and Red Tarn taken from Hole-in-the-Wall at the beginning of Striding Edge (High Spying How)
Red Tarn (Helvellyn) and Striding Edge (High Spying How) in all it's glory from Helvellyn
Me (in orange jacket) and my mate Neil on our way to the top of Helvellyn on a drizzly and bitterly cold day.
Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left), Helvellyn and Catstye Cam from the summit of Birkhouse Moor
Striding Edge (High Spying How) basking in glorious September Sun viewed from Helvellyn
Glenridding Dodd (left), Ullswater and Place Fell from near Hole-in-the-Wall on the lower slopes of Helvellyn
. . . see just 10 walk photographs & pictures of views from, on, or of, Helvellyn
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