Helvellyn Route Information

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Quick Facts

This is the summed total of all the climbing within a route and is a good indicator of the strenuousness of a route.

Total Ascent

5544 ft

An estimate of the time taken based on a derivation of Naismiths rules. Our calculation is based on the horizontal and ascent components of a climb, we do not make a reduction for descent.

Registered users can customise these walking times by specifying their own walking and ascending speeds. They can also add a fixed time period for stoppages.

Route Time

7 hrs

The horizontal distance of the route.

Route Distance

12.8 ml

The UK is covered by 204 Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 scale maps. Maps numbered 1 to 86 cover Scotland but for the highest mountains (Munros) only 23 maps are required. The name given roughly describes the area covered by the map.

You can click on the map name to purchase the map for £6.29 including postage which is one of the cheapest prices we have found.

OS Landranger Maps Required

90	Penrith & Keswick, Ambleside

Only £6.29 (£13.49 Laminated) from

A brief summary of this route.

Our summary will always contain one of easy, moderate or hard to indicate the severity of the route.

Notes

Long S to N traverse route on paths and return by public bus (Keswick-Ambleside regular service), with good pub whilst waiting for bus (or 9km walk). The main and popular track contours below Dollywagon Pike and Nethermost Pike, leaving these quiet.

Here we provide the nearest town to the start of the route where you will find basic services.

We then give directions from that location to the route start. Your approach route may differ.

Travel Information

Head to: Ambleside

From Ambleside follow A591 NW for 7.5km and park near Mill Bridge, 200m beyond the Travellers Rest pub.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 5,544 feet. Allow 7 hours to complete this 12.8 mile route.

Usually the shortest way to climb the mountain, making best use of tracks and paths to gain altitude. Route navigation requires map reading skills and an ability to navigate with a compass.

The information given here will enable you to annotate your map and plan your route. We do not give anecdotal descriptions on where to find the paths, worn by the feet of previous mountaineers.

Where the access routes are few or the ridge is narrow, paths are generally obvious. On open ground, following paths without using your compass may get you lost in poor visibility.

Route Information

Waypoint Detail

	Park near Mill Bridge, which crosses Tongue Gill 200m N of Travellers Rest pub
		NY33600920	Distance	Altitude 344 ft

1	Ascend path NNE to W of stream and W of Great Tongue to where path turns E
		NY34321098	Distance 1.2 miles	Altitude 1584 ft

2	Follow path E turning NE to junction
		NY34851125	Distance 0.4 miles	Altitude 1722 ft

3	Head N past Seat Sandal to Grisedale Hause
		NY34891168	Distance 0.3 miles	Altitude 1916 ft

4	Descend NNE to Grisdale Tarn and cross outflow stream
		NY35211219	Distance 0.4 miles	Altitude 1765 ft

5	Walk WNW 220m to bottom of conspicuous zigzag ascent path.
		NY35011225	Distance 0.1 miles	Altitude 1811 ft

6	Ascend path to gain S ridge of Dollywagon Pike where path levels.
		NY34621283	Distance 0.6 miles	Altitude 2673 ft

7	Continue ascent N to summit of Dollywagon Pike (858m).
		NY34621308	Distance 0.2 miles	Altitude 2814 ft

8	Follow ridge of Dollywagon Pike WNW for 270m
		NY34361315	Distance 0.2 miles	Altitude 2683 ft

9	Rejoin conspicuous track and continue N across col onto broad S ridge of Nethermost Pike
		NY34221396	Distance 0.5 miles	Altitude 2864 ft

10	Detour NNE to top of Nethermost Pike (891m).
		NY34371419	Distance 0.2 miles	Altitude 2923 ft

11	Descend N ridge of Nethermost Pike NNE to col and regain main path
		NY34281450	Distance 0.2 miles	Altitude 2828 ft

12	Ascend N turning NW on path to summit of Helvellyn (3000ft+)
		NY34201511	Distance 0.4 miles	Altitude 3116 ft

13	Follow path 180m NW to cairn
		NY34091525	Distance 0.1 miles	Altitude 3083 ft

14	Descend WNW gently on broad NW ridge of Helvellyn
		NY33171570	Distance 0.6 miles	Altitude 2788 ft

15	Descend steeply NW to path junction (white painted boulder)
		NY32751625	Distance 0.5 miles	Altitude 1935 ft

16	Go right and follow gently descending path NNW (marked by white-painted boulders) to path junctions.
		NY32121788	Distance 1.1 miles	Altitude 951 ft

17	Descend W to Kings Head Inn, Thirlspot. Check times of bus service for Ambleside/Windermere at bus shelter
		NY31711772	Distance 0.3 miles	Altitude 606 ft

18	Return to start by bus (regular service); or walk 8.9km S along A591 road over Dunmail Raise.
		NY33600920	Distance 5.5 miles	Altitude 344 ft

A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.

Weather

Cumbrian Fells
by MWIS (PDF format)

Lake District
by Met Office

Helvellyn
by Metcheck

Images of Helvellyn

Approaching the trig point on Helvellyn. In deep Winter a dangerous cornice can develop here, and fatalities on this mountain are mostly when the inexperienced stray onto its edge causing it to collapse.

© David S Brown

Image by David S Brown

View North from Cofa Pike (Fairfield) across Grisedale to Dollywagon Pike and the ridge leading to Helvellyn (right).

© David S Brown

Image by David S Brown

the cairn on helvellyn

© Jim Nicol

Image by Jim Nicol

Helvellyn from Catstye Cam. July 2011.

© David McSporran

Image by David McSporran

Route Area Map

Legend

Munro

Corbett

Graham

English/Welsh Top

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Disclaimer. The details provided above are an aid to planning an expedition, but all distances, altitudes and bearings must be considered approximate. You must navigate with the appropriate map, a compass, your navigation skills and common sense, MunroMagic.com accept no responsibility for your interpretation of our route information.

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