Helvellyn circuit

[Coop]

Great day 7 wainwrights/ 5 Hewitts in the circuit
Followed the route as described in the Peak Bagging Wainwrights book to the letter today, although Chris headed back down after Raise at the quarry, whereas I continued the route over the last 2
Met Chris at Glenridding and were walking by 9.

Heading up and looking back to Ullswater

Up over Birkhouse Moor ( both cairns) and along and down to Red tarn and a wee break before the short pull up to Catstycam and some nice views.
Swirral edge and its scramble was next , and it was a good wee scramble up to the summit ridge.

Chris reaching the top of swirral edge to join me , finally hands free. A good scramble

Along past the trig , obligatory photos at the cairn

On helvellyn summit

and a wee break in the x shaped wind shelter.

Hello to the 2 blokes from the County Durham area, enjoyed the banter.
Busy summit, busy hills,
Along past lower man, up to White side, down and up to Raise and then a visit to The ski slope/toe area and hut.

Me and Chris on Raise

From here the population on the hills became very sparse ie, hardly saw anyone on Sheffield or Glenridding Dodd.
No path from here to the quarry and felt like like home, bashing through the heather on some smaller hills now.
Chris went back at this point and we met back up at the car park when I got down.
Boggy pull up to Sheffield pike next and a good look back at today's route and hills.

From Sheffield pike looking over todays hills

Good wee boggy path from here down round upto todays final hill/ summit of Glenridding Dodd.

On Glenridding Dodd- reflecting !!

Back to the car park , visit to the shop for a bottle of Helvellyn gold bitter , wee catch up with Chris , and then drive back up north.
It wasn't the 7 on The South Glenshiel Ridge
, but I set out to do 7 and did 7. Great day great company , cheers again Chris, beautiful area .
Falling in love with the lake district. It's all geared towards tourists and walkers, hence why its busy on the hills.
Hopefully won't be too long until I'm back down again for another circuit of hills.
All in all a good weekend - take care out there

[Pointless Parasite]

Great route. Did exactly the same thing about 5 years ago but in wintery conditions. On the climb up Swirrel edge, there was a serious danger of being knocked over by one of the many casual walkers out with no crampons, ice axe etc.

[Coop]

Great route. Did exactly the same thing about 5 years ago but in wintery conditions. On the climb up Swirrel edge, there was a serious danger of being knocked over by one of the many casual walkers out with no crampons, ice axe etc.

There was one lad who wouldn't move yesterday when he was descending - looked a tad petrified.
I was above him trying to coax him to move - his pals ended up coming back up for him to get him to move.

There's a lot of crampon scars on those rocks on Swirral edge!!

[gld73]

Looks a great route that, and gets a few Wainwrights ticked off to boot - might need to head that way next time I take the car down to Cumbria, I've gone by train the last couple of times so did coastal walks instead of heading into the Lake District.

Is getting all the Wainwrights done your next target Coop?

[Coop]

Looks a great route that, and gets a few Wainwrights ticked off to boot - might need to head that way next time I take the car down to Cumbria, I've gone by train the last couple of times so did coastal walks instead of heading into the Lake District.

Is getting all the Wainwrights done your next target Coop?

I'll finish the Donalds and thats the lists done 😄
I enjoy the lake district, its busy but i love the area now.
Always wanted to do helvellyn, Blencartha and scafell pike. That's them done but it's opened my eyes to a lot of good circuits.
Getting the Peak Bagging Wainwrights book helps with the plannings. Allows quite a few peaks to be done in a manageable day.
Hopefully be down there for a couple again this year.

How you keeping now G.
Any plans this year