Home   Glossary

Helvellyn

English/Welsh
Quick Facts
This is the height of the mountain above sea level. However, on the climb, it is the ascent that matters, i.e. the sum of all the uphill parts of the route.
Altitude
950 m (3116 ft)

This is the standard notation used on Ordnance Survey Landranger maps.

Each reference consists of two letters identifying a 100,000 metre square block then three digits defining the Easting and finally the three digits defining the Northing with reference to the South West corner of the block.

NN166712 is the grid reference for the summit of Ben Nevis. Where you are given the map number ( For Ben Nevis = 41) it is acceptable to omit the two initial letters e.g. 166712. (Instructions on how to read the references are given on the OS maps).

Grid Ref.
NY34201511
An indication of this mountains height rank within its class. Where two mountains share the same height they are ordered alphabetically.
Stature
n/a
The number of ascent routes currently available on Munromagic.
Routes
2
Mountain names are usually in Gaelic, the native language of the Scottish Highlands, or have been derived from the old Scots and Norse languages. We give the most commonly accepted meaning, but accept that some of these are disputed.
Meaning
Unknown
 

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.

OS Landranger Maps Required
  90   Penrith & Keswick, Ambleside
 

A description of the characteristics of the mountain including any hazards of which you should be aware.

  Description
Helvellyn (3000ft+) is the highest point of a long undulating ridge extending from Grisedale Tarn in the S to Clough Head overlooking the village of Threlkeld, in the Lake District (England). This ridge presents a continuous steep grassy slope to the W, but is broken into a series of craggy corries (‘coves’) with intervening ridges to the E. Ascent routes from the E and S show the topography to best advantage. Helvellyn has four ridges.

The S ridge runs over Nethermost Pike (891m) to Dollywagon Pike (845m). The NW ridge runs to Lower Man (925m) then divides into a NW ridge descending to Thirlmere and a N ridge continuing to Whiteside Bank and other tops ultimately finishing at Clough Head.

The NE ridge (Swirral Edge) connects to Catstye Cam (890m); and the E ridge (Striding Edge) is a fine rocky arête leading to High Spying How (860m contour), then continuing NE as a broad ridge to Birkhouse Moor (700m contour).

The ascent via Striding Edge is a popular Lakeland classic.

Hazards you may encounter on Helvellyn include
 Steep slopes on or near ascent routes.
 Stony/rocky Slopes on or near ascent routes.
 Crags near summit.
 Narrow Ridges, with exposure.
 Scrambling (minor), easy hand and footholds.
 
General Considerations
 Temperature decreases by 1degree C for every 100m of ascent.
 Wind usually increases with altitude.
 Visibility can change markedly with cloud level.
 River/Stream levels can increase markedly in one day.
A special thank you to David S Brown for his work on this and all of the England/Wales information.
Picture Gallery for Helvellyn

Heading up the well worn path on Helvellyn.

© Neil MacLeod
Image by Neil MacLeod

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

Red Tarn and Striding Edge from the ascent onto Helvellyn. July 2011.

© David McSporran
Image by David McSporran

Helvellyn above Red Tarn from Low Spying How at the east end of Striding Ridge. July 2011

© David McSporran
Image by David McSporran
View All 18 Images for Helvellyn

A selection of weather forecasts local to #GetMountain.Top_Name#.

Ordnance Survey digital maps are also available to members.

  Weather & OS Maps
Cumbrian Fells
by MWIS (PDF format) 		Lake District
by Met Office 		Helvellyn
by Metcheck
Helvellyn Area Map
Legend  Munro  Corbett  Graham  English/Welsh Top  Accommodation

A selection of local accommodation options who advertise with Munromagic.com.

  Where to Stay
We currently have no
sponsored accommodation listings for this area.

The summary information of one or more ascent routes that include Helvellyn.

Click on the route title to load the full content for that route.

  Routes that include Helvellyn
  Ascent Distance Time Including... Description Rating
1 950 m 11.32 km 4 hrs Helvellyn  Medium length classic route from Patterdale across narrow Striding Edge (mild exposure, can be avoided on slope to N) then a steep scramble to the summit. Route passes close to crags.  
2 1690 m 20.57 km 7 hrs Helvellyn  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.  
 

Pictures submitted by members on the summit of Helvellyn

  Baggers Gallery for Helvellyn

View from summit Helvellyn 12/07/08

© John Donnelly
Image by John Donnelly

Me at the trig point on Helvellyn

© David S Brown
Image by David S Brown

Jessica on top of Helvellyn

© Peter Howell
Image by Peter Howell

enroute to helvellyn with skiddaw behind

© Jim Nicol
Image by Jim Nicol
 
The logging section stores any entries for Helvellyn in your own log. From here you can
  1. Add a route log entry that includes this mountain
  2. Write a full account of your route including photos
  3. Edit an existing log entry including uploading a GPX file or add a photo
  4. Delete your log entry
  Logging
Your Route Log
You need to be a member to have a route log.
Recently Climbed By
Darran Eccleston on 02 Sep 2023
Chut Wilmington on 07 Aug 2023

If a member has uploaded a tracklog as part of their personal route log and opted to share it then it will be presented here.

You can view a members route overlayed on an online map or download the KMZ file for use in Google Earth.

 Shared Members Track Logs
 
Helvellyn
by David McSporran
Helvellyn
by Willie Parkinson
Helvellyn
by Phillip Ferguson
Helvellyn
by Brian Howarth

Post a few words about Helvellyn or read what others have had to say.

 Comments
 
William Mulholland
wrote on
August 26, 2012
Not as busy as you think, don't do it on a bank holiday!
Derek Turnbull
wrote on
June 27, 2010
No queue yesterday! A perfect day for walking but I only met about 20 people on the entire 10 mile route. Lesson learned: go walking on a Friday afternoon/evening when everyone is preparing for their weekend on the hills :-)
Mike Watson
wrote on
June 14, 2009
Be prepared to queue on Striding Edge!
 
 

A full written account of a climb submitted by our members.

You can prepare your own write up by first making an entry in your route log and then visiting the logging section above.

  Route Write-Ups
There are no Route Write-Ups submitted for Helvellyn
 
Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Contact Us