Tagged by "Swirrell Edge"
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Helvellyn by Striding & Swirrel Edges with Catstye Cam & Red Tarn.
(route)
Allow 8 hours for this walk.
From the Patterdale car park follow the road NW for 250m to a junction with a small unclassified road to the E. Take this road and follow it climbing gently and then leveling off into the valley of Grisedale to a gate. At the gate turn N and follow the road to its end and the start of a well marked path up the N side of the valley. This path turns W and steadilly climes the N side of the valey until the steep rise to Hole in the Wall is reached. The strenuous climb to Hole in the Wall and the stile to Stiding Edge is rewarded with fantastic views of Grisedale to the E, Nethermost Pike to the S and Helvellyn summit across Striding Edge. This is a good spot for a short rest before tackling the edge.
Striding Edge should not be taken lightly, it is a difficult and dangerous scramble, more so in poor weather!
A well deserved rest at the summit on the sheltered stone seating area and some lunch will set you up for the tricky decent of Swirrel Edge. At the base of Swirrel you then have the option to climb to the summit of Catstye Cam which offers great views of Sheffield Pike to the NE over Glenridding Common. Descend to Red Tarn where tired feet can be refreshed in the freezing water.
Follow the path back towards Hole in the Wall and then along the gentle climb NE with the wall on your right.
The steady descent is followed all the way to the campsite at Glenridding and along the lane at its rear and follows Glenridding Beck into the town. The lane into the town has a choice of a couple of tes rooms and joins the main road SSW back to the carpark.
