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The LDNPA car park in Glenridding at the start of the walk. Leave the car park by a footway, signposted Helvellyn via Greenside, which is located at its western end and leads onto Greenside Road |
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Birkhouse Moor from Greenside Road |
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Beyond the Travellers Rest the road divides. The right branch continues uphill towards Rake Cottages from where it becomes a rough track which leads to the Helvellyn Youth Hostel and the disused Greenside Lead Mine. The left branch leads down to Rattlebeck Bridge and Miresbeck |
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Birkhouse Moor from the lane to Rattlebeck Bridge |
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Above Rattlebeck Bridge the lane becomes a rough track which leads up to Miresbeck Cottage, leave it for a footpath running alongside a field wall |
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The footpath leads to a gate in the top intake wall which gives access to the open fellside below the steep north-east ridge of Birkhouse Moor |
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Turn right from the gate and follow a clear path contouring across the north western slopes of Birkhouse Moor |
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Two hundred yards from the gate a waymark post indicates the start of a path which climbs steeply to join the course of a disused water leat. While the main path continues on alongside the intake wall, the upper path has finer views. Both paths eventually re-unite further along the valley |
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Climbing up to the disused water leat below the north-east ridge of Birkhouse Moor |
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Stang and Green Side from the disused water leat |
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Looking back towards Glenridding and Place Fell from the disused water leat |
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Continuing along the disused water leat path which crosses two footbridges as it passes below Blea Cove |
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The first of the footbridges over Bleacove Beck |
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The remains of the old Greenside Lead Mine. Several of the former mine buildings have been converted into an outdoor study centre and bunkhouses |
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As the path begins to turn towards the south-west it's joined by a path from the old mine which crosses a footbridge over Glenridding Beck |
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Catstycam and Helvellyn Lower Man come into view as the path follows the course of Glenridding Beck |
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Looking back towards Sheffield Pike |
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Catstycam from the path alongside Glenridding Beck |
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The path crosses a footbridge over Red Tarn Beck and begins to climb more steeply towards Red Tarn |
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Looking over towards White Side from the path to Red Tarn |
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Looking back towards Sheffield Pike from the path to Red Tarn |
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Catstycam from the path to Red Tarn |
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Looking over to the summit of Raise from the path to Red Tarn |
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The summit of Helvellyn and Swirral Edge come into view as the path levels out on the approach to Red Tarn |
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Looking back towards White Side, Hart Side and Sheffield Pike |
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High Spying How, Striding Edge and Helvellyn |
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Swirral Edge as the path joins the Hole-in-the-Wall path |
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Striding Edge above Red Tarn from the Hole-in-the-Wall path |
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Looking back towards the summit ridge of Birkhouse Moor in the centre. The Hole-in-the-Wall path can be seen on the right |
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Starting the ascent towards Swirral Edge |
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Looking back from the path to Swirral Edge. The Far Eastern fells of Loadpot Hill, Wether Hill, High Raise and Rampsgill Head on the horizon |
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Cloud brushes across the top of Swirral Edge and the summit plateau of Helvellyn |
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High Spying How above Red Tarn |
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Approaching the col between Swirral Edge and Catstycam |
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Striding Edge above Red Tarn |
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Looking back to Catstycam |
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The main path traverses below the initial rock outcrops on the crest of the ridge although some walkers prefer to cross over them on a fainter path |
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Looking down to Red Tarn and the route of ascent from traversing path below the rock outcrops |
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White Side and Raise above Brown Cove from the crest of the ridge |
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Striding Edge above Red Tarn from the crest of the ridge |
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Looking along the crest of the ridge |
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Passing below the largest rock outcrop |
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Looking back from below the largest rock outcrop |
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Approaching Swirral Edge |
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Skiddaw and Blencathra appear on the horizon beyond the summit of Whiteside from the approach to Swirral Edge |
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Red Tarn from the start of Swirral Edge |
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Looking back along the lower part of Swirral Edge |
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Looking down on Brown Cove from the lower part of Swirral Edge |
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Halfway along Swirral Edge, looking up to the steepest part, is a belt of shattered rocks known as 'The Fangs' |
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Red Tarn from halfway along Swirral Edge |
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Approaching The Fangs |
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Skiddaw and Blencathra beyond White Side from The Fangs |
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Looking over towards the summit of Helvellyn |
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Ullswater and Catstycam from the top of The Fangs |
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The final section of Swirral Edge leading up to the summit plateau of Helvellyn |
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Looking over Brown Cove towards Helvellyn Lower Man |
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Skiddaw and Blencathra from near the top of Swirral Edge |
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Looking down on The Fangs from near the top of Swirral Edge |
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Looking over towards Striding Edge from near the top of Swirral Edge |
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The marker cairn on the top of Swirral Edge |
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Looking west from the top of Swirral Edge |
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Helvellyn Lower Man from the top of Swirral Edge |
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Skiddaw and Blencathra from the top of Swirral Edge |
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Catstycam from the top of Swirral Edge |
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Red Tarn from the top of Swirral Edge |
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The summit ridge of Helvellyn from the top of Swirral Edge |
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Red Tarn and Striding Edge from the edge of the summit ridge escarpment |
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The trig column which is sited on the edge of the escarpment midway between Swirral Edge and the summit cairn |
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Looking towards the North Western Fells from the trig column |
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The summit of Helvellyn from the trig column |
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The summit cairn on Helvellyn |
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The connecting ridge to Nethermost Pike and Dollywaggon Pike |
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Coniston Water on the left with the Coniston fells in the centre and Crinkle Crags on the right |
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Crinkle Crags, Bowfell, Esk Pike, Scafell Pike, Great End, Lingmell and Great Gable form the horizon |
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Looking back to the trig column from the summit cairn |
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Swirral Edge from the summit of Helvellyn |
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White Side and Raise over Swirral Edge |
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Catstycam from the summit of Helvellyn |
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Ullswater and Red Tarn from the summit of Helvellyn |
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Striding Edge from the summit of Helvellyn |