 |
| The King's Head Hotel , a former 17th century coaching inn, at Thirlspot. There is layby parking a few hundred yards to the south of the hotel |
 |
| The route starts to the right of the hotel passing between the buildings of Thirlspot Farm and through the fields beyond it to gain the open fellside |
 |
| A gate at the far side of the lower field gives access to a bridge over the Thirlmere Reservoir water race |
 |
| Looking across the lower field through St. John's in the Vale to Blencathra |
 |
| Looking along the water race which was constructed to capture and divert water into Thirlmere Reservior from streams which had formerly flowed northwards into St. John's Beck |
 |
| A clear path continues on above the intake wall. This is the start of the old Pony Route to Helvellyn once popular with guests of the King's Head in Victorian times. This route and the White Stones Route from Thirlspot are now seldom used to ascend Helvellyn |
 |
| The path soon moves away from the intake wall to make a rising traverse across the steep fellside |
 |
| Looking back to Thirlspot from the Pony Route |
 |
| After 800ft of ascent a curious L-shaped section of ruined wall is reached, this marks the end of the steepest part of the climb |
 |
| Looking down to Thirlmere from the ruined wall |
 |
| Blencathra from the ruined wall |
 |
| From the ruined wall easier grass slopes lead on towards the base of Brown Crag seen here on the right |
 |
| Looking across to Scafell Pike and Great Gable |
 |
| Looking back along the Pony Route path to High Rigg and Skiddaw |
 |
| A way can made up through the steep rocks of Brown Crag but it's easier to continue on the Pony Route which keeps to the left of the crags |
 |
| On reaching a marker cairn below the east slopes of Brown Crag, White Side comes into view |
 |
| Looking back from the marker cairn |
 |
| The rock outcrops which mark the summit of Brown Crag are easily reached by a short diversion from the Pony Route |
 |
| Helvellyn Lower Man and Browncove Crags from the summit of Brown Crag |
 |
| The Coniston Fells on the horizon, viewed from the summit of Brown Crag |
 |
| Bowfell, Esk Pike, Scafell Pike, Lingmell, Great Gable, Kirk Fell and Red Pike on the horizon |
 |
| The North Western Fells above the High Seat ~ Bleaberry Fell ridge |
 |
| High Rigg and the Skiddaw group from the summit of Brown Crag |
 |
| Blencathra from the summit of Brown Crag |
 |
| Stybarrow Dodd from the summit of Brown Crag |
 |
| Heading back to rejoin the Pony Route which becomes more indistinct after it crosses the col between Brown Crag and White Side. A clearer path can be seen leaving it to make a direct climb up the north western slope of White Side |
 |
| The summit of Raise from the Pony Route |
 |
| Looking back to the summit of Brown Crag from the point where the White Side path leaves the Pony Route |
 |
| After a short, but steep climb, of a scree slope the summit of White Side comes into view. The path fades but a line of cairns help guide the walker in poor visibility . . . no such worries today! |
 |
| Looking back from the upper slopes of White Side, the summit of Brown Crag lies directly below |
 |
| Looking across to Watson's Dodd, Great Dodd and Stybarrow Dodd |
 |
| Great Gable and Pillar from the upper slopes of White Side |
 |
| Almost level with the col between Raise and White Side now as the path climbs a final scree slope below the summit |
 |
| The summit cairn comes into view |
 |
| The summit of White Side |
 |
| Looking west from the summit of White Side, Pillar and High Stile prominent on the centre skyline |
 |
| The North Western Fells from the summit of White Side |
 |
| High Rigg and Skiddaw |
 |
| Lonscale Fell, Great Calva and Blencathra |
 |
| Watson's Dodd, Great Dodd and Stybarrow Dodd |
 |
| Raise from the summit of White Side |
 |
| Cross Fell with Little and Great Dun Fell on the left stand clear of the mist shrouding the Pennines. In the middle distance, the tops of Sheffield Pike and Place Fell with Arthur's Pike, Bonscale Pike and Loadpot Hill appearing above them |
 |
| A long line of the Far Eastern Fells on the horizon from Wether Hill to High Street |
 |
| Catstycam to the south east |
 |
| Browncove Crags |
