Helvellyn


My plan was to walk from Thirlspot Farm, next to The King's Head Inn, up the fell side but to return much later in the day to the Swirls car park near Thirlmere. I parked my motor car in a lay-by on the A591 between those two points and started the walk at 09:28 on 16/09/2015.

The car was facing up the slope towards Thirlmere so I walked in the other direction, back down to the farm. The footpath up the fell side was overgrown with bracken and difficult to follow in places. It was still cold in the deep shadow and I took two photographs, each looking back, as I climbed slowly. By the time I took the second, Thirlmere itself was in view and I was coming out into the sunshine. 		  Motor car in lay-by at the start of the walk Motor car in the lay-by on the A591


Thirlspot Farm Thirlspot Farm   Thirlmere beyond Thirlspot Farm Thirlmere from above Thirlspot


I had intended to take the first footpath to the right that passes above Piketoe Knott but I saw no sign of it on the ground and continued on to pass to the left of a rocky crag. I eventually found a footpath that took me over Brown Crag. I could see walkers further to my left who had come over Raise (2,889ft)and who were heading for Whiteside Bank (2,832ft.) I joined that footpath between Whiteside Bank and Lower Man, where the photograph was taken.

Two photographs of Swirral Edge follow and each shows Ullswater in the distance.

It had taken me just over three hours to reach the summit of Helvellyn (3,116ft.) 		  View of Helvellyn View of Swirral Edge, Helvellyn and Lower Man


Swirral Edge in the shade The shady side of Swirral Edge   Swirral Edge and Ullswater Swirral Edge and Ullswater beyond


Trig Point (3,113ft) The Helvellyn Trig Point (3,113ft)   Summit Cairn (3,116ft) Helvellyn Summit Cairn (3,116ft)



Windbreak and lunch stop The Windbreak and my lunch stop   Helvellyn summit is a popular spot Helvellyn summit is a popular spot


On the descent I forked left before Lower Man and kept above Browncove Crags. You can just see a stone cairn in the distance. Just after that cairn the path descends very steeply with many, many large stone steps.

It was not long before my legs were aching and I really cannot recommend this route. It took me a further two days of gentle walking before I properly recovered.

One advantage of this route were the fine views of Thirlmere and I did get down to the Swirls Wood and the car park quite quickly. I was back at my own car by 16:00 and in the bar of The Kings Head shortly after. 		  Above Browncove Crags The path above Browncove Crags.


The steep descent to Thirlmere Thirlmere and the beginning of that very steep descent


Editor: Peter J. Cosker   peter@the2coskers.com   top of page   Updated: 25/10/2015