Helvellyn Hike

My friends and I decided to walk up Helvellyn, from the summit this mountain overlooks Keswick and the path down comes into the village of Glenridding in Patterdale.

The path up to striding edge of Helvellyn
The path up to striding edge of Helvellyn

When I started out the day from our accommodation at BLAKEBECK FARM CAMPING BARN I was unaware of just how cold it was going to be up Helvellyn Mountain. Wearing leggings and running trainers was, and still is, the biggest mistake of my life. When we got out the car it seemed only slightly cold- a kind of pleasant temperature-, and after only a small struggle finding cash for the car park, we headed up the mountain.

The path up the mountain Helvellyn
The path up the mountain Helvellyn

The path we took at first lead up a slightly sloping road from the village; tired within the first ten minutes, I realized I should probably use these running trainers more. I have to admit this everlasting, slightly sloped, village road did start to get rather boring, but after I while we stepped out onto a foot path and looked up at giant Helvellyn looming above us. Walking mountains may seem painful before hand, but when you are there, first person, witnessing the ancient giant in all of it’s glory, it is definitely worth it. The pictures in this blog (or any pictures ever) can not do it justice- I guess you’ll have to witness it yourself to find out.

View of Glenridding from Helvellyn
View of Glenridding from Helvellyn

We followed a large stream up Helvellyn mountain. Our idea was to cross it at some point and carry on up a neighboring mountain, but there didn’t seem to be a way of crossing without getting our swimming costumes out- and trust me, a mountain is no place for a bikini.

Instead of crossing the river we thought we might find a way of shortening our hike by just carrying on up the mountain we were on. When I looked up I could see the tip of the mountain was covered in pure untouched snow. This was extremely exciting as, living in our beautiful green country, we don’t get much snow.

Way up Helvellyn
Way up Helvellyn

Soon we stopped for lunch, which was very fun indeed, but by the time we stood up to carry on our walk I had lost any remaining body heat, and being so high the temperature had really started to drop.picnic

The snow was fun! We could throw snowballs and all that winter stuff, that someone *glares at Britain* fails to provide. The further up we went the deeper the snow got- the further it got up my unprotected legs. It wasn’t that deep, but deep enough that my shoes were puddles and my legs like icicles.

The view when we reached the top of Helvellyn was outstanding. You could see for miles in almost every direction. Thick snow covering everything I recognized a corrie and a tarn. For those who don’t pay attention in their geography classes, a corrie is a small dip in a mountain, often with a small round lake in the middle, called a tarn. Although geography isn’t my favorite subject, it was extremely interesting to see what my teacher gets so excited about.tarn at the top 3

On the way down we decided to take a “short cut”, that was probably just as long and as the other option, but we were rewarded with great views of the village of Glenridding.  Just up the valley of Patterdale from Glen ridding is  SHEPHERDS CROOK BUNKHOUSE which provides accommodation, so that would be a good base for you if you wanted to do this walk.  The ground beneath my feet was basically an icy stream that burnt my toes, but the snowy mountains and pretty village below and around us was breath taking.view of Glenridding nearly there

We were chased back down the mountain by an oncoming snow storm; by the time it reached us it was merely rain pattering on the windows of the toasty warm pub in Glenridding we were sat in.

slushy snow

It was a great adventure in my Lake District holiday, and I came away with some beautiful shots to show my friends back home. But if you hike up Helvellyn in April, I advise you to dress warm.

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About Hetty Oldfield

Hetty grew up in the hosteling world and has a great zest for independent travel, new languages, people and experiences.