Easter Mountain Scrambling, Helvellyn, Browncove Crags, Striding Edge

An annual tradition with Sheffield Mountaineering. There is just something magical about being on this special Lake District mountain at Easter, when winter is behind us, the weather is warming up, the days are getting longer and the promises of great times lie ahead. Many people choose to do this event as part of a long holiday weekend in The Lakes and recommended accommodation options are provided below.

Route: Brown Cove Crags, Swirral Edge, Striding Edge

Meet at: Thirlspot Layby on the east side of the A591 just 250 metres south of The King’s Head Inn, Thirlmere, approx postcode CA12 4TN. As an environmentally conscious group, we actively encourage car sharing. Further details of car sharing arrangements from Sheffield, Manchester and elsewhere will appear in the comments section nearer the time.

This big mountain day combines exciting scrambling on Brown Cove Crags with a traverse of the famous edges on Helvellyn. After the main scramble we will saunter down Swirral Edge before ascending via Striding Edge to reach the summit of Helvellyn, at 950 metres the third highest mountain in England.

There are two possible scramble routes on Brown Cove Crags, Central Buttress (Grade 2/3) and Summer Step (Grade 1/2), both very entertaining and worthwhile. Which one we end up doing will depend on conditions and how everybody feels on the day.

The full day will include a steady ascent from Thirlmere, a traverse to the base of Brown Cove Crags from where we will scramble up to the summit plateau via one of the two routes mentioned above before a Grade 1 scrambling descent of Swirral Edge followed by a walk round the placid shores of Red Tarn and a Grade 1 scrambling traverse of Striding Edge with further easy scrambling to take us to the summit of Helvellyn, leaving us with a long leisurely descent of the tourist path to return to our starting point.

For those who don’t fancy it, the scrambling on Brown Cove Crags can be avoided by means of an easy gully or even the tourist path. Please refer to the photo section for a topo showing all options.

Photos from some of our previous Easter scrambles on Helvellyn can be seen here:

https://www.meetup.com/sheffield-mountaineering-rock-climbing-meet/photos/35289240/

https://www.meetup.com/sheffield-mountaineering-rock-climbing-meet/photos/33422065/

https://www.meetup.com/sheffield-mountaineering-rock-climbing-meet/photos/31340566/

Difficulty: Grade 2/3 scrambling (between Grade 2 and 3) on Central Buttress or Grade 1/2 (between Grade 1 and 2) on Summer Step, Grade 1 on Swirral and Striding Edges. For more information on scrambling grades see:

https://www.thebmc.co.uk/understanding-scrambling-grades

Experience Required: Some previous mountain scrambling experience is strongly advised.

Duration: Approx. 10 km with height gain of approx. 950 metres. Estimated time 6 to 7 hours.

Ordnance Survey Map: OS 90 Penrith & Keswick 1:50,000 scale.

Guidebook: Scrambles in the Lake District Volume 2: Northern Fells published by Cicerone Press.

Accommodation: For those planning on staying over, here are some recommendations:

Dalebottom Farm Campsite: https://dalebottomfarm.co.uk/

Fisher Gill Camping Barn: http://www.stybeckfarm.co.uk/camping-barn.htm

Keswick Youth Hostel: https://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/yha-keswick

As it's a holiday weekend, be sure to book early to avoid disappointment!

As always, if everybody wants to contribute £2.00 towards our Meet Up site fees and other operating costs that will be great, thanks.