Loop - Grisedale Skyline, Helvellyn & Swirral Edge - 8-9 Wainrights 12mi/19km

Join me for an epic hike out in the Lake District. Ticking off eight wainrights (can also do an optional extra too). Including the famous Helvellyn; England's third highest mountain. Please bear in mind the distance and total elevation of this route is the equivalent of doing Ben Nevis (UK's highest mountain) via the tourist route.

Start Time: 9:45am - I'd get here earlier if possible. Car park likely fills up quick.
Miles/Kilometres: 12mi/19km (Approx) Not including optional wainright.
Total ascent: 1350m (Approx). Not including optional wainright.
Difficulty: Strenuous
Estimated length of time: Hike will take approx 7-8 hours (including a lunch break).
Dogs Allowed: Yes.
Public Transport: No, happy to give a lift from Sowerby Bridge, Halifax, Keighley, Steeton or Skipton stations.
Parking - Main car park in Glenridding - https://maps.app.goo.gl/tudFAuZxrQ6mUE6S8.
Payment: £1 - Use this link to pay: https://settleup.starlingbank.com/jamiepope1 - please put "Helvellyn" as reference.

Itinerary

Meet outside the information centre at the car park. We start by walking down the A592 past the Glenridding Hotel, until we come to Ullswater Lake. We then veer off and take the Ullswater Way through the woodland instead of walking along the road for a good stretch of it until we have to walk along the road again. Once we reach the King George V's Playing Fields, we veer off onto the road into Grisedale. We cut through the Playing Fields car park to a dirt road. Walk along this where it turns into farm tracks.

The first ascent now starts up to the top of Arnison Crag (Wainright #1) - 433m. It is approx 1mi/1.6km and 270m of ascent from the Playing Fields car park to the top. Once taken in the views, we continue on and ascend up to Birks (Wainright #2) - 624m for great views across Grisedale and back to Patterdale. We then continue up the hillside to St. Sunday Crag (Wainright #3) - 841m. Where we can enjoy views of both Grisedale one side and Deepdale the otherside. We now walk along a ridge (it is not narrow) gradually descending until we can veer off and descend more steepily down to Grisedale Tarn, where we can have lunch by the tarn.

If anyone wants to after lunch they can continue round the otherside of the tarn and ascend up Seat Sandal for an optional wainright for views over Thrilmere and Grasmere. For those that do not want to do it, take the path up the stairs to begin the ascent up to Helvellyn. Wait at the top where the obvious direct path from Seat Sandal meets it.

We then take the last few metres of ascent up to Dollywagon Pike (Wainright #4) - 884m. From the tarn to the the top is approx 400m of ascent spanning approx 1mi/1.6km. This is the hardest ascent of the day. Enjoy the views straight down Grisedale! We then continue along the hilltop to Nethermost Pike (Wainright #5) - 891m and then onwards some more to Hellvelyn (Wainright #6) - 950m.

We will take a second lunch/snack break here enjoying the views. We then take a short rocky descent down to Swirral Edge (if coming up this way you'd have to scramble up, so bear that in mind!). This is a ridge that gets narrow briefly but soon widens out and is grassy so it is nothing to be scared of. It is the ridge on the opposite side of the tarn that is the one people say is scary, Striding Edge.

As stated the ridge widens as it forms the hill called Cats-Eye-Cam (Wainright #7) - 890m. We then descend down to Red Tarn where we can have one last rest before, we walk along to the famous Hole-in-the-Wall and then its a flat walk to Birkhouse Moor (Wainright #8) - 718m. We end the walk by following the footpath down to Glenridding for a well earned drink & food at a pub!

Disclaimers

The walk organisers do not have training or insurance. Therefore, anyone who joins the walk is accountable for their own safety and anyone they bring with them. By signing up you accept this.

Check the weather (on multiple websites) before leaving your residence. Bring clothing & footwear suitable for the forecast. We advise you to bring walking boots for any medium or harder walk. Trainers are only recommended for easy walks. Bring a coat just in case (this is Britain after all...) and extra layers if it is going to be cold.

All proceeds go towards equipment for leading walks, group events & trips. A percentage will go to charities.

Bring a packed lunch and snacks. Bring enough food & water to last the estimated time.

We recommend bringing some cash just in case. Especially if parking. Not everywhere is contactless yet.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the walks organiser.