Helvellyn is a fantastic mountain and very famous for it's eastern ridges that form the classic "Horseshoe" route from Glenridding. However, there are several other much safer approaches from all sides that offer adjacent summits to "bag" or different viewpoints.
This alternative circular walk has already proved very popular with clients this summer. The route up to Helvellyn from Swirls Car Park beside Helvellyn Ghyll with a return via the Wythburn Track is an accessible walk for participants with lesser mountain experience.
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It is still a steep, strenuous walk up and down, and proper mountain terrain is encountered. But the paths are very straight forward and no technical experience is required, just stamina and good fitness.
Weather permitting, there will be an opportunity to take in beautiful views from the summit, including the rugged east side of the mountain. In clear conditions, I will also be able to point out surrounding peaks, talk a little about the range of different walks available in the area and share my local geological knowledge.​
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The entire route accrues 11km, or 6.5 miles, with 850m ascent.
This is expected to take 6 to 7 hours​ at a moderate pace.
Limited to 6 PARTICIPANTS
at £35.00 per person.
Ascending the Helvellyn Ghyll path from Swirls Car Park
Helvellyn Summit
There is a very strenuous start with no warm up, so prepare yourself for a cardio workout and a leg busting climb. Initial views westwards take in Thirlmere and surrounding woodland and as we progress up the steep but pleasant hillside, more summits come into view to the south, west and north.
Browncove Crags is reached after 650m uphill in just 2.5km. This takes most groups around 2 hours to complete at a steady pace with adequate breaks. The terrain is by now more rugged, but the gradient becomes more gradual as we make the final push to the summit of Helvellyn, 90m over 1.25km.
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Depending on cloud base and weather conditions, the summit should offer an extensive panorama across the Lake District, various fells and lakes from the immediate vicinity stretching far and wide. Immediately below us will be the rugged east face of Helvellyn. It should be noted that there are very steep drops near the edge of the mountain and safety must be observed at all times, but the scenery can be enjoyed from a safe proximity.​​​​
Limited to 6 PARTICIPANTS
at £35.00 per person.
On a nice day, most people like to spend a little time at the summit of Helvellyn to take in the immense landscape and snap some photos. Depending on the weather and time of year, it may be required for us to keep moving after a short break. Assuming the visibility is reasonable, we will take a short detour to look down onto Striding Edge, which is a popular photo spot.
Limited to 6 PARTICIPANTS
at £35.00 per person.
The second stage of this route will lead us back down into the Thirlmere valley via a different path, the Wythburn Track. This is well surfaced although steep in places and so care must be taken. The initial section is fairly gradual, descending from Swallow Scarth to Comb Crags. As we drop down towards the wooded valley, beautiful views of Thirlmere are evocative of the Great Glen in Scotland, albeit on a much smaller scale. Eventually, we will find ourselves joining a permissive forest track that will lead us the final 3.5km back to Swirls Car Park, which takes up to an hour. The calm woodland and occasional waterfalls create pleasant end to the walk.
Descending the Wythburn Track
This professionally guided activity is limited to 6 PARTICIPANTS at £35.00 per person.
It is necessary to have previous hill walking experience and a good level of fitness to take part in this walk. The Swirls path is very steep and there is uneven terrain throughout the walk. If you are for any reason unsure of your ability, please email me via moorstomountains@gmail.com and we can discuss things further before making a booking.
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​Our start point is Swirls Car Park (CA12 4TW or NY316168), where there is lots of parking
available if you arrive early enough. We will be meeting at 10:00 to leave as soon as possible.
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There are bus services to and from Keswick, Windermere and even further afield,
and lots of various accommodation in the vicinity of Keswick or Grasmere,
including camping, hostels and B&B's. It is advisable to book accommodation
well in advance to avoid disappointment. Please ask me if you need any advice on
where to stay, or if you need information about transport links to this area.
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Please bear in mind that I have calculated the route duration based on average speeds of clients.
The walk may actually be done in a quicker time, but also may take longer than expected based on
individual fitness levels within the group. As mentioned, it is necessary to have
previous hill walking experience and a good level of fitness to participate in this activity.
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It should be mentioned that weather in the Lake District can be unpredictable at all times
of the year and so it isn't possible to guarantee excellent views on every walk. Multiple
weather forecast sources are always studied before any Moors to Mountains activity.
Unless there is a potential safety risk posed by the weather, walks will go ahead regardless of conditions.
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What to expect when booking a professionally guided activity with Moors to Mountains.
I have had a number of individual clients book on to a group activity who have been anxious about not knowing
the others on the day. Most people who join for the first time are in the same situation, but I assure you that
you'll be making new friends and feeling comfortable in your surroundings in no time. Not only am I here
to keep you safe and lead the group, I like to engage all participants in interesting conversation and
always make a point of providing a friendly and welcoming experience for all my clients.
All Moors to Mountains activities are designed for smaller parties. The number of participants that I allow for will depend on the terrain. But, I find this allows me to give each individual client the maximum attention throughout an activity. Whether this is to answer questions or assisting an individual across a section of uneven terrain.
My promise is to deliver a high level of care and individual attentiveness to each member of the group.
As your guide, I am a qualified and insured Mountain Leader registered with the British Mountaineering Council. I only operate in areas where I have experience of the terrain and local knowledge. Before I received the ML award, I was already active in organising groups walks and wild camping expeditions across the UK from 2011. In that time, I have been lucky enough to spend time out on the hills and mountains with many people of different backgrounds and abilities. This experience has enabled me to develop an extensive knowledge of particular outdoor areas, and a penchant for designing routes that are both scenic and interesting. There are often places of historical or geological interest along the way and I enjoy sharing my knowledge of the landscape, history, industry, wildlife and geology.
All Moors to Mountains outings include some rewarding physical challenge, whether it be distance or terrain.
I also hold current DBS and Outdoor First Aid certificates.
Upon booking a space, please don't overlook the
Moors to Mountains Footwear, Clothing and Equipment Requirements.
(please click above to view)
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Once a place has been booked on any activity...
I will personally contact each client by email with any relevant information to the specific activity. There will also be a link to a Participation Consent Form that should be completed in good time before any activity takes place. This will ask for important medical information, important contact details and also request consent for me to give first aid where necessary, take any photographs (or not) and anything else relevant.
Cheers, COLIN.
Limited to 6 PARTICIPANTS
at £35.00 per person.