Helvellyn’s Striding Edge – Day Ridge Walk
Summit England’s third-highest peak, Helvellyn, by following the classic Striding Edge ridge, walking and scrambling with a qualified mountain guide.
Experience Type: Day Experience
Distance: Approx. 8.2 miles (13.2km)
Duration: Most groups complete this walk in 6-8 hours
Group Size: Maximum 8
Level: Tough (Scrambling) - see Large Outdoors Experience Levels here
Age: 18+
Dogs: No dogs allowed
In a Nutshell:
Tap into the experience of the Large Outdoors guide who will gladly share top tips and encouragement for scrambling.
Feel elated when you realise you’ve successfully tackled a grade 1 scramble.
Revel in the Lake District surroundings and the company of a small group of like-minded people.
We are not currently offering this walk.
If you would like to organise your own private walk we can arrange this via our Hire a Guide service. Details can be found here…
Walk and scramble to the summit of Helvellyn via Striding Edge!
Striding Edge is a classic ridge walk. Even if you have previously scaled Helvellyn by other routes, approaching the peak via this airy ridge lends a whole different dimension, adding an additional sense of excitement and exhilaration to the day.
Classified as a grade 1 scramble, Striding Edge is a long narrow spine of undulating rock with spectacular views on both sides as well as a sharp pull up to the summit. Walking across the crest of the ridge isn’t for the faint hearted - you’ll definitely need a head for heights!
With this day walk we’re providing an ideal opportunity to try some scrambling. This is basically middle-ground between walking and climbing, and involves tackling a relatively straightforward ascent along an exposed route without the need for ropes but needing to use your hands as well as feet.
The actual terrain on Striding Edge is nothing that experienced hikers won’t have come across before, but it is the element of exposure that makes it seem more challenging and requires more concentration. The route is approximately 8.2 miles (13.2km) long and most groups will complete this walk/scramble in 6-8 hours.
The beauty of doing this walk with us is that you have the comfort of being with an experienced Large Outdoors guide, who will provide essential tips on tackling the challenging bits, as well as the camaraderie of being with other like-minded souls.
Suggested Itinerary
Here’s what we’ve got planned - of course, we may have to offer alternatives or make amendments if the weather misbehaves or other unexpected situations arise!
We meet in the car park at Glenridding, a village that stands right next to Ullswater, where your Large Outdoors guide will brief the group.
From there, we begin to walk up the hill of Birkhouse Moor where we get our first glimpse of the two ridges, Swirral Edge and Striding Edge stretching out from Helvellyn’s eastern flank. As we climb higher there are some tremendous views back to Ullswater and towards Red Tarn before we go through the appropriately-named ‘Hole in the Wall’ and the start of Striding Edge.
Here, your guide will share how best to tackle the crest of the rocky spine. Just before the last sharp pull to the flat summit of Helvellyn we come to The Chimney a rock tower that necessitates a 7-metre descent lowering yourself gently over some of the rocky outcrops.
By now your confidence will have grown and after one last sharp pull to the top you’ll be able to look back down and savour the experience while drinking in the fabulous views.
From the summit we then make our way down via Swirral Edge, a short but steep ridge that demands the same amount of respect and concentration as Striding Edge before we can relax slightly and enjoy the easy stroll back down to Glenridding.
Essential Information
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Meeting Time: Please meet your guide at 8:30am for a prompt 8:45am start. Your guide will meet you near the toilets (please note we can’t guarantee toilet opening times/availability).
Meeting Location:
Glenridding Main Car Park
Greenside Road
Glenridding
CA11 0PDwhat3words///tangent.explores.racetrack
Parking: The meeting location is a long-stay car park, where parking is charged at £8.50 for up to 24 hours (pay via cash/card/RingGo app).
Public Transport: There are local bus services around the Lake District which stop in Glenridding, but please check service/timetables before booking - an overnight stay may be required.
Finish Time: The exact finish time will depend on the group dynamic, number of rest stops, weather conditions, whether the group chooses to grab a coffee or meal together during/after, etc. Most groups complete this walk in 6-8 hours. If you’ve travelled via public transport, please ensure you book onward travel accordingly (i.e. an open return ticket), to allow for flexibility.
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Included:
A Large Outdoors guide to lead you on your walk and scramble, to complete Helvellyn’s Striding Edge.
The chance to make new friends and meet like-minded people - Large Outdoors is all about making outdoor adventures sociable.
Pre-event support from the Large Outdoors team - give us a shout if there’s any advice or information you need and check out our Blog for useful articles too.
Not included:
Travel to and from the meeting location.
Travel/activity insurance - we recommend having insurance to cover, at a minimum: cancellation and curtailment; medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation); personal accident; injury and death.
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Please see our General (Walking) Kit List.
The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount importance to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should be carrying the items listed.
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• What level of fitness is needed?
This experience is rated as Tough (Scramble). Click here to see Large Outdoors’ Experience Levels.• Will the walk be cancelled if there is poor weather or it’s raining?
No, this walk will go ahead regardless of the weather forecast, as long as the weather conditions are assessed as safe. Please make sure you have all the items from the Compulsory Kit List (see section above).• Can I attend on my own?
Absolutely. The majority of our participants are solo travellers and adventurers. Plenty of fun, laughter and numerous long-term friendships (and a few marriages!) have begun on Large Outdoors experiences since 2008, so there’s no need to feel worried about your first experience, or indeed trying a new type of outdoor activity, with us.• What transport is provided during this trip?
We do not provide any transport for this experience.• Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are not allowed on this experience.
This map is provided for guidance regarding the general location. For detailed meeting information, please refer to the 'Meeting Time & Location' section.