Introduction
This is the best area for exploring the eastern Lake District with the mountains Helvellyn and Fairfield throwing down grand crag and corrie scenery to compete well with those found in the highlands of Scotland. The area is relatively accessible from Manchester taking two to two and a half hours to get here. The two villages were the scene of a late 90's BBC drama 'The Lakes' and you may even recognize a few of the places that were filmed.

Camping high at Grisedale tarn with St Sunday
Crag in evening sunlight behind

The Helvellyn Range
Helvellyn is the highest summit in the eastern lakes and one of only four peaks in England breaching the 3000 foot contour. Most ascents of Helvellyn take place via the Glen of Glenridding or a path ascending the south slopes of Birkhouse Moor to the 'hole in the wall'. Once higher up, you are presented with three choices of ascent. Striding edge, Swirral Edge or an ascent via the slopes of Raise - the easiest of them all.

Looking down Deepdale towards Fairfield

Catsye Cam seen from the ridge to Raise

Looking west along Striding edge to Helvellyn

Helvellyn seen from the "Hole in the Wall"

The ascent of Helvellyn via Striding or Swirral Edge are the most dramatic routes. Both involve scrambling with Striding edge being a long horizontal knife edge ridge and swirral edge being a steeper - though very short ridge.

On Striding edge

Looking east from Helvellyn towards Striding Edge

Striding edge starts from the "hole in the wall" as a broad grassy ridge but gradually ascends to minor summit, gradually coming more rocky and narrow as it ridge. Beyond this minor top, the ridge dramatically narrows, becoming narrower further towards Helvellyn. For the entire ridge, however, there is an easier path sitting below the crest for less sporty people to gain access to Helvellyn. All routes however converge at one point above the "bad step". The bad step is a steep but short 20ft drop that is negotiated with ease. Beyond, slopes rise up to Helvellyn steeply but easily.

The plateau leading from Nethermost Pike to Helvellyn

Dollywagon Pike seen from Fairfield

The east ridge of Nethermost Pike with Striding edge behind

Between Striding and Swirral Edge lies Red Tarn. For its size, it's the highest in the Lake District at just over 700m in altitude. Extending eastwards from Swirral edge lies the summit of Catstye Cam which is the sharpest summit in the eastern Lake District. Most folk approach this summit from Red Tarn but a more interesting route is said to exist on the summits north ridge and this is reckoned to have some scrambling potential.

The Helvellyn group of mountains seen from Place Fell

Looking up Grisedale

Seat Sandle seen rising above Grisedale Tarn

The easy way up to Helvellyn goes up via Raise. It takes a well worn path that zig zags a little on its lower slopes before finally striking across to the col between Raise and a subsidiary summit south of Raise. North of Raise, the Helvellyn crest loses the prominent eastern corries over more and more rounded summits until the most northerly summit, Clough Head is reached. Here the western slopes become progressively steeper, steepening into the Wanthwaite Crags. This is said to be a superb viewpoint to Blencathra across the A66 and the River Glenderamackin.

Raise seen from Swirral Edge

Whiteside bank seen from the slopes of Glen Coyne

Because of Helvellyn's dramatic scenery and height, the summit is not a quiet place during weekends. More solitude can be found on outlying summits, or even your own road! It is a magnet for people, but despite this quiet days can be had especially mid-week.

Large crowds ....

... everywhere

All the routes so far mentioned are approached via Glenridding and this has some pleasant lower scenery. The upland is largely hidden from view down at the bottom. Sheffield Pike is a worthy evening summit that is an outlier of Raise and overlooks the village of Glenridding.

Catsye Cam seen from Helvellyn

Sheffield Pike seen from Glenridding Common

Looking down Grisedale from Dollywaggon Pike

The corries facing Grisedale are deeper and are seen in their full grandeur right from the bottom. This part really does have some reminiscence of a West Highland Scottish glen and is well worth visiting. The East ridge of Nethermost Pike is fantastic though very short. It's the next ridge south of Striding Edge and is narrower than Striding Edge but with very little erosion in comparison. You are thus likely to have this ridge all to yourself. Dollywaggon Pike also throws out a short, narrow but walkable ridge. These four 'east ridges': Swirral, Striding, Nethermost and Dollywaggon are all superb routes.

Clough head, the most mortherly peak in the Helvellyn Range

Looking north along St John's in the vale to Skiddaw

The Fairfield Horseshoe
The next mountain to mention is Fairfield. It's a very popular mountain. The southern approaches have been covered in much detail in the Ambleside and Grasmere section. The mountain has some very impressive north-facing cliffs. and nice long approaching ridges from all directions. From the Patterdale side, the most obvious route is up over St Sunday Crag - a satellite peak whose ridge to Fairfield has a nice long slender neck. Fairfield can also be climbed from Grisedale tarn via some quite steep paths among scree slopes. The northern ridge circuit can be completed by walking across to Hart Crag and then down a lower ridge known as Hartsop above How.

On the ridge of Hartsop above How

St Sunday Crag seen from Dollywagon Pike

Place Fell seen from the south

An alternative route to Fairfield is a walk up Deepdale Beck that sees the crags at their best which those people approaching from the ridge wouldn't see. A good route up from here is via a stumpy ridge called The Step. The imposing Greenhow End is admired but avoided on the way up and this is by far the best route up.

St Sunday Crag seen from Fairfield

Kirkstone Pass and Middle Dodd seen from Patterdale

Looking towards the Fairfield horseshoe from the Angletarn Pikes

The Eastern Hills
The High Street range makes a good walk especially if tackled from the Kirkstone Pass. The range is characterised by long broad plateau-like ridges with steep sides that are generally smooth but sometimes craggy. More information on High Street can be found on the Kentmere pages.

Place Fell seen from Hartsop above How

Hayeswater and High Street

St Sunday Crag seen from Angletarn

A good approach is from Hartsop. Here, a path can be followed up the valley to Hayeswater from where the path strikes north to the north ridge just below a summit called "The Knott". The ridge then turns south, joining the main High Street ridge and bridleway to its summit. The walk then continues to Thorntwaite Crag and what is probably the largest summit cairn in the lakes before heading north to Gray Crag on the west side of Hayewater. At Gray Crag, the route then descends steeply back down to the path leading to Hartsop.

The High Street range seen from the Helvellyn range

Looking north from High Street to The Knott

The shorter walks in the area include Place Fell and the Angletarn Pikes. Place place is a great vantage point from which to see the Helvellyn range in all its grandeur. It is, however, a bit of a lump, and quite a slog despite its low height of 657m. The Angle Tarn pikes surround its namesake tarn, and it's a wonderful place to relax with great views out across to St Sunday Crag. Other walks include those along the Ullswater lake. A nice place near Glenridding is Keldas which Wainwright rates very highly.