A Helvellyn Horseshoe

A long but thoroughly enjoyable circular walk which takes in five Wainwrights: Dollywaggon Pike, Nethermost Pike, Helvellyn, Whiteside and Raise.  

Start / End: Glenridding or Patterdale.

Time: 5 to 7 hours.   

Looking up Grisedale near the start of the walk.  Dollywaggon Pike is slightly to the left of centre, its east ridge prominent.

The view back down Grisedale from the foot of Dollywaggon Pike's East Ridge.  Ruthwaite Lodge Climbing Hut can be seen to the right of centre.

Nearing the summit of Dollwaggon Pike.

Looking back down the ridge.  Ullswater peeps out to the left of Place Fell in the centre distance.  St. Sunday Crag to the right.  The far left hand ridge is the flank of Birkhouse Moor, leading onto Striding Edge.

The fells of the central Lakes in the distance, as seen from the path between Dollwaggon and Nethermost Pikes.

A sunlit Striding Edge from the summit of Nethermost Pike.  Catstycam in shadow.

Helvellyn summit.  Red Tarn below.  The High Street range in the far distance.

From the summit of Helvellyn, looking south over Nethermost Pike, Dollwaggon Pike and Windermere towards Morecambe Bay.

The view back over Whiteside and Helvellyn Lower Man towards Helvellyn (far left) from Raise.

Descending the zig-zags on the south flank of Raise.  The bowl of Brown Cove is prominent between Catstycam (left), Helvellyn (centre) and Lower Man (right).

A final glimpse towards the fells from the road leading back to Glenridding.   

Route ideas and information are taken from Wainwright's excellent walking guides: