The Lake District beckoned, and so I went up there for a couple of days. It would have been nice to have the best part of a week up there, but the initial good weather was never going to last that long.
Helvellyn (950m) is the third highest mountain in England and the Lake District. It can be approached from various directions but I chose a nine mile route from Glenridding that follows the shore of Ullswater to Patterdale before a steady ascent to the Striding Edge ridge that leads to the flat summit of Helvellyn. Setting off just after noon meant arriving at the top shortly after 3 o'clock, and then after another three hours I was back down, walking the last few miles in darkness as tends to happen at this time of year especially once summer time has ended.
Looking up the Grisedale valley
Striding Edge
Helvellyn summit
On Helvellyn, with Skiddaw behind me in the distance
Track of the 9 mile / 6 hour route up Helvellyn via Striding Edge
Looking SW from Latrigg towards misty mountains beyond Derwent Water
