25.5.2009 Grisedale, Seat Sandal, Helvellyn etc. with both edges, down via Browncove crags
This last day of my Lakeland holiday I decided to do a linear walk over the Helvellyn massive. I started from Glenridding with a short walk to Patterdale, where I started to walk up Grisedale from Grisedale bridge till Grisedale Tarn. There I left the luggage for a short walk up Seat Sandal. Then I walked up to Helvellyn visiting Dollywagin Pike and Nethermost Pike. From the summit, without the luggage I walked down Swirral Edge to visit Catstycam. There I did not resist the temptation and did not immediately return to the summit but walked down to Red Tarn and did the reascent via Striding Edge. After a final descent via Browncove Crags John Patterson picked me up at Swirls Car Park to drive me to Loweswater, where we met Roger and Ann Hiley for dinner at the Kirkstile Inn.
Early morning at the Ullswater head.
A delightfiul walk up lovely Grisedale in bright sunshine.
Looking back
Arrived at Grisedale Tarn, heading for Seat Sandal
The "Great Gable"
Grisedale Tarn and Fairfield, far left is St. Sunday Crag.
Grisedale and St. Sunday Crag, with a glimpse on Ullswater in the distance.
The Skiddaw massive behind Raven Crag
Great Gable and Pillar from the summit cairn of Seat Sandal.
The Northwestern Fells with Grasmoor, Crag Hill, Hopegill Head and Grisedale Pike from Seat Sandal.
Dollywagon Pike from Seat Sandal.
Northwestern Panorama from Seat Sandal with the Scafells, Gable and Pillar, the Northwestern fells, Skiddaw and Helvellyn. Click here on the image for a larger version.
Excellent visibility: Criffel in Scotland behind the Solvay Firth
Grisedale Tarn and St. Sunday Crag.
A Panoramic view of Grisedale Tarn and the surrounding fells - Helvellyn, St. Sunday Crag and Fairfield, from Seat Sandal. Click here on the image for a larger version.
Grisdale Tarn and Farifield, Cofa Pike left of the summit.
View down Grisedale from Dollywagon Pike, Place Fell and Ullswater in the background.
Fairfield
View south from Nethermost Pike.
St. Sunday Crag with the far eastern fells behind.
Catstycam behind Striding Edge
Striding Edge
Eastern Panorama from the summit of Helvellyn, with Catstycam and Red Tarn in the foreground. Click here on the image for a larger version.
Red Tarn
The summit cairn of Helvellyn, Skiddaw in the distance.
The northern summit cairn and Catstycam, Ullswater and the Pennines in the distance.
Ullswater and the Pennines from Helvellyn´s northern summit cairn.
Red Tarn and Helvellyn from Catstycam
Panoramic picture of Red Tarn - busy on a bank holiday. Click here on the image for a larger version.
A small puddle near Red Tarn
and again from another perspective
Red Tarn and Catstycam from the reascent to Striding Edge
Heading for Striding Edge
Red Tarn from Striding Edge
And again.
Back on the Helvellyn summit plateau.
Panoramic view from the Helvellyn summit plateau. Click here on the image for a larger version.
Bassenthwaite Lake with the Solvay and Criffel behind, far right is Skiddaw.
Ullswater and the Pennines.
Bassenthwaite Lake with the Solvay and Criffel behind, far right is Skiddaw. The visibility now is even better, the Scottish southern uplands to be seen behind Criffel.
Thirlmere comes into view as I am descending at Browncove Crags.
The northern part of the Helvellyn ridge with Whiteside, Raise and The Dodds, Blencathra behind.
Thirlmere with the northern central ridge behind.
now descending ...
Southwestern to Northern panoramic view from Browncove Crags. Click here or into the image for a larger version.
The valley level comes into sight.
Bleaberry Fell and Bassenthwaite Lake
A last view to the Scafells and Great Gable, with the central ridge in front.
Thirlmere with Raven Crag and Great Howe, Skiddaw behind.
The paved path down Browncove Crags.
Down near Swirls car park.
