Striding Edge and Swirral Edge are best tackled in dry, calm conditions and only by those with a head for heights.\u00a0Mountaineering gear<\/a> and experience are essential in winter conditions.<\/p>\n Of all the national parks in Britain, the Lake District in North England is arguably the most celebrated \u2013 discover the area\u2019s fells, rivers, waters and towns with our guide to the best hikes in the Lake District National Park.<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> 7.7 miles\/12.4km | 828m accent | 5\u20136 hours | challenging<\/em><\/p>\n 1. Beside the beck<\/strong><\/p>\n Leave Glenridding\u2019s main car park, turn right along the A592 and immediately right again. Fork right beside the beck. At a minor road, go left, soon joining a gravel path to the right. Keep left at a path junction near a gate and bear right at a fork.<\/p>\n 2. Up and up<\/strong><\/p>\n After the next gate, turn left. So begins the climb! It\u2019s a slog at first, but then you are greeted by the uplifting sight of the pyramid-like Catstye Cam and Helvellyn\u2019s fearsome cliffs.<\/p>\n 3. Over the edge<\/strong><\/p>\n Soon after passing \u2013 and ignoring \u2013 a ladder stile in the wall, join a path from the left, making its way to Striding Edge. Either keep to the exciting, rocky apex, scrambling easily over one or two small dips, or use the more straightforward path to the right.<\/p>\n The biggest difficulty comes in the form of \u2028a rock tower, which has to be down-climbed with care. Face into the rock here. Having negotiated this, take a breather before the final, lung-bursting pull to Helvellyn\u2019s extensive summit area \u2013 big enough to land a plane on as two airmen proved in 1926.<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> 4. Lakeland views<\/strong><\/p>\n At the top, bear right along \u2028the plateau\u2019s edge, passing \u2028the memorial to Charles Gough, whose dog guarded \u2028her master\u2019s dead body for three months after he fell \u2028from the mountain \u2013 an incident immortalised by William Wordsworth, Sir Walter Scott and Sir Edwin Landseer.<\/p>\n Pass the summit shelter on the way to the trig pillar, from where \u2028the far-reaching outlook takes in all of Lakeland as well as \u2028the North Pennines and \u2028some Scottish hills.<\/p>\n 5. Swirral descent<\/strong><\/p>\n Keep to the fell edge to find the sprawling cairn marking the path on to Swirral Edge. Carefully descend right to negotiate this rocky ridge.<\/p>\n 6. Tantalising tarn<\/strong><\/p>\n About 500m after leaving Helvellyn\u2019s plateau, fork right. Descend towards the dramatically located Red Tarn and then fork left to drop into the valley of Glenridding Beck, crossing two tributary bridges on the way.<\/p>\n 7. Final stretch<\/strong><\/p>\n Bear left to cross a bridge over Glenridding Beck and turn right along a track near Greenside\u2019s converted mine buildings. Back in Glenridding, turn right after the Fairlight Guesthouse<\/a> to re-enter the car park.<\/p>\n Helvellyn and Striding Edge walking route and map<\/a><\/p>\nDiscover more Lake District walks<\/h4>\n
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<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>Helvellyn and Striding Edge walk<\/h2>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Three more nearby walks<\/h4>\n
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<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2022\/12\/Woman-hiker-on-Striding-Edge-and-Helvellyn-cdc9038.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Helvellyn and Striding Edge map<\/h2>\n
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