Helvellyn weather forecast & routes (950 m)

Routes up

Helvellyn routes: 6 ways to the top

WythburnHiking · 3.8 km one way · 760 m ascent · ~2h 0m · from Wythburn church car parkModerate
A pitched path climbs steep grassy slopes through the plantation and onto the broad ridge south of the summit.
Start 190 m3.8 km to the top
Start grid ref NY 324 136 · Driving directions · By bus or train
Near the start
- Public toilets1.0 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Wythburn GPXFull Wythburn route guide
Swirls via the Helvellyn summit ridgeHiking · 3.9 km one way · 740 m ascent · ~2h 0m · from Swirls car park, ThirlmereHard
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Swirls car park, Thirlmere.
Start 221 m3.9 km to the top
Start grid ref NY 317 168 · Driving directions · By bus or train
Near the start
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Swirls via the Helvellyn summit ridge GPXFull Swirls via the Helvellyn summit ridge route guide
Glenridding via White Side and Keppel Cove walking pathsHiking · 8.0 km one way · 870 m ascent · ~3h 5m · from Glenridding main car parkHard
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Glenridding main car park.
Start 156 m8.0 km to the top
Start grid ref NY 386 169 · Driving directions · By bus or train
Near the start
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Glenridding via White Side and Keppel Cove walking paths GPXFull Glenridding via White Side and Keppel Cove walking paths route guide
Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale HauseHiking · 11.6 km one way · from Glenridding main car parkHard
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Glenridding main car park.
Start 156 m11.6 km to the top
Start grid ref NY 386 169 · Driving directions · By bus or train
Near the start
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause GPXFull Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause route guide
Glenridding via Striding EdgeScrambling · 6.5 km one way · 801 m ascent · ~2h 40m · from Glenridding village car parkScramble
A path climbs past Birkhouse Moor to the Hole-in-the-Wall, then follows the rocky crest of Striding Edge and up a steep rock step to the summit plateau.
Start grid ref NY 367 173 · Driving directions · By bus or train
Near the start
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Full Glenridding via Striding Edge route guide
Glenridding via Swirral EdgeScrambling · 4.5 km one way · 668 m ascent · ~2h 0m · from Glenridding village car parkScramble
You walk up to Red Tarn and climb Swirral Edge, a shorter rocky ridge with easier scrambling than Striding Edge.
Start grid ref NY 367 173 · Driving directions · By bus or train
Near the start
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Full Glenridding via Swirral Edge route guide

Summit today

Is it safe to climb Helvellyn today?

Helvellyn today (updated 03:10, 28 Oct): up to 7°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -3°C, summit wind 42 mph gusting 53 mph, 100% chance of rain. A poor day for the hills. Best day this week: Tuesday, summit gusts 15 mph.

Helvellyn weather today

Slight rain, up to 7°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -3°C, summit wind 42 mph gusting 53 mph, 100% chance of rain. Rated Poor.

Helvellyn weather tomorrow

Thursday 29 October: dense drizzle, up to 7°C at the summit, feeling as cold as 1°C, summit wind 34 mph gusting 42 mph, 96% chance of rain. Rated Marginal.

Helvellyn weather this weekend

Saturday 31 October: fog, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 17 mph gusting 21 mph, 4% chance of rain. Rated Good.

Sunday 1 November: mostly dry, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -3°C, summit wind 23 mph gusting 29 mph, 6% chance of rain. Rated Good.

Helvellyn summit forecast, next 7 days

Day	Verdict	High/low	Feels like	Wind/gust mph	Rain or snow
TodaySlight rain	Poor	7°/3°	-3°	42/53	100%
TomorrowDense drizzle	Marginal	7°/5°	1°	34/42	96%
Fri 30Fog	Marginal	6°/4°	1°	36/46	8%
Sat 31Fog	Good	5°/1°	-2°	17/21	4%
Sun 1Light drizzle	Good	5°/0°	-3°	23/29	6%
Mon 2Overcast	Good	3°/-4°	-7°	21/27	2%
Tue 3Overcast	Marginal	6°/-4°	-8°	13/15	2%

Helvellyn 14-day weather forecast: days 8 to 14, less certain

Day	Verdict	High/low	Feels like	Wind/gust mph	Rain or snow
Wed 4Fog	Good	6°/0°	-3°	6/8	0%
Thu 5Fog	Good	4°/-1°	-3°	10/12	2%
Fri 6Fog	Good	3°/-2°	-4°	15/18	6%
Sat 7Overcast	Good	4°/0°	-3°	16/20	14%
Sun 8Fog	Good	3°/0°	-2°	8/11	21%
Mon 9Fog	Good	3°/-3°	-4°	13/16	24%
Tue 10Fog	Good	3°/-1°	-4°	18/22	27%

Cloud inversion · 7 days

The chance of standing above a sea of cloud on Helvellyn each morning this week, from overnight temperature, humidity and low cloud below the 950m summit.

Dark sky · 7 days

How dark the sky gets over Helvellyn each night this week, from cloud cover, moonlight and local light pollution.

Snow · 7 days

No snow is forecast at the summit in the next 7 days.

Sun today

Sunrise 07:06, sunset 16:45

9h 39m of daylight. Golden hour ends 07:59 and starts 15:51. From the summit you see the sun 06:59 to 16:51.

Nearby summits

Close to Helvellyn

About Helvellyn

Helvellyn reaches 950m (3,117ft) on the long ridge between Thirlmere and Ullswater. The west side is a broad grassy slope above Thirlmere. The east face drops in crags to Red Tarn, held between the arms of Striding Edge and Swirral Edge, with Catstye Cam at the end of Swirral Edge. It is a Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, Marilyn, Birkett and Furth.

The classic round starts in Glenridding, climbs to the Hole-in-the-Wall and crosses Striding Edge, then descends by Swirral Edge. Both ridges need hands on rock in places, and Striding Edge has a steep rock step at its far end. From the Thirlmere side, paths from Wythburn and Thirlspot climb grassy slopes with no scrambling.

The summit plateau holds a trig point and a cross-shaped stone shelter, with Helvellyn Lower Man 0.7km to the north-west. In winter Striding Edge turns into a serious mountaineering route, and cornices form along the rim above Red Tarn. Carry an ice axe and crampons and know how to use them, or choose a Thirlmere path.

Helvellyn is 950 m (3,116 ft) high with 713 m of prominence. It is in Lake District, England. It is the 3rd highest of the 14 summits Peakify lists in Lake District. The nearest summits are Nethermost Pike (0.9 km), Helvellyn Lower Man (0.7 km) and Catstye Cam (0.9 km).

Is Striding Edge dangerous?

Striding Edge is an exposed scramble along a narrow rock crest. Confident walkers cross it in good summer conditions. It has a long record of fatal falls, many of them in winter or on wet rock.

What is the easiest way up Helvellyn?

The paths from Wythburn or Thirlspot on the Thirlmere side climb grassy slopes and need no scrambling.

Can you climb Helvellyn without doing Striding Edge?

Yes. Use the Thirlmere paths, or from Glenridding follow the path past Red Tarn and up Swirral Edge, which is shorter and less exposed than Striding Edge.

Is Helvellyn safe in winter?

You need winter skills and kit. The east face holds cornices and hard snow, and the ridges become mountaineering ground.

How high is Helvellyn?

Helvellyn is 950 metres high with 713 metres of prominence.

Where is Helvellyn?

Helvellyn is listed in Lake District, England.

Are there routes for Helvellyn?

Peakify lists 6 routes for Helvellyn, including available distance, ascent, start point, and difficulty details. The easiest is Wythburn (3.8 km one way, Moderate).

Is it safe to climb Helvellyn today?

Peakify rates each day on the summit Good, Marginal or Poor from the forecast summit wind, gusts, chance of rain and wind chill. Wind of 40 mph or gusts of 65 mph make it Poor; wind of 25 mph, gusts of 45 mph, a 60% chance of rain or a feels-like temperature of -8°C or below make it Marginal. Today's and tomorrow's ratings are at the top of this page. The rating covers the weather only: also check your route, daylight, kit and experience, and in winter whether you need an ice axe and crampons.

What is the weather on Helvellyn tomorrow?

Thursday 29 October: dense drizzle, up to 7°C at the summit, feeling as cold as 1°C, summit wind 34 mph gusting 42 mph, 96% chance of rain. Rated Marginal.

What is the weather on Helvellyn this weekend?

Saturday 31 October: fog, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 17 mph gusting 21 mph, 4% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunday 1 November: mostly dry, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -3°C, summit wind 23 mph gusting 29 mph, 6% chance of rain. Rated Good.

What weather information is shown for Helvellyn?

The page includes cached mountain forecast context, snow outlook, dark-sky signals, cloud-inversion information, sunrise, sunset, and summit planning details where available.

More in Lake District

Peakify is run by Sam Tyler, who has climbed Yr Wyddfa 22 times. The forecast refreshes every hour; how our forecast works.