Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause up Helvellyn: route map, distance and time

A hard mountain walk to the summit from Glenridding main car park.

Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause starts at about 157 m and gains 913 m over 11.6 km to 943 m on the track. The first 5 km are the easy part, averaging 3%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 9 km, which climbs 204 m at an average of 20%, with a 500 m stretch from 8.6 km at about 43%. It keeps climbing at 13% to the top. About 10% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.

Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause at a glance

Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause map

The track from the start (green) to the summit (blue), with a marker at each kilometre.

Height profile and getting to the start

Download the Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause GPX

Ascent only: plan your way down. A planning track, not checked on the ground; it doesn't show safe scrambling moves. Track data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), heights from a terrain model.

Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause kilometre by kilometre

Height, climb and average gradient for each kilometre of the track, with a grid reference at the end of each one to check your position on the map.

How long Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause takes

Times leave out stops. Coming down the same way, the table counts the ascent once; steep descents on rough ground can be as slow as the climb.

Helvellyn summit weather for this route

• Good Today Sunday 18 October

  Mainly clear, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -6°C, summit wind 22 mph gusting 28 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:46, sunset 18:07.

• Marginal Tomorrow Monday 19 October

  Light drizzle, up to 7°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -3°C, summit wind 35 mph gusting 44 mph, 59% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:05.

Best day of the next seven for Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 28 mph and a 0% chance of rain.

Cloud inversion tomorrow morning: 16% (Low), best around 05:00. 7-day inversion outlook.

Hour-by-hour Helvellyn forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Helvellyn?

Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.

What to take today

• An insulated jacket, hat and warm gloves: it feels like -6°C on top.
• A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
• Microspikes for icy paths. In snow, an ice axe and crampons and the skills to use them.
• Map and compass, and the skills to use them. A phone is a backup, not a plan.
• A head torch, food, water, a charged phone and a small first aid kit.

About Helvellyn

Helvellyn is the highest point of the eastern Lake District fells, known for the Striding Edge and Swirral Edge ridges above Red Tarn. More about Helvellyn, with the live forecast.

On the lists: Wainwright, Furth, Hewitt, Nuttall, Marilyn, Birkett.

Extend the walk: tops near the summit

• Helvellyn Lower Man (925 m), 0.7 km north-west
• Striding Edge (863 m), 0.8 km east
• Nethermost Pike (891 m), 0.9 km south
• Catstye Cam (890 m), 0.9 km north-east
• White Side (863 m), 1.6 km north
• Dollywaggon Pike (859 m), 2.1 km south

Challenges that include Helvellyn

• Lake District 3000ers · 4
• Lake District 24 Peaks Challenge · 24
• Bob Graham Round · 42
• Furths · 34
• Hewitts · 523
• Nuttalls · 442
• Wainwrights · 214
• County Tops · 88
• Marilyns · 1,555

More walks from Glenridding main car park

Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.

• Glenridding via Mires Beck up Birkhouse Moor
• Patterdale walking approach via Birks up Birks
• Glenridding eastern fell walking paths up Catstye Cam
• Glenridding via Sticks Pass up Clough Head
• Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause up Dollywaggon Pike
• Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause up Fairfield
• Glenridding via the Sheffield Pike col up Glenridding Dodd
• Glenridding via Sticks Pass up Great Dodd
• Glenridding via Sticks Pass up Hart Side
• Glenridding via Sticks Pass up Raise
• Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause up Seat Sandal
• Glenridding via Heron Pike up Sheffield Pike

Other routes up Helvellyn

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 386 169, the summit at NY 342 151), what happened and how many are in your group. If you have no signal for a call, a text to 999 works once you have registered your phone with emergencySMS: text "register" to 999 before you go.

Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause: questions and answers

How far is Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause?

Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause is 11.6 km one way to the summit of Helvellyn. There and back by the same way is about 23.2 km.

How steep is Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause?

The steepest 500 m averages about 43%, starting 8.6 km from the start, and 10% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause climbs 913 m in all on the track.

Where do you park for Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause?

Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause starts from Glenridding main car park (postcode CA11 0PD). The grid reference is NY 386 169. Glenridding main car park; the postcode is approximate

Is Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause suitable for beginners?

Not as a first mountain. Peakify grades it Hard: steep, rough ground where a slip matters. Build up on an easier route first, such as Wythburn.

Is there a GPX for Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause?

Yes. Download it from this page. It is an ascent-only planning track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths and not checked on the ground.