Glenridding via White Side and Keppel Cove walking paths up Helvellyn: route map, distance and time
950 m · Lake District
Helvellyn is the highest point of the eastern Lake District fells, known for the Striding Edge and Swirral Edge ridges above Red Tarn.
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Glenridding main car park.
Glenridding via White Side and Keppel Cove walking paths starts at about 156 m and gains 861 m over 8.0 km to 944 m on the track. The first 2 km are the easy part, averaging 6%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 4 km, which climbs 210 m at an average of 21%. It keeps climbing at 10% to the top. About 15% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Glenridding via White Side and Keppel Cove walking paths at a glance
| Distance | 8.0 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 870 m |
| Climb on the track | 861 m up, 72 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 156 m to 945 m (summit 950 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 23%, from 2.9 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 15% of the way |
| Time up | 3h 5m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 4h 40m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Glenridding main car park, CA11 0PD |
| Start grid reference | NY 386 169 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 342 151 |
| Parking | Glenridding main car park; the postcode is approximate |
Glenridding via White Side and Keppel Cove walking paths map
The track from the start (green) to the summit (blue), with a marker at each kilometre.
Height profile and getting to the start
Near the start
- Travellers Rest0.3 km
- Patterdale Hotel1.4 km
- White Lion Inn1.5 km
- Fairlight Cafe & Restaurant0.0 km
- Fellbites0.0 km
- Helvellyn Country Kitchen0.1 km
- Public toilets0.0 km
- Public toilets0.2 km
- Public toilets0.6 km
- Gillside Camping0.5 km
- Side Farm Campsite1.0 km
- Patterdale Youth Hostel camp site1.9 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Glenridding via White Side and Keppel Cove walking paths 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 White Side and Keppel Cove walking paths 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.
| At | Height | Climb | Gradient | Grid ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 km | 227 m | +71 m | 7% | NY 377 171 |
| 2 km | 280 m | +53 m | 5% | NY 367 173 |
| 3 km | 442 m | +162 m | 16% | NY 361 175 |
| 4 km | 651 m | +210 m | 21% steep | NY 354 176 |
| 5 km | 727 m | +75 m | 8% | NY 347 170 |
| 6 km | 843 m | +116 m | 12% | NY 338 167 |
| 7 km | 842 m | +0 m | 0% | NY 337 157 |
| 8 km | 944 m | +101 m | 10% | NY 342 151 |
How long Glenridding via White Side and Keppel Cove walking paths takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 30m | 3h 50m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 3h 5m | 4h 40m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 3h 45m | 5h 45m |
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.
- Today: sunrise 07:46, sunset 18:07. Start by 12:27 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 40m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:05. Start by 12:25 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 40m for the walk and an hour for stops.
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 White Side and Keppel Cove walking paths: 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
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wythburn | 3.8 km one way | 760 m | 2h 0m | Moderate |
| Swirls via the Helvellyn summit ridge | 3.9 km one way | 740 m | 2h 0m | Hard |
| Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause | 11.6 km one way | — | — | Hard |
| Glenridding via Striding Edge | 6.5 km one way | 801 m | 2h 40m | Scramble |
| Glenridding via Swirral Edge | 4.5 km one way | 668 m | 2h 0m | Scramble |
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 White Side and Keppel Cove walking paths: questions and answers
How far is Glenridding via White Side and Keppel Cove walking paths?
Glenridding via White Side and Keppel Cove walking paths is 8.0 km one way to the summit of Helvellyn, with 870 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 16.0 km.
How long does Glenridding via White Side and Keppel Cove walking paths take?
About 3h 5m to the summit of Helvellyn and 4h 40m there and back by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops. A relaxed group takes nearer 5h 45m for the round trip.
How steep is Glenridding via White Side and Keppel Cove walking paths?
The steepest 500 m averages about 23%, starting 2.9 km from the start, and 15% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Glenridding via White Side and Keppel Cove walking paths climbs 861 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Glenridding via White Side and Keppel Cove walking paths?
Glenridding via White Side and Keppel Cove walking paths 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 White Side and Keppel Cove walking paths 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.
What time should I start Glenridding via White Side and Keppel Cove walking paths today?
By 12:27 at the latest. Sunset on Helvellyn today is 18:07, Glenridding via White Side and Keppel Cove walking paths takes about 4h 40m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Glenridding via White Side and Keppel Cove walking paths?
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.