Helvellyn, Fairfield and Striding Edge from Thirlmere
It strings the two great Eastern Fells giants, Helvellyn and Fairfield, onto one loop and still finds room for Striding Edge in the middle.
It strings the two great Eastern Fells giants, Helvellyn and Fairfield, onto one loop and still finds room for Striding Edge in the middle.
A demanding 27km loop from Thirlmere linking Helvellyn (950m), Fairfield (873m) and the traverse of Striding Edge, with 1437m of climb across the southern Eastern Fells.
The route
This is the long way of joining the Lakes' two most famous eastern summits. From Swirls on Thirlmere you climb to Helvellyn (950m), then break south along the high ridge over Nethermost Pike and Dollywaggon Pike to Grisedale Tarn. From the tarn you take on the steep grass of Fairfield (873m), the highest point of its own horseshoe, before working back north and across to gain Striding Edge for the return over Helvellyn. At 27km with 1437m of ascent this is a big, committing circuit that ties the Helvellyn and Fairfield groups together in a single push.
The Wainwrights and the edge
Helvellyn and Fairfield are both major Wainwrights of the Eastern Fells, and between them sit Nethermost Pike and Dollywaggon Pike, two more proper tops rather than mere bumps. The route's centrepiece is Striding Edge, the exposed grade 1 arete on Helvellyn's east face, taken here as part of a much longer day. Cross it with the same respect it demands on a short outing: a fall is fatal, and it is no place to be in cloud, wind or ice with tired legs.
Why it works
The payoff is variety: fast grassy ridge running between the summits, a real scramble in the middle, and two 870m-plus tops bagged in a loop that never feels repetitive. This is hard ground for the distance because of the cumulative climb and the technical crux late on. Carry map and compass, know the bail-off lines from Grisedale Tarn, and treat the Striding Edge section as the part of the day where stats stop mattering and footwork takes over. Grisedale Tarn itself sits at the hub of three valleys, giving quick escapes to Patterdale or Grasmere if the weather turns mid-loop. Done as drawn you take Striding Edge late, the more committing direction on tired legs, so manage energy and water through the long middle miles. Saved for a settled day, this is one of the most complete big rounds the Eastern Fells offer.
Striding Edge is an exposed grade 1 scramble with fatal fall potential, tackled here late in a 27km day. The high ridges are featureless in cloud with steep east-facing drops, and Grisedale Tarn is the main escape point if weather turns.
Safety on this route
- No signal? Text 999 — pre-register first: text register to 999
- Tell someone your route and expected return time before you head out