'A' Walk from Glenridding 2018

Walk Leader: Garth Raybould
Distance:  8 miles app
Total ascent: 2600ft

A Route (clockwise)

 This is Britain’s No. 1 walk (according to Trail magazine) – Helvellyn via Striding Edge. I know we did this on our last visit to Glenridding but (a) I wasn’t on that walk and (b) it’s been specially requested! We start off up the right bank of Glenridding Beck (don’t anybody try to tell me it’s the left bank) and after a few hundred metres start to climb up Little Cove, topping out on Birkhouse Moor. This section is quite steep, mainly up irregular steps of rock, but we don’t need to rush it. From Birkhouse Moor we follow a gradually ascending path to Hole-in-the-Wall, Bleaberry Crag and eventually the excitement that is Striding Edge. Ultimate care is needed here but there are alternative paths for those who don’t want to walk the knife-edge. Then there is the final rock scramble leading to a grassy walk to the summit. From here there is an easy descent and short ascent to Whiteside Bank, then the main descent across Glenridding Common and into Glenridding itself. Total distance about 13 km (8 miles); total climbing about 800 m (2600 ft).