Helvellyn

I set off from Glenridding Car Park in Patterdale and headed out through the village before starting the climb above Glenridding. The route builds nicely, with the path pulling you uphill towards the first higher ground and a small mound off to the left, a handy little marker before the main business of the day begins.

From there, the route turns towards Helvellyn and the atmosphere changes a bit. You know what is coming. Striding Edge is the main event on this walk and it gives the route that proper mountain feel from the off. It is a classic line for good reason, but it does need care. There are steep drops, a few hands-on sections, and places where you need to stay switched on, especially if it is windy or the rock is greasy. In decent conditions though, it is a brilliant way to reach the summit and one of those Lake District routes that stays with you long after the walk is done.

After the edge, the final pull to the top of Helvellyn feels well earned. I had lunch up at the summit area, which is hard to beat on a clear day. You get that wide open fell-top feel, with the higher Lakeland ridges all around and plenty of reason to sit down for ten minutes and just take it in.

Rather than heading straight back, I carried on over to Lower Man and then White Side. This adds a bit more distance, but it rounds the day off well and keeps you up high a little longer. The walking along here feels more straightforward after Striding Edge, though it is still proper mountain terrain and worth treating with respect if the cloud is down.

To return, I took the pony track back towards Glenridding. It is a solid descent route and makes for a sensible way off the hill after the sharper terrain earlier on. By this stage the legs know they have had a day out, but it is a satisfying finish, dropping steadily back into the valley and closing the loop neatly.

This is one of those walks that earns its reputation. Helvellyn is popular, of course, but taking the route up from Glenridding via Striding Edge gives it that extra edge and makes the summit feel deserved. In dry weather, with decent visibility and a steady head for exposed ground, it is a cracking mountain day in the Lakes.