Helvellyn

Helvellyn stands in the Lake District of Cumbria, a broad plateau of volcanic rock that rises above Thirlmere and Ullswater. The mountain is the third highest in England and forms the backbone of a north–south ridge that stretches between two lakes. Its eastern flanks drop into deep glacial coves while the western slopes fall gently towards Thirlmere. The summit ridge runs for about a kilometre above 900 metres, offering wide views across the range. Red Tarn lies in the hollow between Striding Edge and Swirral Edge, a steep arête that joins the plateau half way along. Helvellyn has drawn walkers since the late 18th century, when poets such as Wordsworth and Coleridge climbed its heights. The mountain’s ridges present routes of varying difficulty, from gentle grassy shoulders to scrambling arêtes like Striding Edge. In 1926 a small aeroplane landed and took off from the summit, one of the stranger feats recorded on the fell. The John Muir Trust now manages the summit and edges in partnership with the Lake District Park Authority. Beneath the cliffs, rare arctic-alpine plants survive on ledges and the mountain ringlet butterfly flutters over the crags. Visitors reach the plateau by several ridges, each offering different scenery. Striding Edge delivers a narrow crest with drops on either side, while Swirral Edge curves away to the pyramid of Catstye Cam. Red Tarn, once dammed for mining, now holds brown trout and schelly. Brownrigg Well, a never-failing spring below the summit, once fed water to Helvellyn Mine through a leat. The western slopes descend through conifer plantations to the shores of Thirlmere, where the ground falls more gently than on the eastern crags.