The walk along the ridge north of Helvellyn was originally planned to be a very long one. Taking in Striding Edge before heading to Threkeld. From Threkeld I’d take a taxi back to the car. However I wanted Sophie with me and Striding Edge is not one I’d wish to take her along. So I rerouted to climb upto the ridge from Swirls Car Park from the Thirlmere side. I still thought to head to Threkeld and taxi back but once the walk started I realised I could loop back along St John’s in the Vale.
As I wanted to do Steel Fell afterwards I headed off early and arrived at the car park by 8:30. In time to see a few of the overnighters decamping. The initial walk is a traverse just above the Thirlspot Campsite I’d planned to stay at 2 days before on Walk 65 & Walk 66
I extended the walk to see the bottom of the Fisherplace Gill waterfall.
Then doubling back to climb up the side of the waterfall and upto White Side already ticked off on Walk 28.
White Side gives some mixed cloudy views and not one clear one of Helvellyn itself. Sophie did wonder if the weather of 2 days previous was ahead of us. This was not to be the case, the forecast was better.
The approach to Raise got better and better, even Sophie seemed to agree.
Its a straight forward trek to Stybarrow Dodd looking down to Ulswater to the east and backwards to Helvellyn which pops in and out of cloud.
From Stybarrow Dodd, the walk takes a spur our to Hart Side. A side excursion which gives interesting grassing views back towards Stybarrow and Great Dodd.
On the return leg of the spur I see the remains of unknown ditch workings and the ski run off Raise.
Watson’s Dodd is the next destination, which brings back into view Thirlmere.
Lunch is held in the shelter ontop of Great Dodd, frequented after me by 4 blokes heading for a cold wild camp at Grisedale Tarn.
Today is clearly a day for paragliders, I must have counted 20 in the sky at one time.
The final hill on the ridge is Clough Head reached via Calfhow Pike. This is not a Wainwright but a fine outcrop of rock. From the top of Clough Head there are fine views of Blencarthra and Skiddaw.
From here I headed along the top of the crags to the west. Keep above the stream heads before dropping down into Beckthorns and then walking along the valley back to the car. An Ice Cream van at the car park was a very welcome sight.
