Has anyone climbed Helvellyn via Striding Edge?

[Lansonmaid]

.....and if so is it as scary as it looks? I've been thinking about the Wainwright coast to coast and I think this is on the itinerary as an option. But I get nervous looking at pictures of it. Be grateful for honest opinions. DH and I do a lot of walking on the SW coast path and I've done the Two Moors Way so we are not walking novices

I have, I didn't find it particularly scary but I don't get vertigo. I'm only an average walker, not a mountain climber type at all!

I think the main thing is to keep going and not stop or look down, those that did seemed to struggle to start again.

Go for it, it's an amazing walk and I felt a really sense of achievement

It looked a lot worse than it actually was and there are a few parts where there is a path you can walk around the side rather than going over the top. The very last up bit looked scary on the approach but when faced with it, it was fine.

Did it about 40 years ago - it was daunting but was with experienced walkers/climbers and they were great with the encouragement. Very pleased with myself when I'd finished.......

Couldn't do it now due to post menopausal vertigo

Yes I have. I’m not great with heights but it wasn’t as scary as the pictures. You don’t have to walk right on the top edge, you can kind of pick your way round and there’s plenty of hand holds. It helped me that my walking buddy (DP) is quite confident with heights so was very encouraging and we took our time. It’s a spectacular walk.

I found it fine and I don’t like sheer drops or walking over high bridges. Like others said I just kept walking, except for a few photo ops, and enjoyed it.

Hopefully these will show up big enough for you to see. You can take the path to the side if you don't want to do the rocky bits for most of it. (Worth doing at least some of it.)

I did years ago, but it was foggy most of the time, so you couldn't see a lot.

(btw - the fog enveloped us while we were already halfway up, we didn't choose to do it like that!!)

we did it with our 8 and 12yr old recently. We didn’t need the rope. It wasn’t that bad!… We needed a rope for them in Sharp edge blencathra.

We are climbers/scramblers though, so not really phased. But if our 8yr old can do it ropess, anyone can do it 👍

Go super early so you don’t get stuck behind bimbling idiots freaking out

You can always go up Swirral Edge which is much less scary. Don't let Striding Edge put you off the walk...

It's not too bad. It's a ridge but not that narrow and in places more like a path.

It’s wonderful and worth doing. It’s far less scary in person and fairly wide.

I run it fairly often and don't find it scary in the slightest.

There is some exposure, but you are always on solid ground (most of the ridge has a path), with handholds there if required. If you think there is a chance you'll be nervous, I'd choose a dry, sunny day.

What would you be planning for your descent route? In my book, Swirral edge is slightly harder than striding (albeit shorter), so if you do find Striding scary, I'd recommend that you descend via Grisedale Tarn to the south, or Whiteside/Keppel cove to the north (both are straightforward paths).

It’s wider than it looks. Some drone style photos are taken with a wide angle lens that seems to compress the ridge. Why not book a guide for the day? They’re usually around £125 for the day but can take groups for that. They are insured, have loads of local knowledge, have mountain first aid skills, and you’ll be putting much needed money into the local economy.

I did it a few years ago. Tbh I think we must've gone the wrong way. I can honestly say it was the most terrifying experience of my 60 years. I still can't think about it.

Just to add I'm pretty level headed and don't scare easily.

If you do it try and stay away from weekends and bank holidays as it can get very busy.

I have and my dcs have done a few times too.

Its fine but PLEASE don’t do what a woman we overtook did - trying to do it with heels on!

Good walking shoes make the experience 100x better :)

@dolphinsarentcommon i think it’s important to do it going UP rather than down.

I’d assume if doing the coast to coast you’re going west to east and will go up Hellvellyn from the west, Thirlmere side and then come down via Striding Edge . I’ve never come down via Striding edge but went up it years ago, was ok. But a dog fell off and died while I was there.

@MumbleAlwaysMumble I was going up! I refused point blank to go back down that way. I'd have still been up there now if they'd made me

You see, a dog fell off 😳

Much more scary going down isn’t it? @dolphinsarentcommon

Plus most people are going up so it makes things more tricky to pass each other too.

Assuming you have a head for heights and are fairly agile, piece of cake. Besides all difficulties can be bypassed

Done it many times, from earliest childhood. It isn't technically difficult but you have to have a head for heights. Sadly, in my late 50s now, I have lost that head for heights and would be nervous to attempt it. Don't do it in wind or snow though!

I did it a long time ago when I was only about 15, so it didn’t faze me! I don’t think I really registered how steep it was at the time. Not sure I would do it these days, but I remember it being a pleasant walk otherwise, if a bit scrambly over the Edge itself.