Planning to do Helvellyn at the begining of next month as part of a week in the lakes. There seems to be several routes down: the main track back to glenridding, sticks pass or down to Grizedale tarn.

Whats does the STW brains trust recommend – pics would help.

Just done it once myself, but was very impressed with Sticks pass down to Ulswater. Very difficult in parts, but still approachable for most riders, no big drops or anything like that but extremely rocky on the lower section.

Only done Dollywagon and it was well out of my comfort zone but I am a bit of a mincer…

DSC02334 by lowey.com, on Flickr

DSC02336 by lowey.com, on Flickr

Grizedale to Patterdale was ace though.

Sticks is a pleasurable excursion highly recomended, doing it this way you get to descend Lowerman which is ace.

Have the path builders (satans minions) been busy up on Lowerman recently?

Sticks is pretty good:

Having said that Dollywagon is also a classic, allthough a fair amount more technical

Some more photos of the area