Helvellyn Route Options

Great timing.... When you thinking of going?

The route from the north is indeed very rideable, but very conditions dependent. There is a big bog on the first bit up Brutts Moss. First time I did it was totally frozen, which was great. We rode about 95% of it to Helvelyn summit. More recently in summer I pushed a lot more even though it was relatively dry.

It should be in pretty good condition at the moment.

Ah cheers. This Sunday, so hopefully it will be quite dry?

I did the full ridge (north to south, over Helvellyn finishing on Dollywagon Pike) as a sponsored piece for this here website a few years back and it was a good day out. The Dodds from memory are more pedally than you think, but less of an arse than Keppel Cove. Definitely one for when it's dry. Up Grizedale Beck and Dollywagon is a great alternative, but that's a definite carry.

Up Grizedale Beck and Dollywagon is a great alternative, but that's a definite carry.

Seems to be gaining popularity, not done the Dollywaggon bit myself though.

Not sure how big a ride you were after OP, but it's great to head up from Thirlmere side, down Sticks & Seldom, then back up Keppel Cove to the summit and down Birkside.

Posted by: chakaping

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Not sure how big a ride you were after OP, but it's great to head up from Thirlmere side, down Sticks & Seldom, then back up Keppel Cove to the summit and down Birkside.

Ohhhhh. All rideable? I'm off to do some planning in Komoot...

I walked it a couple of months ago - up from Dunmail Raise to Grisedale Tarn, up Dollywagon, across the summit then fork left and left to descend to Swirls Car Park on Thirlmere. Then back through the woods and across to Dunmail.

Apart from some slightly soggy bits around the bottom of Dollywagon it was all dry even then.

Saw a couple of riders descending from the summit southwards, didn't see which route they took though.

Posted by: Blackflag

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Ohhhhh. All rideable?

Going up from Thirlmere side is a definite hike-a-bike.

The one time I've ridden it, we went up from Glenridding.

Ohhhhh. All rideable?

A lot of pushing and a bit of carrying up from Thirlmere, but it's not too awful IIRC.

I've "ridden" up from Broadrayne on the Grassmere side once. Actually now it comes back to me quite a lot of it actually was riding, just that I've blanked it out because it hurt a great deal. Going up Grisedale from the Patterdale side I've likewise done once but woudl do again. Pushing in places but okay. It's a carry up Dollywagon in any event. Up helvellyn once in a day is plenty for me... 

Anyway, what's the next best descent after seldom seen? Does anything compare? 

@chakaping route is one of my favourite rides anywhere. Up from Thirlmere is a bit of a slog though.

Up fromThirlmere is a bit of a slog though.

Generally forgotten by the time you're slogging up Keppel though 😀

Anyway, what's the next best descent after seldom seen? Does anything compare? 

Birkside is really good, more gnarly than Seldom but very satisfying.

Dollywaggon/Grisedale Tarn is techy and awkward to the tarn, then sublime tech/flow down from the tarn towards Patterdale (so I'd pick that one).

Not sure how big a ride you were after OP, but it's great to head up from Thirlmere side, down Sticks & Seldom, then back up Keppel Cove to the summit and down Birkside

 

Ahhhh. All rideable

Well it depends how you get up from Thirlmere.... We headed north along Thirlmere to the Coach Road then up the Dodds ridge that the OP asked about along the ridge to Sticks, down this then up Keppel then down Birkside ( which as the poster above says, is much harder than SS

Not sure if it is Strava or STW that is ****ing up the link...

I think that's user error - Strava now defaults to sharing a png of your route so you can overlay it on a selfie for the socials. Swipe for a different image or choose share link instead.

Interesting route btw, that must've been a big day out!

Last and only time I've done the full route I didn't go over Bruts Moss..

Started in Patterdale, up to Dockray but then carried on along the coach road and then up to Clough Head, Calfhow Pike, Great Dodd where you join the normal route again

I was meant to come down Dollywagon but got lost and ended up at the bottom of Birkside a bit confused - the pathless climb back up to Dollywagon Pike after that was hell

Posted by: yoshimi

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Started in Patterdale, up to Dockray but then carried on along the coach road and then up to Clough Head, Calfhow Pike, Great Dodd where you join the normal route again

 Did you go off piste from OCR to the summit of Clough head, or up the valley bottom Bridleway?  That's one of the few BWs on Helvelyn that I haven't done but it's reputed to be even worse than the Moss.

I was meant to come down Dollywagon but got lost and ended up at the bottom of Birkside a bit confused - the pathless climb back up to Dollywagon Pike after that was hell

**** me, that's quite some error. Must have been gubbed after that...

Here you go, found it

The map does show a path, but from memory I don't really remember it being there - and yes very boggy from the OCR to Clugh Head

It was Lowey that told me not to go over Bruts Moss and follow the OCR further up

https://strava.app.link/DEDilCZM0Sb

  Hi. Inspired by this thread and thinking about Helvellyn this Friday and a first to Lakes other than Whinlatter (Sad face).

From what I can work out Seldom Seen and Birkside are the best ways down - one flow and one tech. Two route options starting and ending at Glenridding to go up behind the youth hostel and along sticks before heading south and down Birkside. Then either up from Dunmail Rise or ride north to ride back up and along sticks and finishing on Seldom…

Questions:

1. Is this doable in a good day? Most the team is fit and/or assisted. Hours needed?

2. Which is the more rideable or advisable climb back from Thirlmere, Dunmail or Sticks Pass? Concerned that Dunmail will have lots of carry and 50% of the team on E - they would like the least push or carry.

I drew a picture of the route below.

xx

Down - Sticks into Seldom Seen

Back - Kepple Cove

Sorry. Ignore me, wrong side. Duh

1. Is this doable in a good day? Most the team is fit and/or assisted. Hours needed?

 

Yes. I did a variation on this where I climbed Dodds Ridge rather than Sticks west. I have to admit that I was very tired by the time we did the second ascent. Total time was 7hr 21

  https://strava.app.link/4pvpdF2Z42b

2. Which is the more rideable or advisable climb back from Thirlmere, Dunmail or Sticks Pass? Concerned that Dunmail will have lots of carry and 50% of the team on E - they would like the least push or carry.

I drew a picture of the route below.

I've not done either but Rich the Keswick guide did Sticks West on his eeb recently and deemed it good. Dunmail etc would be a mare with eebs. Deffo do Sticks West or the other bridleway near it.

Also, although you didn't ask, can I suggest you change your Sticks East up to  Keppel up. ( As the poster above suggested) as it would be much more rideable on an eeb.

Posted by: mashkins

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2. Which is the more rideable or advisable climb back from Thirlmere, Dunmail or Sticks Pass? Concerned that Dunmail will have lots of carry and 50% of the team on E - they would like the least push or carry.

I'd say sticks up from the west, especially if you're eebing with walk assist. Actually I wouldn't be surprised if some fit folk can clean the steep bit of the climb (and therefore the whole thing) in the dry with a motor. The middle section can be boggy but probably not too bad currently. Top bit nice riding, bottom bit rideable, middle bit steep and grassy but straightforward by lakes standards.

• Edit - crossed posts with @thegeneralist above. But totally agree and assumed that was the plan - keppel up, birkside down, sticks up from the west and sticks down to the east. Especially with eebs you can probs ride everything up 

I rode Helvellyn 10 days ago on an Eeeb. Was a simple up Keppel/Whiteside and down Sticks. Was a 2 meter rock step at top of Lower man where I had to dab but otherwise was 100% rideable. I did however rinse my 630ah battery to 20 % so no way I would have been going down to Thirlmere and back up. One of best days on bike for a while. Perfect conditions and didn't meet a soul until the summit. Reckon that would be a seldom occurrence.  

 Nice day for it! Were you a responsible rider and keep it in eco all day or could abit more be wringed out those batteries?