Helvellyn or high street

Hi there, going to do a ride on one of the above on the Tuesday after bank holiday Monday at Easter, will probably be on my lonesome so was wondering which would be best and also the best routes for both with a bit of a bias towards descents! Maps or links or descriptions will be apreciated

Each to their own, but Helvellyn for me. If you only want to do one ascent to the summit I'd go up from Glenridding, then down via Dollywaggon or the Dodds (probably my favourite but only if it's very dry or frozen). I'm not a fan of the zigzags either up or down, but plenty of folk are. If you're willing to climb twice then you can do a figure of 8 type loop with a descent off either side which is a decent day out (through getting up from the west is not everyone's cup of tea). If you do High St., the descent to the south is best.

However, if you're reasonably fit you can do both High St and Helvellyn in one ride, linking them with the path on the east/south of Ullswater- that'd be my reccomendation if you have a full day and decent conditions.

down via Dollywaggon

Only if riding a 224 (or equivilent) and full armour. The zig-zag route is far better.

TBH A couple of years we did both in a weekend, 'High Street' is longer and more mtb, whereas Helvellyn is miserable up, and bloody quick and fun down.

High Street.
We camped at Sykeside, so rode down towards Patterdale and then took the BW on the right at Hartsop up towards the dam/tarn.
The a bit of a push onto The Knott, then ride along to HS.
Then back across the ridge aiming North for High Raise until a left BW after Barton Fell.
Follow toHowtown (really nice along here).
Into Boredale and over Boredale Hause dropping back to Hartsop.

No facilities en-route, and hope the weather is good.

I don't think High Street is all that tbh. Great views and you stay up high but pretty boggy (and I did it when it had been dry for a while) and no real killer descents imo.

Helvellyn going up over the Dodds (also potentially very boggy though) – right over the whole ridge/summit, then down Dollywagon is the only route I've done on Helvellyn. I found it much more exciting than High Street personally. Dollywagon descent is pretty hardcore though – big bike and body armour certainly preferable.

I have a slight preference for High Street, as it's easier and I think there's more variety of views, however the rides are so different it's hard to make a useful comparison. Helvellyn offers many more different approaches, nearly all of which I've tried and subsequently rejected as being very nasty at some point or other 🙁 I would say taking the lake short to Dockray and going S along the Dodds is the best – though it means you miss the amazing descent down Lower Man – and Dollywaggon is way beyond my skills (and TJ will barrack you for riding on the grass as I advise). Grisedale Valley is an excellent rocky DH – but some pushing entailed.

High Street really requires you to climb The Knott from Hartsop and head north with a choice of riotous grassy downhills, either to The Cockpit or via Arthur's Pike (more later)

b r- got to disagree (but as I said each to their own and all that). For me Zigzags may be fast but not really worth the effort. Also, I find the climb up High St from Hartsop far more grindingly destroying than going up Helvellyn (from the East via Keppel Cove). For the OP (assuming you don't know this already) dollywaggon is stone paved, steppy and steep. Full sus and body armour aren't strictly necessary though- I sometimes manage to mince down ok, but sometimes get a bit phased out and have to walk or use a different descent. As you were asking for a descent bias I thought it worth a shout, especially given the inclusion of Grisedale (fairly good) as a straightforward return.

To add to grum's points- the usual descent from High St. (northwards) is usually grassy and soft and liable to be boggy. I've never understood it's 'classic' status as a ride (the supposed 'best' bit being broad boggy grassy field)- other than the views (but where isn't spectacular on its day?). Descending to the South avoids this but leaves you without an obvious off road return (assuming start near Hartsop- other than the long way round, Kentmere, Longsleddale, Gatesgarth…).

The shoulders of the Dodds can also be boggy too and are best avoided if they are. Opposite to most people, I find the small ascents and increasingly longer descents work well as an extended high level series of descents from the summit of Helvellyn going northwards, rather than as a gradual climb up (ie southwards from the coach road).

To the OP- I'd echo what sfb says in that all the possible variations of both hills have their own good and bad aspects, and they aren't really comparable- you'll just have to do them all to find out what works best for you. 😉

Or both? And you can take in Skiddaw too if you get a move on.

if it's been dry for a few days head to high street, Helvellyn will be rammed full of walkers then so not as much fun I fear!

Seconding GC, bank holiday on Helvellyn will be hellish busy, you will see few people on High Street, and most of them will probably be on bikes.

high street, descending north from the cockpit then left and back to howtown, followed by ullswater lakeside track is all very good riding, mostly downhill. i find the lakeside track a more enjoyable option than boredale. there is a nice pub in howtown too. i quite like the tough climb up to hayeswater, but i've not quite rode it all cleanly. the carry up the knott is a bit of a pain and once on high street it depends on wind direction and wetness. this stretch can be a bit of a grind, but i've rode it in dry conditions with a slight tailwind and it was good then.
never rode helvellyn, i don't like the sound of climbing/carrying to be faced with very difficult descents, or descents that take you down too quickly.