Helvellyn Clockwise or Anti clockwise ?

Dirtydog11

Hi Guys,

I'm going up to the Lakes on Saturday or Sunday and was wondering what's the best route up an over Helvellyn.

There are two routes I'm considering

Route 1 http://www.bogtrotters.org/route/showro ... p?route=24

Route 2 http://www.bogtrotters.org/route/showro ... p?route=72


So the question is which way Clockwise or Anti clockwise?

This will be my second attempt, we tried last year from St Johns in the Vale and took the old coach road but conditions on Great Dodd where very very boggy and we eventually ran out time.

I'm hoping it will be drier this year due to the recent dry spell.

The forecast for the weekend is looking good. 8)

Radioactiveman

If you have not been up Helvellyn before I would recommend route 1. It may not seem that much when looking at the distance alone but I did a route similar to that last year on my own and it was a killer. That route may be better as the switchback climb up glenridding common on the map is evil

The descent off the back of dollwagon has been "upgraded" so beware of giant stepping stones and drainage channels as wide as a wheel in places. Its all worth it once you get down to grisedale tarn.

Notice you may be up the lakes already but if not have fun

Dirtydog11

Radioactiveman wrote:

If you have not been up Helvellyn before I would recommend route 1. It may not seem that much when looking at the distance alone but I did a route similar to that last year on my own and it was a killer. That route may be better as the switchback climb up glenridding common on the map is evil

The descent off the back of dollwagon has been "upgraded" so beware of giant stepping stones and drainage channels as wide as a wheel in places. Its all worth it once you get down to grisedale tarn.

Notice you may be up the lakes already but if not have fun

Cheers for that Radioactive, unfortunately as you had already guessed we left before I had a chance to read your post.

Anyway we took route 1 anti clockwise, what a slog. In hindsight I think it would be have been a much better ride done clockwise.

The switchback steps leading down to Grizedale Tarn are IMO impossible to ride down.(I managed to do a 100 meter section, more out of anger than anything else) as is a large section of the Bridleway at the bottom. The minimum I would have expected, after riding all the way up there, was to have been able to ride off the mountain and not have to scramble down whilst shouldering/carrying bike :evil: .

Ahh well, you live and learn.

Had we have gone the other way we would have been able to ride all the way from the top of Great Dodd, downhill, back to the car in Glenridding.

Never again, I kept telling myself.

3 days later and I'm contemplating going back to do it in the opposite direction. You've gotta laugh, what is this sickness? .

Having said that, it was a great adventure, the weather was kind albeit a bit windy, we had a play in the snow and the views where fantastic.

Some photos

http://www.flickr.com/photos/38378636@N ... 772826661/

Thanks again .

Radioactiveman

HI thanks for the reply and the pictures. In a way I am gad you have seen the bridleway upgrade. Its bloody horrendous and I hope it inst the sign of things to come. I found it by accident as they were in the progress of doing it as I crashed into a bag of hei dropped rock

As you say I think Danny Mcaskil would find it challenging.

Dirtydog11

Radioactiveman wrote:

HI thanks for the reply and the pictures. In a way I am gad you have seen the bridleway upgrade. Its bloody horrendous and I hope it inst the sign of things to come. I found it by accident as they were in the progress of doing it as I crashed into a bag of hei dropped rock

As you say I think Danny Mcaskil would find it challenging.

Do you know if that section was rideable before the 'upgrade'?

Is does make you wonder whether it was upgraded to serve as a deterrent to mountain bikers. That particular section is only good for goats ,walkers and as you say Danny Mac.

+1 for no more upgrades/downgrades, I'll take it as it is!

Radioactiveman

Hmm they had only done the lower half when I rode it the top half was loose scree type surface. I believe it was generally all loose scree and badly affected by water. The repair will last and is hardwearing but it has definitely killed a bridleway for cycling. I just hope it isnt the model for all further upgrades.

Ask about it in biketreks and they are in agreement that the upgrades are bike unfriendy. I believe you can make complaints to the national truste, not that it woud do much?

these are the people doing the work for the national park i think

http://www.fixthefells.co.uk/index.htm

sniper68

Radioactiveman wrote:

Ask about it in biketreks and they are in agreement that the upgrades are bike unfriendy. I believe you can make complaints to the national truste, not that it woud do much?

Pointless complaining to the National Trust as it's nowt to do with them,not their land.You could try to the Lake District Park authority but it'll fall on deaf ears as with all the repairs on the busy fells they've gone for longevity as opposed to bike friendly.There are BWs all over the high fells with steps etc,they just last longer(decades in some cases)