The heavy rain of yesterday had washed the Patterdale skies clean, under a crystal blue sky I find myself striding up the long finger of Grisedale, the orange glow across the summits of Dollywaggon and Nethermost Pikes beckoning me into the hills.

My day starts in Patterdale where I managed to nick the last free parking space. After making my way north along the main road I reached Grisedale Bridge to begin the climb, over tarmac on a single track road that guides me into the beautiful valley of Grisedale. The road soon ends to be replaced by a bridleway, this is one of Lakeland's many ancient routes, the motorways of their day built before the roads were laid in the valley bottoms, built to accommodate the pack horse, long before the advent of the motor vehicle. This I followed in the shadow of St Sunday Crag until I reached Grisedale Tarn immediately followed by the steep ascent of Dollywaggon Pike. The main path traverses the western slopes presenting limited views over the western Lake District, on a day like today far better to summit Dollywaggon Pike to start the long ridge walk taking in the summit of Nethermost Pike on route to Helvellyn, this ridge graced me with mouth-watering views in every direction. Leaving the busy summit the path leads over Lower Man crossing Whiteside Bank before the ascent to Raise, here I decided on a well earned dinner stop. After lunch I left the main path to descend east over grass slopes heading for what looks like a perfect path built to carry the walker over Stang End, it's actually the remains of a chimney built to carry the toxic fumes upwards and away from the Greenside Mine, it dose make a very good footpath though. This deposited me on the lower slopes of Sticks Pass another ancient packhorse route, from where I made my way to the footbridge over Glenridding Beck. From the footbridge I took the old miners path traversing the lower slopes of Birkhouse Moor, you really get a sense of how big the Greenside Mine actually was from here. This path leads to Glenridding, I took the permissive path from Miresbeck Farm this lead me to the picturesque Lanty's Tarn before my descent back into Grisedale to retrace my steps back to Patterdale.

The Helvellyn Skyline.	back to list view route map
	Looking to the ridges leading from Dollywaggon Pike and Nethermost Pike from the beautiful valley of Grisedale.
	From Ruthwaite Lodge early morning views to Place Fell.
	Lit by the morning sun Seat Sandal across Grisedale Tarn.
	After a steep climb stunning views from the summit of Dollywaggon Pike.
	Wonderful views from above the High Crag cliffs, Heron Pike and Great Rigg leading to Fairfield.
	The stunning view across the Wythburn Fells taking in Ullscarf with the dome of Great Gable on the skyline.
	The summit Nethermost Pike looking to mighty Helvellyn.
	The striking view over Red Tarn seen from the summit Helvellyn.
	The summit Helvellyn looking to Catstye Cam.
	Views over stoney Swirral Edge to the long ridge of High Street.
	Ascending the slopes of Whiteside Bank, looking back across the summit of Nethermost Pike with Morecambe Bay clearly visible on the distant horizon.
	This fine cairn marks the summit of Raise.
	Descending the eastern slopes of Raise heading for the chimney over Stang End.
	The remains of the chimney, unbelievably almost a mile long rising over 1,000ft.
	The summit Stang.
	I'm still descending the chimney above the Greenside Mine, looking down the valley of Glenridding Beck with the slopes of Birkhouse Moor in sunlight and shadow.
	The vast scar of the Greenside Mine.
	Place Fell rising above Ullswater.
	The crooked finger of Ullswater seen over the village of Glenridding.
	Hidden in the hills above Glenridding Lanty's Tarn catching the afternoon sun.
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