Old Cumbria Gazetteer - Helvellyn: ascent 1855


included in:-	Helvellyn, St John's Castlerigg etc
	Helvellyn: ascent 1855
site name:-	Helvellyn
civil parish:-	St John's Castlerigg and Wythburn (formerly Cumberland)
civil parish:-	Patterdale (formerly Westmorland)
county:-	Cumbria
locality type:-	hill
locality type:-	historic ascent
coordinates:-	NY34261508
1Km square:-	NY3415
10Km square:-	NY31
altitude:-	3100 feet
altitude:-	945m

evidence:-	old text:- Martineau 1855 item:- accident
source data:-	Guide book, A Complete Guide to the English Lakes, by Harriet Martineau, published by John Garnett, Windermere, Westmorland, and by Whittaker and Co, London, 1855; published 1855-76. goto source Page 164:- "If the traveller ascends Helvellyn from Grisedale, he must take the road to the right, soon after entering the dale, in order to reach Red Tarn. Some sturdy climbers go on to Grisedale Tarn, and climb the mountain from its head: but it is best to take the road to Red Tarn, either by Grisedale or Glenridding,- the next turn from Patterdale. It is possible to go on ponies to within half an hour's walk of the summit. Red Tarn lies 600 feet immediately below the highest point, parted off from Grisedale by the rocky ridge of Striding Edge, and surmounted in the opposite direction by the similar ridge of Swirrel Edge. This last is the ridge along which the track lies,- the conical head of Catchedecam being its termination. This part of the ascent is that which is most trying to unaccus-" goto source Page 165:- "[unaccus]tomed nerves, though there is no real danger. It was in trying the other ridge, (which it is always fool-hardy to do,) that Charles Gough fell from the precipice, where his corpse was watched by his dog for two months, till it was found. Every one knows the story, as told by Wordsworth and Scott. There are stakes near the tarn where horses are fastened, and then there is a steep scramble to the top." "There are precipices on the east of the summit; but its mossy plain slopes gently towards the west. No mountain in the district is, we believe, so often climbed. ... There are three modes of ascent from the Grasmere side;- the one by Grisedale Tarn: another from Wythburn; and a third further on from Legberthwaite. The one from Wythburn is the shortest, but by much the steepest,- the track beginning at once to climb the hill opposite the Nag's Head. The gushing stream which crosses the mail road near the Nag's Head comes down from Brownrigg's well,- the spring which refreshes the traveller on his way up or down,- bursting from the mountain side within 300 yards of the summit. ..."

Lakes Guides menu.