Dollywaggon Pike, Nethermost Pike & Helvellyn - Monday 17 November 2025
Route
Dunmail Raise - Raise Beck - Dollywaggon Pike - High Crag - Nethermost Pike - Helvellyn - Browncove Crags - Swirls - Squirrel Trail - Red Brow - Raise Beck - Dunmail Raise
Parking
Lay by on the southbound carriageway of the A591 on Dunmail Raise. The Grid Reference is NY 32986 11076 and the nearest postcode is LA22 9RS.
Mileage
11.2 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths and forest tracks throughout
Weather
A perfect winters day of sunshine and no wind yet cold on the ridges
Time Taken
7hrs 25mins
Total Ascent
4460ft (1360m)
Wainwrights
3
Map
OL5 - The English Lakes - North Eastern Area
Walkers
Dave with members of Lakeland Meet Ups
Dunmail Raise - Raise Beck - Dollywaggon Pike - High Crag - Nethermost Pike - Helvellyn - Browncove Crags - Swirls - Squirrel Trail - Red Brow - Raise Beck - Dunmail Raise
Parking
Lay by on the southbound carriageway of the A591 on Dunmail Raise. The Grid Reference is NY 32986 11076 and the nearest postcode is LA22 9RS.
Mileage
11.2 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths and forest tracks throughout
Weather
A perfect winters day of sunshine and no wind yet cold on the ridges
Time Taken
7hrs 25mins
Total Ascent
4460ft (1360m)
Wainwrights
3
Map
OL5 - The English Lakes - North Eastern Area
Walkers
Dave with members of Lakeland Meet Ups
GPX Files
From 1 March 2025 GPX files will not be available directly from the walk page as there is difficulty in using a downloadable version from the website. To that end, if you require a GPX File please get in touch via the Contact Form below and we will gladly forward it to you - thank you.
From 1 March 2025 GPX files will not be available directly from the walk page as there is difficulty in using a downloadable version from the website. To that end, if you require a GPX File please get in touch via the Contact Form below and we will gladly forward it to you - thank you.
Route Map
The parking area on the southbound carriageway of the A591 approximately 2 miles north of Grasmere. There is room for approximately 15 or so cars however at the weekend it is best to arrive early.
Steel Fell across the A591 on what looked like the start of a fair weather day
The walk starts by heading in the direction of Keswick along the verge of the A591 for 100 yards to reach a stile next to a field gate
With Reggie Knott ahead, at Grid Reference NY 32916 11670 the path splits. We took the left hand fork which leads to Raise Beck - the right hand path heads to climb Seat Sandal via its western ridge.
Approaching Raise Beck
Reaching Raise Beck we were greeted by the sight of an abandoned tent strewn over the fell side. On closer inspection the interior was full of items such as sleeping mats, a pump and various rubbish including food.
The group set about tidying up the area and dismantling the tent
We placed the various items in a neat pile and would collect it all later when we finished the walk. Why oh why do people visit such a beautiful area and then leave all their unwanted crap for others to fetch down for them - it beggars belief.
The path alongside Raise Beck is an absolute delight as it climbs gently alongside the various falls & cascades
The uppermost section of Raise Beck (Click Play to view)
Looking down Raise Beck to Steel Fell over Dunmail Raise with Ullscarf beyond
At the top of Raise Beck a metal post marks the point at which the path splits. The left hand path heads directly up the south ridge of Dollywaggon Pike and can be seen left of centre. We would be heading straight on above the northern shoreline of Grisedale Tarn to join the zig zagging path up Dollywaggon Pike’s east ridge.
Grisedale Tarn with Fairfield beyond and Cofa Pike left of centre
The path climbs gradually above Grisedale Tarn towards the start of the Dollywaggon zig zags
Another view of Grisedale Tarn this time from near the zig zag path with Fairfield left, Hause Gap centre and Seat Sandal to the right
The start of the zig zag section up to Dollywaggon Pike with Fairfield in silhouette
The path to gain Dollywaggon Pike switches back on itself several times as it climbs the fell side on a gradual gradient. From the base of the path it is about half a mile to reach the marker post with approximately 740ft of ascent.
At the top of the zig zag path the old fence post is reached - this is also marked on the OS Map
The superb view to the west over Seat Sandal & beyond from the post
Looking across Cock Cove to Falcon Crag with Fairfield beyond
High Crag, Nethermost Pike, Helvellyn, Catstycam & Striding Edge from Dollywaggon Pike
The summit of Dollywaggon Pike looking to St Sunday Crag with Ullswater over to the left
Leaving Dollywaggon Pike for High Crag
Above Ruthwaite Cove a larger cairn lies approximately 30 yards west of the summit with our path to High Crag in the distance
St Sunday Crag & Dollywaggon Pike from the approach to High Crag
Nethermost Crag & Pike across Ruthwaite Cove from High Crag. To the right across the unseen Nethermost Cove is High Spying How on the eastern end of Striding Edge.
Approaching High Crag looking back to Dollywaggon Pike
Ruthwaite Cove from High Crag - the small body of water over to the left is Hard Tarn
Looking along the escarpment to High Crag from the approach to Nethermost Pike
Looking across Nethermost Cove to Striding Edge with Catstycam over to the left
The summit of Nethermost Pike
Layers & layers of fells as we look to the west over Thirlmere
I broke off the main path to Helvellyn in order to look down on Striding Edge
A little further along the ridge and I reached the top of the abyss coming up from Striding Edge
A Helvellyn panorama - Catstycam, Red Tarn & Striding Edge
The Gough Memorial at the top of Striding Edge
The Memorial commemorates a fatal fall down the east face of Helvellyn in wintry conditions in the spring of 1805. Charles Gough was a Manchester artist who set out to climb Helvellyn with only his faithful dog Foxie for company. He failed to return. At the beginning of the 19th century, fell-walking and mountaineering for pleasure were relatively new pursuits and Gough, alone on the mountains had no specialist clothing or kit. Three months later a shepherd came across a dog barking and beside her lay the remains of her unfortunate master. Foxie, an Irish Terrier, loyal to the end had remained with her master and some accounts report that not only had the dog survived but had a pup that didn’t make it. A Carlisle newspaper had reported: ‘The bitch had pupped in a furze near the body of her master.’ On a darker note, the same report concluded that the dog ‘shocking to relate, had torn the clothes from his body and eaten him to a perfect skeleton.’ Some reports speculated that ravens had attacked the body, while others stated that the body was untouched by mountain animal or bird.
The Memorial commemorates a fatal fall down the east face of Helvellyn in wintry conditions in the spring of 1805. Charles Gough was a Manchester artist who set out to climb Helvellyn with only his faithful dog Foxie for company. He failed to return. At the beginning of the 19th century, fell-walking and mountaineering for pleasure were relatively new pursuits and Gough, alone on the mountains had no specialist clothing or kit. Three months later a shepherd came across a dog barking and beside her lay the remains of her unfortunate master. Foxie, an Irish Terrier, loyal to the end had remained with her master and some accounts report that not only had the dog survived but had a pup that didn’t make it. A Carlisle newspaper had reported: ‘The bitch had pupped in a furze near the body of her master.’ On a darker note, the same report concluded that the dog ‘shocking to relate, had torn the clothes from his body and eaten him to a perfect skeleton.’ Some reports speculated that ravens had attacked the body, while others stated that the body was untouched by mountain animal or bird.
Approaching Helvellyn
With my walking companions on the summit of Helvellyn on what was a fantastic weather day
Helvellyn’s summit ridge looking to Swirral Edge, White Side & Raise with Blencathra distant
Swirral Edge, Catstycam & Red Tarn with Raise centre left
The Trig Point on Helvellyn’s summit ridge looking to Catstycam
Looking back to Helvellyn’s summit from the Trig Point with Striding Edge to the left
Swirral Edge & Catstycam from the marker cairn at the top of the exit
A Swirral Edge & Striding Edge panorama
Another Helvellyn panorama looking into Brown Cove with Keppel Cove beyond. To the left is Helvellyn Lower Man with White Side & Raise centre - over to the right are Swirral Edge & Catstycam with Skiddaw & Blencathra distant.
Helvellyn Lower Man
From the turn off for Lower Man we headed straight on to make our descent to the valley bottom via Browncove Crags
Looking back to Helvellyn from the path to Browncove Crags
Thirlmere below as we continue the descent down to Swirls
The Swirls path gets a lot of footfall and has many loose stone sections therefore it is wise to take your time
The descent to Swirls is well known for “going on a bit” however it is a tad unfair to complain with views like this on offer. Over Thirlmere are Raven Crag & The Benn with Bleaberry Fell beyond whilst Skiddaw is to the right. The wooded fell to the far right is Great How.
The route eventually leads to a handgate the other side of which is a footbridge over Helvellyn Gill
The footbridge over Helvellyn Gill
Helvellyn Gill (Click Play to view)
The United Utilities Car Park at Swirls - usually heaving on a weekend but pretty quiet today
Leaving Swirls a waymark on the left points the way along a forest track known as the Squirrel Trail
One of the many gills, becks & waterfalls that are passed along the Squirrel Trail
The memorial seat to brothers Christian & Niggy Townend who were killed in December 2010. They were cycling home to Cockermouth when they were hit by a coach on the A595 near Moota.
Above Wythburn Church & Car Park the track passes the turn off for the Birk Side path that eventually leads to Nethermost Pike
As the sun sets, a silhouetted Steel Fell appears over Dunmail Raise
Crossing Birkside Gill
Birkside Gill from the footbridge
There is no footbridge over Raise Beck therefore pick your spot and cross safely - it was easy enough today. If the beck is in spate it is best crossing further up to the left where the rocks are plentiful.
As pointed out earlier, we duly returned off route to collect the detritus left by the unpleasant members of society who saw fit to leave their crap strewn across the fell side. If the owners are reading this, your gear was deposited in Maryport Recycling Centre the following day.
Another fantastic day out in the Eastern Fells
Another fantastic day out in the Eastern Fells