Helvellyn and Ullswater

Patterdale, Glenridding, Ullswater and Helvellyn from Hare Shaw Crag

The wonderful assemblage of ridges and secret corrie headwalls that lie beneath Helvellyn’s eastern flanks are probably one of the most extensive in the English Lake District. Eagle Ridge on Nethermost Pike and The Tongue on Dollywagon Pike complement superbly Helvellyn’s edges whilst the deep hollows of Cock Cove, Ruthwaite Cove, Nethermost Cove and Keppel Cove are equally impressive as those that cradle Red Tarn.

I left Patterdale at daybreak on a bitterly cold windless day. From the tiny track that traverses the west flank of Place Fell to Hare Shaw Crag I was blessed with expansive views across a calm and reflective Ullswater. The strong low morning light cast, alternately, bright highlight and dark shadow into the upper corries, picking out all the detail of ridge, buttress and gully. But, best of all, standing proudly and ethereally above all else and sparkingly white in alpine-like splendour, was Helvellyn.