This is a technical 12.5mile route over the
summit of Helvellyn, climbing Sticks Pass then
descending Dolywagon Pike and Grisedale.
On a good day it will be a very big test of your
stamina and riding skills, in bad weather you
might want to give it a miss.
1. Start from Glenridding campsite
(GR381168). Head out of the campsite with
the river on your right then turn right on the
lane by the farmhouse to go over the bridge.
At the junction after the bridge turn left to ride
past a row of houses on the right. Go past
Helvellyn YHA and continue climbing straight
on up the wide gravel track. The track soon
comes to a gate. Take the steep track on the
summit of Helvellyn, climbing Sticks Pass then
descending Dolywagon Pike and Grisedale.
On a good day it will be a very big test of your
stamina and riding skills, in bad weather you
might want to give it a miss.
1. Start from Glenridding campsite
(GR381168). Head out of the campsite with
the river on your right then turn right on the
lane by the farmhouse to go over the bridge.
At the junction after the bridge turn left to ride
past a row of houses on the right. Go past
Helvellyn YHA and continue climbing straight
on up the wide gravel track. The track soon
comes to a gate. Take the steep track on the
2. At the top of the short grassy climb turn right onto a steep and rocky track.
Soon after go sharp left and continue climbing with a combination of riding,
pushing and carrying through a few corners. After going through the second
right hand bend the trail then climbs to a large scree field where the trail
flattens out. At the junction at the far edge of the scree turn left and continue
climbing through the rocks. The trail then goes through a right hand bend and
soon becomes rideable. Go past a track on the left and follow the main trail
towards the bottom of the mine workings.
3. At the mine workings go across the
bridge below the spoil heaps. The
trail then climbs left on the sand. At
carrying uphill and some loose, rocky descents,
follow the track along the ridge over Raise and
Keppel Cove. The track is quite easy to follow
as it is marked with a number of cairns.
follow the track along the ridge over Raise and
Keppel Cove. The track is quite easy to follow
as it is marked with a number of cairns.
At the next junction, in about 1/3mile, turn left for a short climb up a wide track
(GR342145). This leads to a rocky plateau where the trail continues straight
on. After a while the trail then descends left into a dip in the ridge. Bear right
at the bottom and up a short but tricky climb. At the junction just after take the
(GR342145). This leads to a rocky plateau where the trail continues straight
on. After a while the trail then descends left into a dip in the ridge. Bear right
at the bottom and up a short but tricky climb. At the junction just after take the
7. Turn left at the main road and head back to Glenridding. In the centre of the
village turn left just after the shops onto the tarmac BW, before the main road
crosses the stream. Follow the lane out of the houses to where it changes to a dirt
track through the trees. At the following junction go right to stay by the river all the
way back to the campsite.
This ride has taken me between 3hrs 30min and 6hrs depending on the weather,
who I was with, how much I went back to repeat technical sections and how long I sat
looking at the fantastic views. This route is almost 13 miles with just under 2miles
pushing & carrying.
All of this loop can be plotted on OS Landranger 90.
This route crosses and can be combined with other routes from my site:
High Street to Hell (day 2)
at a crossroad on the ridge, a good spot to refuel (GR342182).
4. Turn left and head south on the ridge path. With a mixture of riding, pushing and
4. Turn left and head south on the ridge path. With a mixture of riding, pushing and
the top of the short climb bear right and follow
the track across the bottom of the valley. At the
far side of the valley turn left and follow the trail
up the right hand side of the valley. This is a
great bit of singletrack dotted with tricky rock
sections to try and clean. The trail steepens
towards the end for a final carry that comes out
the track across the bottom of the valley. At the
far side of the valley turn left and follow the trail
up the right hand side of the valley. This is a
great bit of singletrack dotted with tricky rock
sections to try and clean. The trail steepens
towards the end for a final carry that comes out
climb bear right to the trig point and the obligatory photo stop (GR342152). A
Go straight on at this junction, through a big section of bed rock and descend into Grisedale keeping to the technical
and rocky track descending down the left hand side of the valley. Follow the trail to Ruthwaite Lodge, about 1/2 way
down, then bear right as the trail crosses to the right hand side of the valley. The track continues its rocky fun for quite
some time before it gives way to a wide gravel then tarmac track at the bottom. Follow this straight on to the junction at
the far end with the A592 (GR391162).
and rocky track descending down the left hand side of the valley. Follow the trail to Ruthwaite Lodge, about 1/2 way
down, then bear right as the trail crosses to the right hand side of the valley. The track continues its rocky fun for quite
some time before it gives way to a wide gravel then tarmac track at the bottom. Follow this straight on to the junction at
the far end with the A592 (GR391162).
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right directly before the gate. Climb the wide, loose switchbacks through the disused mines. At the top of the bends
take the steep grassy track signposted right, to Sticks Pass (GR362174).
take the steep grassy track signposted right, to Sticks Pass (GR362174).
Descend to the junction after Keppel
Cove and go straight on to climb
Lower Man. Lower Man is the final
carry and also one of the toughest.
Remount at the top and follow the
track left for the final climb to the
summit of Helvellyn. At the top of the
Cove and go straight on to climb
Lower Man. Lower Man is the final
carry and also one of the toughest.
Remount at the top and follow the
track left for the final climb to the
summit of Helvellyn. At the top of the
little further on from the trig point is a stone
shelter, which is a good place to refuel.
The first time Sabine (left) rode a mountain
bike it was up Helvellyn. Paul, who's idea it
was, took her the easier way down, back
down Lower Man before turning right at the
junction at Keppel Cove (GR339169) and
descending the switchbacks back to
Glenridding.
shelter, which is a good place to refuel.
The first time Sabine (left) rode a mountain
bike it was up Helvellyn. Paul, who's idea it
was, took her the easier way down, back
down Lower Man before turning right at the
junction at Keppel Cove (GR339169) and
descending the switchbacks back to
Glenridding.
5. To reach Dollywagon Pike from the top
continue south from the trig point and stone
shelter and descend along the wide ridge track.
continue south from the trig point and stone
shelter and descend along the wide ridge track.
right hand track. This track follows the contour of the ridge and soon bears left to the start of the Dollywagon Pike.
6. Lower your saddle if you need to as the descent of Dollywagon Pike is very steep and technical. It starts out quite
innocuously but soon comes to a long and steep section of trail paved with huge uneven boulders broken with a
number of big water bars. I’ve ridden 85-90% of it in the dry but it does get very sketchy in the wet. About 2/3rds of
the way down to Grisedale Tarn the boulder paving gives way to a technical but more natural track. Follow this as it
winds down the mountain to a junction on a flatter part of the trail at the far end of Grisedale Tarn (GR351123).
6. Lower your saddle if you need to as the descent of Dollywagon Pike is very steep and technical. It starts out quite
innocuously but soon comes to a long and steep section of trail paved with huge uneven boulders broken with a
number of big water bars. I’ve ridden 85-90% of it in the dry but it does get very sketchy in the wet. About 2/3rds of
the way down to Grisedale Tarn the boulder paving gives way to a technical but more natural track. Follow this as it
winds down the mountain to a junction on a flatter part of the trail at the far end of Grisedale Tarn (GR351123).
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