Dollywagon Pike, Nethermost Pike and Helvellyn. 13th August 2025

So back to the Lakes for Theo and I and we were heading up to Helvellyn, a mountain Theo said he always wanted to conquer.

We parked halfway up Dunmail Raise which meant we had cut out a little bit of climbing but not too much. Over the styal we went and after a short section over a small field we were into the bracken and the climbing.

This section seems a lot longer on the way back down but not too bad going up and then you follow the valley alongside a beautiful beck.

On such a clear day the RAF were out on training exercises and it was funny to think we were actually higher than they were flying - if you zoom in you can see the aircraft - quite the din!

At the top of the valley you are rewarded with views of Grizedale Tarn which has to rank as one of my favourite places in Lakeland.

You go 3/4 of the way round the tarn before turning sharp right to follow the zig-zags up the path to Dollywagon Pike. It is hard work this way I have to say.

There is a small cairn at the top of the climb and from there you turn right a couple of hundred yards later to get to the summit of Dollywagon Pike - another Wainwright done!!

And I made it too !

From Dollywagon you retrace your steps a little before branching off to the right

The path is really clear as you wend your way round to Nethermost Pike. A few people though the above was Nethermost but it isn't, you have to continue on past this a little to get to the summit which has the look of an ancient graveyard!

But we'd made it....

Then it's retrace the steps again before the final ascent up to Helvellyn.

I believe Helvellyn is one of the most visited tops in Lakeland and it is easy to see why. the views are great and the path wide and obvious so it is as safe as it can be in benign weather. There is a memorial to a couple of chaps who landed a plane on it!

Its only about 15 minutes from Nethermost to Helvellyn and that's 3 Wainwrights off the list ! Only 86 to go now.