BROWN
CRAG, HELVELLYN LOWER MAN, HELVELLYN, WHITE SIDE &
RAISE from STANAH
Summary & Summits
Walk
statistics
Name
of Summit
Height
(ft)
Height
(m)
Grid
Ref
Date - 13th July 2010
Brown Crag
2001
610
NY 3275 1764
Map - OL5
Helvellyn Lower Man
3033
925
NY 3374 1554
Distance - 8.5 miles
Helvellyn
3118
950
NY 3424 1511
Ascent - 3100ft
White Side
2832
863
NY 3378 1666
Start - Stanah
Raise
2897
883
NY 3428 1741
Walk Blog
The day
started bright, sunny and summery, with excellent visibility
providing majestic views particularly to the west and north. As
the day progressed cloud increased with strong gusty winds on the
higher summits, and a consequent drop in temperatures, so feeling
more like winter. Just at the end it came on to rain heavily. We
were with Uncle Eric, and this was to be a good day for him,
bagging all the summits, especially Helvellyn. I was very excited
as two of my four remaining Wainwrights would be ticked off. We
set off from Stanah, just at the start of the road to St Johns in
the Vale. Walked up the lane, climbing the ladderstile, then
through the gate to cross the bridge over the water conduit and
finally another gate to open fell. Sticks Pass was ahead, our
return route. We went right along the wall on the path signed to
Swirls. Crossed Fisherplace Gill, which was flowing quite fast
after recent rain. Then to the point where the path comes up from
Thirlspot. Consulting the map and Wainwright Book 1, we
backtracked a short way to find the path climbing up, and after
crossing the gill, took a right fork to climb steeply through the
bracken. This finally gave way to grassy terrain as the path
wound on towards the bulk of Brown Crag our first objective.
Skirting left we gained most of the height, then struck right to
quickly reach its summit - a rocky outcrop. Another Birkett
ticked off and the last in the Helvellyn Group. Walked on
climbing towards White Side, but took the path right to walk
along the slopes to round the mountain above Helvellyn Gill with
the dramatic Browncove Crags across the valley. A steepish pull
finally brought us to the col on the ridge. Here right it was a
fairly short steep ascent to Helvellyn Lower Man (Birkett catch-up
Little Eric and I). Then just a short stroll to Helvellyn itself.
Not surprisingly it was busy, but we took our opportunity to bag
the cairn for a short while for our picture. That was three tops
done but still two to go. Returning we took the opportunity to
inspect the steep descent that is Swirral Edge, before returning
over Lower Man and down to the col. Ahead was the steady 200ft of
ascent to White Side with its cairn and lowish shelter. This was
used for lunch, but it was now quite cold so it was only a brief
stop - suddenly it was like winter. Ahead was Raise reached after
250ft ascent from the depression, its top adorned with a
beautifully constructed cairn. A work of art! I was eager to sit
with my pals for my picture, as it was my 212th Wainwright and
the last in Book 1. Descending we could see clearly ahead the
cross roads at the Sticks Pass. Our route was left on the grassy
track with some steeper eroded sections. Finally we were amongst
the bracken again, the path led to the signpost where we taken
the path to Swirls. By now it was starting to rain, but we were
the car and safely inside before it turned heavy. Another super
day.