Raise, White Side, Helvellyn & Nethermost Pike

Parked in the small car park at the Stanah village Hall (on the right) and popped a couple of quid into the honesty box.

Heading up the lane past Stanah Farm

And onto the fell side. A sign-post indicates Sticks Pass straight on or Swirls Car Park to the right. If things go to plan, I should be back here in about 6 hours time.

Following the path alongside Stanah Gill, I head upwards and into the Helvellyn massif.

Looking back again - this time over towards Thirmere and Great How, with Raven Crag behind.

Looking back at the Sheepfold above Stanah Gill. Plenty of flies around here - with no breeze at all they were quite annoying for a couple of hundred yards.

The path begins to gradually climb the broad and featureless ridge which separates Stanah Gill and Sticks Gill

Arriving at the motorway crossroads which is Sticks Pass.

The yellow brick road ascent to Raise.

Looking back towards Stybarrow Dodd and the start of the 'Dodds'. Not been there for a while either - won't be long I'm sure.

Raise summit.

As I head off from the summit of Raise, you can see Catstye Cam, Helvellyn & Helvellyn Lower Man up ahead.

White Side up ahead with Helvellyn Lower Man behind. The path I would take is very easy to follow and can be seen clearly here.

White Side summit.

Leaving White Side and soon starting the climb up to Helvellyn Lower Man.

Looking down Brown Cove and Into Keppel Cove (plus Keppel Dam) with Catstye Cam to the right.

Looking to my right, you can see the Browncove Crags path coming up from Swirls.

Standing on the flat plateaux which is the top of Helvellyn, it was good to watch the walkers tackle Swirral Edge as they descend towards Catstye Cam. I took a drinks break for 5 minutes and enjoyed the views eastwards.

There's a few features on the summit of Englands 3rd highest peak - A trig point, a cross-hair wind shelter, a small summit cairn and a couple of monuments. It's nice to check them out, have a read and enjoy the views whilst your there. Today the clag was rolling in from the west at about 800m - but stopped at the edges of Helvellyn, leaving full views down to Red Tarn etc - but nothing to see westwards until height had been lost.

Looking over the edge down to Red tarn.

Striding Edge - You can see how the clag stops short of the edges and respectfully allows the walkers to see the stunning lakeland features of this beautiful arena.

Nethermost Pike summit. I hadn't planned on visiting here today, but it was just a hop, skip and a jump from the main path, I just couldn't resist it.

Heading down the Birk Side path as I soon get below the cloud again.

Thirlmere appears as the descent continues.

Nice path - pity the one on Sail wasn't done this way.

Often see 'Work in Progress' although rarely see the 'Fix the Fells' teams present at the work face. Bit like weeks of motorway contraflows with traffic jams and nobody ever seen working. Can't complain here though, as these volunteers do an amazing job - if only I was younger, I'd be here alongside you - honest.

Looking back along the path in the direction of Steel Fell.

After quite a long descent - the legs hit solid flat ground in the form of a Forestry Commission track. The track runs parallel with Thirlmere all the way to the Swirls Car Park.

Steady away, but certainly not flat - many ups and downs as I covered the two and a half miles to Swirls.

At Swirls Car Park - I decided to continue on the path to Stanah rather than the quicker, but significantly less enjoyable path alongside the A591. At the end of the hard day though, this choice does add another 600ft of ascent. Well, I'm here to walk the Lakeland paths - so onwards and upwards.

Like being back in South Devon (See a couple of weeks ago) with all this overgrowth. Bet this will be fun in a months time.

And there's the signpost - Nearly back at the car. A couple of hours driving to do now, but the price was worth paying as always.