Helm Crag

Back to the Lake District now, and a visit to that most iconic of fells, Helm Crag.

Helm Crag is synonymous with Grasmere, a looming presence which overlooks the town.  It's famous for its rock formations: 'The Lion and the Lamb' are a familiar sight to visitors, so much so that Wainwright lamented over the fact that Helm Crag now often gets called 'The Lion and The Lamb' by visitors unfamiliar with its true identity...  Helm Crag sounds much more majestic and imposing, conjuring up images of Helm's Deep...

Like Gibson Knott, it's very modest in height, standing at a mere 1299 feet. A perfect goal for a winter's walk, and an ideal introduction to fell walking, if you ever fancy trying your hand at it.  It was one of the first summits I ventured onto - Silver Howe was my first, and Helm Crag the second - but it was way back in 2003 or 2004 that I last visited it in person.

We were well due a return trip, and I must admit that wandering along the ridge path that day, I felt like I was in the presence of an old friend.

Here's an unusual view of Helm Crag, seen from the path that travels along the ridge to Gibson Knott and Calf Crag:-

A Lion and a Lamb can just be glimpsed - Wainwright suggests that there are two lions, and two lambs, one at either end of the summit.  These rock formations do, however, have alternative names...

Like the 'Howitzer', shown below, with the dramatic backdrop of Steel Fell to the rear:-

At the other end of the ridge is another rock formation, which forms  the classic 'Lion and the Lamb' group that gives the summit its alternative name :-

I'm not sure if this is the case, but I think it's this particular formation, and not the Howitzer, that's also known as 'The Old Woman Playing the Organ'. 

We lunched that day hunkered down between some boulders on the summit.  This was the view, looking out towards the snow-covered heights of Helvellyn and Nethermost Pike (to the right) and Steel Fell (to the left).  Wainwright's description of the summit mentions a 'strange depression' strewn with boulders - I guess we found it, because I couldn't describe the bleak area in the foreground any better:-

The path back down the mountain was steep (not half so unpleasantly steep as the descent from Dollywagon!!) but Wainwright recommended it for the return route - most people ascend Helm Crag and return via the Borrowdale bridle path.  Wainwright was quite right in his advice - the view over Grasmere towards Loughrigg Fell was breathtaking.

I must be getting more accomplished at fell-walking.  When I first tackled Helm Crag, it seemed like a pinnacle of achievement.  This last trip was a pleasant walk with a wee bit of extra effort from time to time - I'm amazed it's taken me seven or eight years to go back there.

A lovely summit, and just the place to be on a midwinter's afternoon.

And now I'd better go - I've got a Christmas tree to decorate and some presents to wrap.

Merry Christmas, everyone!