Guided Mountain Hikes Helvellyn Midsummer Sunset Hike
With Mark Reid FRGS – author of ‘The Inn Way’ guidebooks & Mountain Leader
Climb Helvellyn on a midsummer’s evening and enjoy the sunset across the summit of Britain’s favourite mountain, followed by a dusk into darkness moonlight walk down from the mountains.
Our Helvellyn Midsummer Sunset Hike will follow one of England’s finest mountain walks to the summit of Helvellyn via Birkhouse Moor, Hole-in-the-Wall, Red Tarn and the classic arete of Swirral Edge (Grade 1 scramble), Helvellyn (950m), Helvellyn Lower Man, Whiteside Bank and Keppel Cove.
Our Helvellyn Midsummer Sunset Hike is 9 miles (14 km) of breath-taking mountain scenery, with 1,050m of ascent (and descent) that will take around 7 hours to complete. We will reach the summit of Helvellyn at around 9pm, where you can enjoy in the fading evening light and sunset across the mountains. We’ll then walk back down from the summit at dusk into darkness as the sun sets, arriving back to Glenridding at around midnight.
- Enjoy the peace and solitude of a midsummer’s evening and sunset on Helvellyn
- Experience the thrill of the mountains, including Swirral Edge
- Walk in confidence with a Mountain Leader
- Small group sizes (max. 8 per leader)
- Enjoy a full day’s walking along a classic mountain route
Experience the thrill of the mountains, with spectacular views, dramatic landscapes and a real sense of achievement as you reach the summit and enjoy the experience of a summer sunset on Helvellyn.
OUTLINE OF THE EVENING
5pm: Meet at Glenridding to discuss the evening’s walk
5:15pm – Midnight: Guided mountain hike to the summit of Helvellyn, England’s 3rd highest mountain, via Swirral Edge
Midnight: Return back to Glenridding for a debrief, then head home.
NB: All timings are approximate. Head-torches are essential. The route is approximately 14-km (9 miles), with 1050m of ascent and descent across mountainous terrain. The route is steep and rocky in places, and includes a prolonged section of scrambling (hands on rock) along the exposed ridge (Grade 1) of Swirral Edge; a head for heights is required. If it is very windy (30mph+) on the ridge then we may use an alternative route.
