Helvellyn via Striding Edge - There are many fine ways to climb Helvellyn however an ascent via Striding Edge is considered to be by far the most spectacular of all. This narrow ridge has a reputation of being scary and difficult. Although members will previously have encountered similar individual obstacles during previous Club walks, such as a short down-climb, or a scramble up over a boulder, here on Striding Edge these are all put together with the delight (or terror) of standing on a narrow walkway with valleys falling away to either side! Most of the difficulties may easily be avoided by using bypass paths below the crest however they are on arguably more exposed ground and each come with their own problems. One such bypass ends in a loose and steep gully which is quite nasty. To reinforce the seriousness of these ridges, near the start of Striding Edge is the Dixon memorial. A small but conspicuous plaque reads “In memory of Robert Dixon of Rooking, Patterdale who was killed on this spot on the 27th day of November 1858 following the Patterdale Foxhounds". Once safely across, at the far end of the ridge is the memorial stone to painter Charles Gough which is worth pausing to read. At the end of the ridge there is a short 7m descent which can be avoided by descending to the left a short way to a mid-level path, and then down an easier gully to the lower path. After climbing the last rocky tower there is a steep loose stony path to the summit of Helvellyn. The 10 mile (with 3645ft of ascent) BLACK linear walk to Dockray will commence from Glenridding. A lower level 8½ mile circular RED walk around Glencoyne (with 2319ft of ascent) is also available from Dockray.