Briefly south from the Legburthwaite car park along the B5322 road then east and a steep climb to Sticks Pass. South to the summits of Raise, Whiteside Bank, Lower Man and Helvellyn, followed by a south-westerly descent of Birk Side to reach the permissive path on the east side of Thirlmere. Finally north through woodland to Highpark Wood and back to Legburthwaite via Greathow Wood. An 11-mile walk in the Lake District.
Recommended Ordnance Survey Map
The best map to use on this walk is the Ordnance Survey map of the Lake District North-Eastern Area, reference OS Explorer OL5, scale 1:25,000. It clearly displays footpaths, rights of way, open access land and vegetation on the ground, making it ideal for walking, running and hiking. The map can be purchased from Amazon in either a standard, paper version or a weatherproof, laminated version, as shown below.
Standard Version
The start of the climb to Sticks Pass near Stanah.
Waterfall created by Stanah Gill.
The view north-west towards High Rigg, with the cloud-topped Skiddaw range of mountains in the far distance.
Looking down upon Stybeck Farm and Stanah. The tree-covered hill is Great How, backed by Raven Crag and The Benn.
The view over to Thirlmere (Reservoir).
The grassy western flanks of Raise and Stybarrow Dodd.
Looking up to Raise on the approach to Sticks Pass.
The crossroads at Sticks Pass. Straight on for Sheffield Pike, left for Stybarrow Dodd and right for Raise.
The path from the Sticks Pass crossroads to the summit of Raise.
The view north-east towards Ullswater from the rocky slopes of Raise.
The summit of Raise, height 883 metres (2897 feet).
The path from the summit of White Side to Lower Man and Helvellyn.
The Browncove Crags ridge stretching north-west from Lower Man.
Catstye Cam north-east of the Helvellyn summit, with Birkhouse Moor and Sheffield Pike in the background.
The view north-east from Lower Man towards Sheffield Pike and Ullswater.
Browncove Crags.
The Lower Man summit, height 925 metres (3035 feet).
Triangulation pillar on Helvellyn, height 949 metres (3114 feet). Helvellyn is the third highest mountain in the Lake District, the two higher ones being Scafell Pike and Scafell.
Red Tarn as seen from Helvellyn.
The popular Swirral Edge.
It’s busy as usual on Helvellyn.
The path between Helvellyn and Nethermost Pike. Our route to Birk Side is on the right.
Sheep grazing above the slopes of Whelp Side and Middle Tongue.
The descent of Birk Side near Comb Crags and magnificent views of Thirlmere.
Comb Crags.
Woodland path below Birk Side and Middle Tongue near the south-east tip of Thirlmere.
Comb Gill.
Whelpside Gill.
Woodland track below Helvellyn on the east side of Thirlmere.
The view south-west towards Wythburn Fells at the southern extent of Thirlmere.
Permissive path through The Swirls.
A wonderful carpet of bluebells in Highpark Wood.
The view over to Raise and Lower Man from Greathow Wood.
The track along the eastern edge of Greathow Wood near Dale Head.
A final look back at Raise and Lower Man from Little How near Legburthwaite.
