button to main menu  Martineau's Complete Guide to the English Lakes, 1855

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Page 164:-
Vale of Newlands are seen peeping between Seat Sandal, and Helvellyn. The tarn lies under the east flank of Seat Sandal in a deep hollow; and a more sweet and solemn resting place than Grisedale Tarn is not perhaps to be found among these mountains. A wall runs along the ridge; and through the gate in that wall the track leads down to Grasmere. The views are gayer and more extensive by far than those presented by the other half of the pass. The mountains seen thence are the Langdale Pikes and Coniston Old Man, with Scawfell and Bowfell predominant. The first part of the descent is steep, and the latter part gradual and pleasant, over grass, and finally between fences and among farmhouses, till the path comes out upon the mail road, opposite Helm Crag, and some way above the Swan at Grasmere.
  Swirrel Edge
  Striding Edge
  Charles Gough

If the traveller ascends Helvellyn from Grisedale, he must take the road to the right, soon after entering the dale, in order to reach Red Tarn. Some sturdy climbers go on to Grisedale Tarn, and climb the mountain from its head: but it is best to take the road to Red Tarn, either by Grisedale or Glenridding,- the next turn from Patterdale. It is possible to go on ponies to within half an hour's walk of the summit. Red Tarn lies 600 feet immediately below the highest point, parted off from Grisedale by the rocky ridge of Striding Edge, and surmounted in the opposite direction by the similar ridge of Swirrel Edge. This last is the ridge along which the track lies,- the conical head of Catchedecam being its termination. This part of the ascent is that which is most trying to unaccus-
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button -- Helvellyn ascent 1855
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