Catstye Cam

Hill, Mountain in Westmorland Eden

England

Catstye Cam

Striding Edge from Swallow Scarth Descending from Nethermost Pike on the way to Helvellyn, the low point above Nethermost Cove is Swallow Scarth, offering a view ahead to the most exciting part of the day&#039;s walk, along Striding Edge. In winter conditions, a good head for heights needs to be supplemented with crampons, and whilst an ice-axe is good for balance, it&#039;s unlikely to stop a fall on shallow snow over rock, so don&#039;t fall off ! We recommend that you don&#039;t (as I did on a similar day in the same place, but travelling in the opposite direction) manage to stick the front points of one crampon into the trouser leg of the other foot, leaving oneself teetering on the very top of the edge with a climber&#039;s axe too short to reach the ground, pondering the best way out of the predicament. Good balance and a cool head are key. The day seen here was less fraught, but the cloud had rolled in from the west, and daylight was limited, so a headtorch was needed before reaching the car, even though, back in 1987, one was still allowed parking in Grisedale.

Note, although submitted as having been taken 1987-02-22, diary entries are a little sparse, and it might just conceivably have been February 15th (although I would have expected to be too hung over on that Sunday, following a caving club dinner the previous night). — Striding Edge from Swallow Scarth Credit: Andy Waddington

Catstye Cam is a prominent hill located in the Lake District National Park, specifically in the county of Cumbria, England. Standing at an elevation of 890 meters (2,920 feet), it is considered one of the fells in the Eastern Fells region of the park. Catstye Cam is situated on the eastern edge of the Helvellyn range, which is widely regarded as one of the most popular and challenging mountain areas in the Lake District.

The summit of Catstye Cam offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, including the nearby Helvellyn and Striding Edge. The terrain is rugged and rocky, with steep slopes and crags, making it a favorite among experienced hikers and mountaineers seeking a thrilling adventure. The ascent to Catstye Cam can be achieved from various starting points, such as Glenridding or Patterdale, and often involves traversing Striding Edge, a notorious ridge connecting the mountain to Helvellyn.

Catstye Cam is part of a network of peaks that attract outdoor enthusiasts throughout the year, providing opportunities for both summer hiking and winter mountaineering. The area is known for its unpredictable weather conditions, which can change rapidly, so it is important for visitors to come prepared with appropriate clothing and equipment.

Overall, Catstye Cam offers a challenging and rewarding experience for those seeking an exhilarating climb, stunning views, and a taste of the natural beauty that the Lake District National Park has to offer.

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Catstye Cam Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 54.533439/-3.0088764 or Grid Reference NY3415. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Striding Edge from Swallow Scarth

Descending from Nethermost Pike on the way to Helvellyn, the low point above Nethermost Cove is Swallow Scarth, offering a view ahead to the most exciting part of the day's walk, along Striding Edge. In winter conditions, a good head for heights needs to be supplemented with crampons, and whilst an ice-axe is good for balance, it's unlikely to stop a fall on shallow snow over rock, so don't fall off ! We recommend that you don't (as I did on a similar day in the same place, but travelling in the opposite direction) manage to stick the front points of one crampon into the trouser leg of the other foot, leaving oneself teetering on the very top of the edge with a climber's axe too short to reach the ground, pondering the best way out of the predicament. Good balance and a cool head are key. The day seen here was less fraught, but the cloud had rolled in from the west, and daylight was limited, so a headtorch was needed before reaching the car, even though, back in 1987, one was still allowed parking in Grisedale. Note, although submitted as having been taken 1987-02-22, diary entries are a little sparse, and it might just conceivably have been February 15th (although I would have expected to be too hung over on that Sunday, following a caving club dinner the previous night).

Andy Waddington

Fold, Helvellyn Gill

Mick Garratt

Path across Birkhouse Moor

David Robinson

Path & wall between Birkhouse Moor and Striding Edge

David Robinson

Helvellyn

Helvellyn (centre), with Striding edge on the left and Swirral Edge & Catsty Cam on the right of the image.

David Robinson

Looking back along the path above Bleaberry Crag

David Robinson

High Spying How at the start of Striding Edge

David Robinson

Striding Edge, Helvellyn, and Red Tarn

David Robinson

On Striding Edge

David Robinson

Striding Edge

David Robinson

Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam

David Robinson

The path to Glenridding

David Robinson

Looking over Glenridding Beck to Rowten Beck

David Robinson

Peaty ponds punctuate path on Birkhouse Moor

One of two paths climbing the fell to Striding Edge, the one coming up Little Cove from Gillside encounters more wet ground on the crest of the ridge than it did on its ascent of the cirque. Even in a long, hot, dry summer like 2022, these peaty ponds show the water table to be barely below the ground surface. Looking over the valley of Red Tarn Beck, the view extends to Catstycam and Swirral Edge and beyond them, the long north ridge of Helvellyn to Raise.

Andy Waddington

Looking back towards Hole in the Wall from High Spying How

High Spying How marks the end of the easy ascent from Glenridding over the at times broad path that can be seen in the distance leading from Hole in the Wall. It's best not to be here heading upwards unless you have a head for heights and decent footwear (if you are heading down at this point without those attributes and have come from Helvellyn's summit, well done for surviving this far).

Andy Waddington

Path over High Spying How

After the hard work of climbing 700m from the shores of Ullswater at Glenridding, there's only 100m of up to reach Helvellyn, and it is all a lot more fun than what has gone before. Well, as long as you are one of those who feel happy on exposed scrambles, of course. This is the start of Striding Edge, and it is essential to stick rigidly to the crest at all times (there are skulkers' routes round quite a lot of it, really).

Andy Waddington

Half a kilometre of fun scrambling ahead

Let's be honest, it's been a slog up 700m of ascent to reach High Spying How, the start of Striding Edge, in the summer heat. But the last 100m of up to the summit of Helvellyn are a lot more pleasant, and a straightforward, if exposed, path with a lot of exciting scrambling on the very crest if you choose to take it in weather like this. In winter conditions (eg. NY3414 : Striding Edge from Swallow Scarth) it is rather more serious, so whatever the weather, be sure you know what you are taking on, as some of the scrambling is very polished - the result of its enduring popularity.

Andy Waddington

One of the more intimidating public footpaths

There are lots of routes in the Lake District for those who like scrambling and Striding Edge is by no means one of the more difficult ones. However, it is unusual for a technical route in being a public footpath, leading some to underestimate the level of fun to be had. Particularly when seen from the top, it can be an intimidating prospect if you were expecting a walk (as clearly some of the folk we met on this summer day had been). Most of the difficulties do, in fact, have skulkers' routes and only the purists will stick rigidly to the crest all the way (our dog was allowed to cheat on some bits...)

Andy Waddington

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Catstye Cam is located at Grid Ref: NY3415 (Lat: 54.533439, Lng: -3.0088764)

Administrative County: Cumbria

District: Eden

Police Authority: Cumbria