Helm Crag from Grasmere
Grasmere's own fell: a short, steep climb from Easedale to the rocky crest known as the Lion and the Lamb, with an exposed summit block for those who want it.
- Distance
- 6.6 km
- 4.1 miles
- Ascent
- 326 m
- High point 395 m
- Time
- 2 hours
- Walking time, no stops
- Grade
- Moderate
- There and back
Take this walk with you
Google Maps does not know most fell paths, so use it to get to the start, then follow the GPX in an app like OS Maps, Komoot or AllTrails. To see the line in Google Maps, open Google My Maps, create a map, choose Import and pick the KML file. It then appears in the Google Maps app under Saved, Maps.
Weather on this walk
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Helm Crag is the knobbly ridge you see from almost anywhere in Grasmere, and its summit rocks give it the nickname the Lion and the Lamb. It is one of the smaller Wainwrights, but it packs a lot into a couple of hours.
The walk heads out along Easedale Road and up a steep, engineered path from near Lancrigg onto the ridge. Up top the crest is a jumble of rock outcrops with views down Grasmere and along Easedale towards the tarn. The true summit is the top of a steep rock tower at the far end, and getting onto it is a genuine scramble with a drop below.
You do not need to stand on that last block to enjoy the walk. It is a good half day for anyone staying in the village, or a warm-up before bigger fells.
The route
- 1
Grasmere to Easedale Road
From Broadgate Meadow car park walk into the village and take Easedale Road, heading north-west out of Grasmere.
- 2
Towards Lancrigg
Follow the lane as it runs out into the open fields of Easedale towards Lancrigg, where the path for Helm Crag leaves the valley.
- 3
The climb
The path climbs steeply up the south-east end of the ridge, and the views back over Grasmere get better with every bend.
- 4
Along the crest
Once on the ridge, wander north-west along the crest past the Lion and the Lamb rocks. The highest point is the top of the steep rock tower at the far end; only scramble up it if you are confident, as the drop is real.
- 5
Back to Grasmere
Return the same way, taking care on the steep steps on the descent.
Questions people ask
Why is Helm Crag called the Lion and the Lamb?
The rocks on its summit ridge look like a lion with a lamb at its feet when seen from the road below, which gave the fell its nickname.
How long is the walk up Helm Crag?
Mud and Routes gives 7.19 km and about three hours for its route up and down from Grasmere.
Is the Helm Crag summit dangerous?
The very highest point is a steep rock tower that needs a scramble with a drop below. Mud and Routes calls it one of the trickier Wainwright summits. Most walkers happily stop below it.
Where do you park for Helm Crag?
Any of the Grasmere car parks; Broadgate Meadow is handy for Easedale Road.
More walks nearby
Easedale Tarn from Grasmere
Moderate, 8.6 km, 227 m up, about 2 hours
Grasmere's classic tarn walk: up beside the white cascades of Sourmilk Gill to a big mountain tarn, back by Far Easedale.
Silver How from Grasmere
Moderate, 5.8 km, 370 m up, about 2 hours
Grasmere's own little fell: a short circuit to a rocky summit with one of the finest views of the vale, the lake and the Langdale Pikes.
Alcock Tarn from Grasmere
Moderate, 5.4 km, 312 m up, about 1 hour 30 minutes
A short, steep climb from Grasmere to a quiet fellside tarn, with one of the best views of the vale on the way down past Dove Cottage.
Food, drink and beds near the start
The Wordsworth Hotel
Luxury Hotel, Grasmere, £££, dogs welcome
A much-loved hotel in the heart of Grasmere village, now part of The Inn Collection Group and reopening after a major refurbishment with dog-friendly rooms and a relaxed pub-style dining offer.
The Jumble Room
Eclectic, Grasmere, ££
A gloriously eclectic Grasmere institution where world flavours collide on a menu that refuses to be pigeonholed.
Tweedies Bar & Lodge
Modern British, Grasmere, ££, dogs welcome
A relaxed Grasmere bar and lodge with a big beer garden looking out to the fells, a strong line of craft beers and ales, hearty seasonal food and live bands at weekends.
Forest Side
Tasting Menu, Grasmere, ££££, dogs welcome
A Michelin-starred restaurant in a Gothic Victorian mansion overlooking Grasmere, with much of the produce foraged from the surrounding fells. The tasting menu is a masterclass in terroir-driven cooking.
The Swan Hotel
Country Hotel, Grasmere, ££, dogs welcome
This 17th-century coaching inn sits right in the heart of Wordsworth country, where literary pilgrims and fell walkers converge. Stone walls, oak beams, and roaring fires create the perfect base for exploring the central fells. The Swan's traditional charm feels authentic rather than contrived, with locals propping up the bar alongside visiting ramblers.
Wordsworth Grasmere
Heritage, Grasmere, ££
Dove Cottage and the museum tell the story of England's greatest Romantic poet in the landscape that inspired him.