Helvellyn range facts for kids

The Helvellyn range is a group of mountains, also known as "fells," in the English Lake District. The word "fell" is what local people call a hill or mountain. This range gets its name from Helvellyn, which is the tallest mountain in the group.

Exploring the Helvellyn Range

The Helvellyn range forms a long ridge, like a mountain spine, that stretches for about 10 kilometers (6 miles). The lowest point on this ridge is still over 600 meters (about 2,000 feet) high. It runs from north to south. On the eastern side, you'll find Patterdale, and to the west is the Thirlmere valley. The village of Threlkeld is located at the very north end of the ridge, below Clough Head.

The mountains have different looks depending on which side you are on. The slopes above Thirlmere are usually steep and covered in grass. However, the Patterdale side has more rocky features. This is because ancient glaciers carved out bowl-shaped hollows, called "cirques," on the northeast side of the ridge.

Main Mountains of the Range

Most of the mountains in the Helvellyn range are directly on the main north-south ridge. But there are also a few mountains that branch off on the eastern side. Here are some of the important peaks in the range:

• Clough Head (726 m)
• Great Dodd (856 m)
• Watson's Dodd (789 m)
• Stybarrow Dodd (843 m)
  • Green Side (795 m)
  • Hart Side (756 m)
  • Sheffield Pike (675 m)
• Raise (883 m)
• White Side (863 m)
• Helvellyn Lower Man (925 m)
• Helvellyn (950 m) - This is the highest mountain in the range!
  • Catstye Cam (890 m)
  • Striding Edge (863 m)
  • Birkhouse Moor (718 m)
• Nethermost Pike (891 m)
• High Crag (884 m)
• Dollywaggon Pike (858 m)

The Helvellyn range usually ends at Dollywaggon Pike. South of this mountain, the land drops down to 574 meters (about 1,880 feet) near Grisedale Tarn. A tarn is a small mountain lake. After that, the land rises again towards Seat Sandal. Sometimes, people use the name "Helvellyn range" more broadly to include other mountains like Fairfield and those north of Ambleside.