NY3334809809 Parking is available by the farm at Town Head for a couple of pounds. Follow the road southwest out of Town Head towards Helmside for 200m

NY3319709600 Take the track going northwest and follow this up the hill past more buildings.

NY3298309803 Take the obvious Landrover track going northwest, following the wall parallel to the river.

NY3280209901 Continue on this track past the foot bridge, staying on the same side of the river.

NY3187110372 Cross stepping stones and follow a sometimes ill defined path towards the top of the ridge. Be wary of periods of sustained rain or snow melt which could cause the river to swell. In this case the river crossing here may not be passable so the river will have to be crossed either at the footbridge lower down the valley, or by continuing up the valley and skirting around the edge of the bowl to avoid the main river, crossing its subsidiaries.

NY3099810376 Follow the ridge east-southeast for approximately 2km, through a series of peaks and cols, before reaching the final summit of Helm Crag (distinguished by obvious rocky peak).

NY3271509324 Enjoy the summit! The true high point can be achieved by a short but exposed grade one scramble to the top of the obvious pinnacle, known as The Howitzer (the only way off this is to downclimb the way you came). Now follow the path descending south-southeast into the valley, for 1km.

NY3282308567 At the junction with the wall proceed through the gate, then take the small gate immediately on the left. This is a permissive path through the gardens of the Lancrigg hotel. Follow out of the hotel drive east, and onto a track past the youth hostel.

NY3325008436 At the junction with the road follow it north back towards Town Head.