It's where Wordsworth was painted by Haydon. It's where the artist Charles Gough fell tragically to his death. The third highest peak in England, Helvellyn is steeped in poetry and legend. Views from the top are breath-taking: on a clear day, you can see west to the Irish Sea and north to the Scottish mountains.
The summit may be beautiful, but getting up there can be tough! Striding Edge is notorious among even the most experienced fell-walkers. Steep slopes drop down on either side, making the edge a tight-rope: a fall could be fatal. The author Alfred Wainwright called it 'a succession of jagged fangs ending in a black tower.' It doesn't sound too appealing, does it? And yet it attracts thousands of hardy climbers every year, keen to scramble the sharp ridge up to the plateaued summit. Perhaps 'Scrambling Edge' would be a more appropriate name - though maybe that sounds too much like a thing you'd have for breakfast!
This design shows Striding Edge from its most dramatic angle, falling away beneath our very feet. To the left is the edge of Red Tarn, tucked in a glacial cove beneath the summit. And circling overhead, a bird of prey: falcons are not uncommon in these skies. Volcanic rocks and the red of a setting sun: a touch of the sublime for your kitchen!
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LAKE DISTRICT - HELVELLYN (RED TARN AND STRIDING EDGE) TEA TOWEL
Magnificent! A work of art disguised as a tea towel. (N.B. The actual image is darker/not quite as sunlit as the photo but wonderful nevertheless.)