White Side and Raise from Glenridding

Leave Glenridding on Greenside Road and take the track through the old Greenside mining settlement, then follow the smooth bridleway toward Brown Cove and Keppel Cove. The zigzags above Keppel Cove lift you onto the ridge at White Side (863 m), from where a short, easy ridge stroll leads to Raise (883 m). Drop to Sticks Pass (748 m), then descend the rough path beside Sticks Gill through the old reservoir and Greenside Mine workings back to the village. The reward is two Wainwright summits, wide views toward Helvellyn, Catstycam, Swirrel Edge and Birkhouse Moor, along with Ullswater, Skiddaw and the northern Dodds.

This is a hard fell day, 7 out of 10. Paths are well used but rough, with steep and loose stone, some hands-on rock, and basic map reading needed over open ground. The col and both summits are fully exposed to wind, and the north-facing drop from Raise to Sticks Pass is steep with awkward footing. The most demanding part comes last: the loose, steep descent beside Sticks Gill is stony and tiring, and it runs through old mine workings with spoil heaps, scree and crags. Keep to the main path, do not explore the workings, and factor this section into your decision if you are unsure about steep loose ground.

The walk moves from a valley of industrial remains, including the Brown Cove and Keppel Cove dams and the old Greenside reservoir and mine buildings, up to broad grassy shoulders and then rough grey rock on the tops. Bog is generally soft rather than deep, but the high ground is stony and uneven throughout.

Start from the public Beckside Car Park on Greenside Road in Glenridding, which is pay and display. The first steps of the route are a few metres from the car park, and the loop returns to the same place. Dogs are allowed on the fell paths, but keep them under close control and judge honestly whether your dog copes with scree, crags and mine workings.

This is the shorter, contained circuit, not the long Helvellyn day. It leaves out Helvellyn, Catstycam and the bigger multi-summit ridge rounds, so you gain two Wainwrights and the classic view across to Helvellyn's edges for far less distance and time, while still taking on genuine high-fell terrain.