Helvellyn is England’s third highest peak and enjoys stunning views of the surrounding Lake District. Hikers flock to the area, which is one of the most popular walking spots in the country, with many choosing to take the Striding Edge route to the summit.
And those who make it to the top of the mountain are then swept away by the vista before before them in this part of Ambleside.
But despite it being hugely popular, not everyone is a fan – two of the latest reviews on TripAdvisor have taken a swipe at the mountain, with one disgruntled reviewer claiming it was the “worst experience of my life”.
The one-star reviews blast the peak for having no facilities at the top and claim the views weren’t impressive enough.
Taking to Tripadvisor in February, one person said: “Far too hilly, spoiled a nice walk.
“There were also no facilities at the summit, not even a coffee shop.”
Just a few weeks previous to this, in January, a lengthy one-star review was added. This detailed: “I recently hiked Striding Edge in the Lake District and it was the worst experience of my life.
“Firstly, I had to go to the bathroom halfway through the hike and there were no facilities. I ended up having to go behind a rock and it was extremely inconvenient.
“I mean, how could they not have a single toilet on this entire hike? Do they expect people to just hold it in or something? Ridiculous.
“Secondly, all the other hikers on the trail seemed to be annoyingly competent and made the hike look way too easy, bunch of smug gits!
“To make matters worse, my girlfriend was complaining the entire time about how hard the hike was and how she wished we had just stayed at the hotel. Ugh, some people just can’t handle a little bit of exercise.
“Girlfriend: ‘Babe, I can’t do it. My legs are killing me. Can we please turn back? I’ll do anything you want if you just agree’.”
“Me: ‘Don’t be such a wuss, love. We can’t turn back now. We’re almost there. Plus, it’s not that slippery. You’re just not paying attention to where you’re walking’.”
“Girlfriend: ‘I am paying attention. It’s just so slippery. And what’s that smell?’.”
“Me: ‘It’s probably just the smell of defeat. You’re just not cut out for these types of hikes, love’.”
“And to top it all off, the views from the top were not even that impressive. I mean, seriously? That’s all we get after all this hard work?
“A mediocre view of some hills and a lake? I’ve seen better views from my backyard.
“I would not recommend this hike to anyone. Save yourself the hassle and just stay at home.
“Trust me, you won’t be missing out on anything.”
But it would seem these one-star reviews are few and far between, with lots of people rating Helvellyn five stars.
One five-star review reads: “I really, really loved climbing this mountain.
“The first half of the ascent is pleasant and I wouldn’t say was super strenuous.
“It’s hard going and on a warm day I had to fill my bottle up in streams twice before reaching the Tarn, but the path is steady and you’ll reach the Tarn in an hour if you’re a moderate walker.”
Another said: “I climbed Helvellyn for my 25th birthday, and my god did I struggle.
“It was my first-ever mountain, it took me six hours to climb, but absolutely well worth the visit.
“I climbed via Striding Edge and can’t recommend it enough. Bring plenty of water and some good shoes.. and you’ll be fine!”
