Striding Edge, Helvellyn

Back on one of my favourites today for a company I freelance to. They have a distinctly social aspect to the way they run the business, almost like a club, with clients paying a membership and then comparatively low event costs. It's a little unique, but works for them. It can however mean that the clients can have very mixed abilities so I was a little apprehensive when I saw the forecast.....
Fortunately today  I had four people who were all relatively experienced in the outdoors and all four had wanted to do Striding Edge for a long time - it graces many a magazine cover and is a coveted 'tick'.
Arriving in Glenridding it was torrential, but forecast to improve. We set off in full waterproofs, but by the time we'd finished the slog (absolutely the right word!) up Birkhouse Moor it had stopped, and in the warm temperature the rock soon started to dry. I varied our route a bit to see how they handled some scrambling and exposure and happy but aware we strode onto the ridge. There was some hand holding, some coaching and a lot of careful guide placement, but all too soon they were at the end of the difficulties, and best of all, all smiling.
The summit clouds cleared for our lunch stop, then we made our way down Swirral Edge, had Catsycam all to ourselves for coffee and chocolate, and then headed down to Greenside and along the terrace back to Glenridding.

Smiling faces always make my day :)