Rambling Pete on Walking Places

Hen Comb and a few others

Date: 07-Jan-2011

Map: Landranger 89 OL 004

Weather: High grey cloud, dull but dry.

From the Kirkstile Inn along to Mosedale Beck, up to Hen Comb then down and across to Gavel Fell. Up to Blake Fell and along a broad ridge to Burnbank Fell. Down to Loweswater and back to the Inn: 8 1/2 miles as measured on memory map.

This walk was my third in this area over 2 days, including Fellbarrow and Mellbreak. It's another great little corner of the Lake District and one to return to when there are clear views - spring springs to mind. After a pleasant evening at the Kirkstile Inn - food and ale - apart from the fact that they ran out of chicken stroganoff. But the roaring fire on a cold night made up for it. We checked out and went out into a cold windless day, and thankfully my room full of heat had dried out all of my gear overnight, and today I dressed properly for the occasion. We dallied for a little while waiting for Dolly from the Coniston MRT - she turned up just as Paul was putting a map on his motor. Once we were all ready it was off down the lane again, in a dull light but at least the tops of Grasmoor and Whiteside were free., with the odd patch of clear sky poking through. As we walked along the lane Dolly recounted the tale of the roads around Lorton and a big icy patch on the Whinlatter Pass - perfect for my rear wheel drive! The route today crossed over the Mosedale Beck, and we could probably have avoided it if we'd tried a bit harder. As we walked past a small conifer plantation the sheep were feeling a bit frisky, easily clearing 3ft high fences - very impressive on a cold winters day. There wasn't any snow around on the low ground and only a dusting over the higher small fells we were heading for. Shortly after the woods we dipped down towards the beck and pondered the crossing - I must admit it didn't look too clever to me, as there were several slippery boulders to step on, including an iced up devil. But Dolly had sticks that travel far, and soon found a way across, turning to throw her magic sticks back to Paul. He was guided across ok, but me...I very nearly had a disaster and sunk without trace - the pole went one way and my foot the other, and it was very, very close to getting very, very wet. After the others had finished sniggering and I'd regained my composure, it was up the side of the valley to crest the ridge footpath up to Hen Comb - not really a ridge, more of a broad crest. It was a nice steady ascent up towards the summit with only one steep bit near to the top. Looking back down to the north we had a splendid view of our route, to Fellbarrow, the Vale of Lorton and the big Derwent Fells away to our right - Scotland looked like it was sunbathing as well. High above us was the back edge of a front, but it was moving very slowly and we didn't get any sun all day long.

High grey cloud over Whiteside and Grasmoor

Fellbarrow and Low Fell looking a bit clearer than the previous day

gaining some height - Melbreak is on the right

looking along the ridge towards Hen Comb at the end

Scotland aglow in the distance

just approaching the final climb up to Hen Comb - the High Stile ridge in view

you can see the path up from the valley along the broad ridge

the steepest bit up Hen Comb - looking across to Melbreak with Grasmoor beyond

looking down to Buttermere

As we reached the summit of Hen Comb it was slightly disappointing to see that the higher fells had a cloud covering to the south west. But we still had fantastic views of Robinson, and Hindscarth to the left side of Buttermere, Fleetwith Pike at the end, the High Stile ridge to the right and Pillar beyond that with his head in the clouds. We gazed down and across to Great Borne and the snaking path down off Hen Comb to the east. It was a little snowy and icy but ok if we walked on the grass. We studied the route down when we got to steeper ground and could see a nobbly bit - Floutern Cop, but that looked like a climb up. We decided that a likely looking path alongside a fenceline looked easier and more direct, so Dolly and self decided to wander across the 'eyelash' strewn area of the map known as Whiteoak Moss. Meanwhile we could see Speedy Gonzales zipping along up and over Floutern Cop - we're sure he jogged along. In the meantime we trudged along next to the fence that looked like a path from the top - it was just windblown snow and very soggy at that. It's a good job it was frozen or it would have been a real bog trot. There was a good view back to Hen Comb when we finally reached the path over to Gavel Fell, again following the fence down to Grain GIll and up the to White Oak and onto Gavel Fell - an unspectacular summit, but good views abound. Meanwhile Dolly was desperate to stop for some nosh, but Paul just ploughed on and as there was nowhere to shelter from the cold wind, she broke out the sweeties - very nice too. Low clouds were coming in over the big summits, but again they were slow moving, so they just sat there glowering at us. The weather was coming in from the west, but thankfully we remained dry, although the visibility was limited at times. Once up on the top of Gavel Fell we headed along the broad tops and with the big fells behind us the view changed to looking over to the little knobbly Knock Murton, and Blake Fell - the highest of the day for us, but not that high really. We stopped and wondered why Wainwright hadn't included Knock Murton or Carling Knott as ticks - maybe he was late for his bus? Up on the top of Blake Fell the views back to the High Stile ridge were now masked by the cloud moving along, and it looked like we had had the best of the weather - a very dull grey light, but still clear where we were.

heading down the front of Hen Comb - Starling Dodd ahead

superman on the horizon...I'm sure he was running

the view back to Hen Comb after crossing the moss

it was down and up to Gavel Fell

the view over to the east from the path to Gavel Fell

Hen Comb in the middle of picture, Grasmoor left and High Stile to the right

Gavel Fell summit

the route ahead down and up to Blake Fell

the view back to Gavel Fell

up on the summit of Blake Fell

We passed by the Blake Fell summit shelter which afforded no respite from the chill breeze - Dolly thought she was wasting away to nothing as we couldn't find anywhere to stop for a snack, but thankfully the sweets came out again and the talk turned to all things Marmite. From Blake Fell it was nearly all downhill for the remainder of the walk - an easy to follow path over to Burnbank Fell, even though Carling Knott looked more inviting. As before it was a good job that the ground was frozen up here otherwise it would have been quite a bog trot along the broad rounded tops. Dolly entertained us with a story about the demise of the family budgerigar who met his maker in a 'Ferraro Rocher' box - no gold wrapping though, which would have been a nice touch. As we plodded on towards Burnbank Fell we had a good look over towards Hen Comb, Melbreak, Crummock Water and Grasmoor beyond, with fine views of the Vale of Lorton. Towards the end of Burnbank Fell the ground drops away steeply, affording another great view down over Loweswater and Fellbarrow beyond. It wasn't far to go now, and we gingerly picked our way down the snow dusted north facing slope to gain a good track that contours around the hillside. Loweswater looked quite green from the last summer algae and was still frozen in places. It was easy walking around the hillside, with Dolly still looking for a lunch break. Now we were facing Grasmoor and Loweswater with Hearn Woods ahead - nearly time to feed the face. We passed Holme Beck before dropping down through Holme Wood, steeply down through old plantation trees towards the shores of Loweswater. We finally found a bench to sit on and have some lunch - mind you it was very cold though and the hands were soon numb. Suitably refreshed it was a quick walk across to Maggie's Bridge and on to the narrow lanes back to the Kirkstile Inn. A great little walk with marvellous views - well worth the effort and all finished off with a taste of Marmite Chocolate, washed down with chocolate Ovaltine - delicious for two of us, but Paul wasn't very impressed.