Rambling Pete

Date: 20-Oct-2012

Map: Landranger 89

Weather: Bright early morning with cloud rolling in from the north west

 

From the Kirkstyle Inn, up the lane and steeply up to the north of Mellbreak. Walk to the south summit and return to the saddle for descent to Mosedale. Cross to the far side below Hen Comb and walk around to the south. Steeply up the south siude of HenComb to the summit, and gently down to Little Dodd. Cross Mosedale Beck close to the woods and return to the Inn by the lane: 6 miles as measured on memory map.

 A return visit to walk up to Mellbreak and Hen Comb from the Kirkstile Inn. An evening stroll produced fine light over Grasmoor and Whiteside, before a few bottles of Wainwright Ale hit the spot. The morning promised plenty as the sky was blue and it was nice and crisp. But alas the cloud rolled in from the north west, dimming the views down over Buttermere towards Fleetwith Pike. But we did get views coupled with the steep ascent of the north end of Mellbreak up to White Crag – a great way up this fell, and an equally steep descent down to the valley to cross over towards Hen Comb near to the Mosedale Holly Tree. I can’t believe that a tree is marked on an OS map – mind you it is the only one around here. We cut up the steep southern flank of Hen Comb and decided that we’d had enough by then and abandoned plans to walk down and up to Gavel Fell, so returned to the Kirkstile Inn along the gentle northern slope of Hen Comb. Another cloudy summit walk revisited in clear weather, and only 14 more to do now. Hopefully finished in 2013...maybe

 A gentle glow over Whiteside and Grasmoor

 zoomed in on the hills with great autumnal colours

 the day dawned lovely, bright and crisp - such a shame it didn't last

our route was up the lane from the Inn then through a small plantation, up to the steep end  

looking back to the Kirkstyle Inn 

great light illuminating the valley over Crummock Water 

you can just make out the path up the scree slopes ahead 

great views back down over Loweswater as we got higher 

the path was alittle loose in places but generally good and didn't feel exposed to me, although there are one or two rocky bits 

Fellbarrow and Low Fell to the north 

looking over to Hen Comb across Mosedale 

a great view down over Crummock Water, and along Buttermere to Fleetwith Pike in the distance 

you can see the U-shaped earthworks next to the lane down below - probably dates from the Iron Age? 

in the far distance the fells were layered in mist beyond Fleetwith Pike 

up on top and the weather rolls in, but thankfully the rain missed us out 

looking back to the north summit from the route to the south summit of Mellbreak 

the view down Buttermere from Mellbreak south summit - shame the weather had turned so quickly 

looking back to the north summit and Mosedale Beck down below 

it's mighty steep coming down the side of Mellbreak 

the Mosedale Holly tree - Hen Comb across the valley 

looking back to Mellbreak as we made our way around the south end of Hen Comb 

pretty boggy ground at the head of Mosedale Beck between Hen Comb and Mellbreak 

we cut up the side of Hen Comb ahead 

some lovely mossy areas around 

steeply up the grassy slopes. Robinson in the background, head in clouds 

looking over to the High Stile Ridge with Pillar peeking over in the background 

a long steady walk down the wide ridge from Hen Comb summit 

the view over to Mellbreak, with Grasmoor in the background 

looking back up to Hen Comb, the lone Holly tree is down in the valley 

we came down the side of Mellbreak above the Holly tree 

the Scottish hills clear across the Solway Firth 

looking back over to Mellbreak 

lovely colours looking over the end of Mellbreak to Whiteless Edge and Grasmoor 

down to Mosedale Beck 

the crossing place at Mosedale Beck - can be a little slippery at times, and very nearly uncrossable in times of spate 

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