Date: 06-Jan-2011
Map: Landranger 89 OL 004
Weather: Low cloud, but occasional clear
spells, with a little bit of snow.
From the Kirkstile Inn along the valley
of Mosedale Beck, then steeply up the side to the middle of
Mellbreak. Walk to the south summit and then back down to
Mosedale for the return to the Inn:
5.3 miles as measured on memory map.
After a
morning walking up in the mist on Fellbarrow, the afternoon
didn't hold out the prospect for finer weather to the north
of us. We parked the cars at the Kirkstile Inn and I sat
steaming away from my wet gear. My legs were ok but my new
Paramo top leaked badly and I'd put my gaitors over the top
of my Cascada trousers, so water ran into the tops of my
boots. But on the plus side I was nice and warm. I changed
into some dry gear and a new jacket and off we went to
Mellbreak. It was a gentle walk along the lanes and how I
laughed when Paul declared 'I've left my camera as there
won't be much to see'. As we progressed along the lane
Grasmoor suddenly appeared out of the murk across the
valley, swathed in cloud and looking almost Alpine in
nature. The walk towards Mellbreak was a pleasant stroll
down a narrow country lane, passing by a farm with the
locals chewing the cud. We looked up to the north end of
Melbreak spotting the steep path that rose up the nose
before veering around to climb steadily up to the summit. We
decided that an easier route would be to carry on along the
old track on a gentler gradient that took us higher up the
valley. Up above us the low cloud pressed down and the views
like this morning were restricted, but we plugged on as the
alternative was a long afternoon at the bar in the Kirkstile
Inn....with a roaring fire....and a few pints...hmmm mighty
tempting.
Grasmoor appears out of the gloom
Melbreaks nose of the north - there's a path up
there
on our way up the valley - the sheep can leap
these fences
about 3/4 of the way up Melbreak we had some views
across the valley to Hen Comb
the partial view to the south
as we approached the middle top of Melbreak
clear along the top with a light dusting of snow
looking back to the north end of Melbreak
Crummock Water with Fellbarrow on the left and
Whiteside on the right
After a mile or so the paths appeared on our left side
going up a steep valley on the side of Mellbreak - not as
steep as the north end - but steep enough. As we climbed
higher the sleet and snow blew sideways on to us and I
thought our goose was cooked. But the effort rewarded us as
we got to the snowline, as behind me the sky brightened and
the clouds drifted apart to reveal Hen Comb across the
valley. It was a gentle dusting of snow and Paul was wearing
his Kahtoola microspikes, but it must have been the wrong
type of snow and it just formed big balls under his feet. So
he had to kick out like some throwback to ballroom dancing
every 20m to clear his boots - I stayed behind him. As I
crested the middle of Mellbreak Grasmoor came into sight,
still wearing a cloud cap and disappointing if unsurprising
that the views were limited. This is one fell to return to
as there is so much you could see from here. We topped out
on Mellbreak midway between the north and south summits -
the south is marginally higher and has completely different
views than the north summit. We disturbed a Black Grouse
into flight over the white slopes and wandered along to the
south with almost views - the cloud base was about head
height and enough to obscure all but the closest slopes.
There were brief enticing views along Crummock Water, and
Buttermere with Fleetwith Pike very shapely at the end of
the lake. At the southern summit we had a choice of left or
right - to the east was a very steep drop down the side of
Mellbreak to the shores of Crummock Water and no doubt
superb views. We chose west down steeply at first, then
cutting across the contours to ease the way. Looking across
to Bourne End and Hen Comb the valley in between us was a
great moss. We could tell just by looking down that it would
be a wet mess, so we continued to contour around the slopes.
This knocked off a good half mile trudge and we gradually
converged back down to the valley path - me on my feet and
Paul on his balls. We had a good nosey for tomorrows walk
across to Hen Comb and judging by the clearing skies and
cold air it would be ok. It was a simple task of walking
back down the valley to the Kirkstile Inn, with Fellbarrow
and Low Fell ahead of us bas clear as a bell - typical.
Grasmoor was resplendent in pink, tinted by the last rays of
the setting sun. A must return type of hill and a good
appetiser for the Kirkstile Inn nosh which was splendid.
the cloud descended when we were at the south
summit
the best view we had over Crummock Water and Buttermere
on our way back down into Mosedale
the big moss between Melbreak and Hen Comb
the path back along Mosedale with Fellbarrow in
the distance
Hen Comb waiting for us tomorrow
we were hoping it would stay like this....but it
didn't - Whiteside and Grasmoor
the marvellous pointy Grasmoor - from this angle
anyway
ooh what a surprise - it's clear now....harumph
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