Height: 509 metres / 1670 feet Grid reference: NY 13213 18119 Category: The Western Fells
Twin peaks – Hen Comb and Little Dodd
The summit of Hen Comb
Hen Comb and Mosedale Beck
A windy Hen Comb
Hen Comb summit looking over Buttermere. Background L-R: Robinson, Dale Head, Fleetwith Pike and Starling Dodd
Little Dodd (Loweswater)
Height 362 metres/1188 feet Grid Reference NY 13212 19278
Hen Comb from Little Dodd
Start point: Loweswater (NY 147 214)
Loweswater – North Top of Mellbreak – South Top of Mellbreak – Mosedale – Hen Comb – Little Dodd (Loweswater) – Loweswater
Distance: 6.2 miles Total Ascent: 764m metres Time Taken: 3 hours 30 minutes Start Time: 07:30
Weather: Sunny spells. A cool wind, 12oC.
I’m still not wearing shorts and it still doesn’t seem to be getting any warmer! The wind up on Mellbreak was mighty cold today, I did contemplate hat and gloves for a while it was that bad. Still, there are always great views from here and I did have a couple of thoughts about the climb to Hen Comb. Read on to hear more…
Mellbreak early on, with the promise of clearing skies.
Grasmoor 'around the corner' following the lane from the Kirkstile Inn.
Loweswater from the start of the climb to Mellbreak.
The steep way up.
Loweswater and the Scotland.
A panoramic view of Loweswater.
Looking down from the up.
'...a lovely peep around a corner...'
On the north top of Mellbreak.
Hen Comb from the second cairn.
Heading for the south top.
The Mellbreak hound.
A panorama of Crummock Water and Buttermere from the south top of Mellbreak.
Hen Comb from the descent, to the lower right is the Mosedale Holly Tree. I climbed Hen Comb alongside the gully on the left of the fell in this photo (the dark diagonal line).
The Mosedale Tree.
Looking down towards Fleetwith Pike and Buttermere from the top of the steep, steep climb to Hen Comb (note to self: don't come this way again...I'm sure I said that last time as well!).
The summit of Hen Comb.
What have we here? The predicted good weather arrives on Little Dodd.
Loweswater in sunshine.
Twin peaks - Hen Comb and Little Dodd.
Mellbreak over the wall.
Looking back from the lonnin.
There were two walks today, both in the pursuit of Casper bagging the last few of his remaining Wainwright fells. The first was a short and easy one up to Latrigg – I guess I am guilty of always bypassing this one for the lure of the higher fells. The second walk took in the fells around Loweswater. This area is probably the longest drive for me to get to from home, so I guess that is why they get neglected…
Walk 2
Start point: Loweswater (NY 143 211)
Loweswater – Foulsyke – Thackthwaite – Fellbarrow – Low Fell – Loweswater – Mosedale – Hen Comb – Loweswater
Distance: 11.2 miles Total Ascent: 909 metres Time Taken: 5 hours
Weather: Rain. 13C.
Loweswater route map.
Loweswater Fell through the rain from the field crossing to Foulsyke.
Whiteside and Grasmoor.
Looking back to Mellbreak. These are all 'smash and grab' photos taken in short interludes in the rain.
That was about it for photos for a while. The heavens really opened as I climbed to Fellbarrow from Thackthwaite, then on the final climb to Fellbarrow the wind whipped up and the rain began to fall in monsoon like conditions!
A quick-snatch photo on Fellbarrow with a half-drowned Casper. We didn't hang around on here - come on, let's go! I think the walk between here and Low Fell was the wettest weather I have ever been in. It was like standing under the shower it was that bad, with the water absolutely pouring down my face and off my waterproofs. I thought I wouldn't see anyone today...until I bumped into a couple of hardy StridingEdge followers who managed to recognise us despite the damp conditions.
Crummock Water and Mellbreak from Low Fell, the rain has blown out for a little while now.
The steep descent down alongside the fence.
Crummock Water and Rannerdale Knotts.
Here it comes again - hang on to your hats!
Loweswater Fell from the bottom and there is even a hint of blue sky now.
Mellbreak with Hen Comb to the right, where we are off next.
Shapely Mellbreak.
Hmm, there was a problem here at the crossing of Mosedale Beck. There had been that much rain that the stepping stones were under all that water somewhere! There was only one thing for it if I was to get to Hen Comb today and that was walk to the bridge at the southern end of the valley.
Hen Comb and Mosedale Beck.
Sunshine on Gale Fell and Mosedale from the oh-so steep climb to Hen Comb.
Mellbreak in sun, Grasmoor beyond.
'I don't believe it!'. Loweswater is sunny now but the wind was fierce.
Great Borne from Hen Comb.
It was really windy on the summit of Hen Comb. If Casper had a bit more hair, he would have shown you just how much!
Buttermere view.
Mosedale from the descent (which had to be the same way due to the river crossing problem).
I think that look says it all Casper - just where did that blue sky come from?
Start point: Loweswater (NY 147 214)
Loweswater – North Top of Mellbreak (340) – South Top of Mellbreak (341) – Scale Knott (342) – Mosedale – Hen Comb(343) – Little Dodd (Loweswater) (344) – Loweswater
Distance: 8.7 miles Total Ascent: 857 metres Time Taken: 3 hours
Weather: Mild, overcast. 12-14oC.
The blue skies of yesterday had gone again by this morning to be replaced by the more usual leaden, grey variety. I think I picked the brightest place in the whole Lake District for a walk today from Loweswater up to Mellbreak and back along the other side of Mosedale along the Hen Comb ridge.
I called in on Roger and Ann Hiley at Oak Cottage, Loweswater who joined me for the initial stage of the walk up to Mellbreak with their two dogs Harry and Bethan.
Mellbreak route map.
Mellbreak from Scalehill Bridge.
The north end of Mellbreak from Kirkhead.
Grasmoor across Crummock Water.
"....a lovely peep around a corner..." on the direct ascent from Loweswater.
Loweswater with Carling Knott and Burnbank Fell, left and the Loweswater Fells, right.
On the north top of Mellbreak; Ann with Angus and Roger with Bethan and Harry.
The south top and accepted summit of Mellbreak from the north top.
Rannerdale Knotts across Crummock Water from Scale Knott.
Hen Comb from Mosedale.
The Mosedale Tree, a holly tree that is the only singular tree in the Lake District honoured with a symbol and named on the map.
Hen Comb from Little Dodd.
Loweswater Fell and Loweswater.
The Mosedale face of Mellbreak.
Looking back to Little Dodd with Hen Comb behind.
Scalehill Bridge – Loweswater – Mellbreak (133) – Scale Knott – Starling Dodd (134) – Great Borne (135) – Floutern Tarn – Hen Comb (136) – Gavel Fell (137) – Blake Fell (138) – Burnbank Fell (139) – Holme Wood – Loweswater – Scalehill Bridge
From AW 'The Western Fells' - "A negative signpost (intended to help motorists) Kirkstile Inn road junction.
View from the ascent of Mellbreak looking towards Loweswater with Low Fell to the right. Note the ancient earthworks in the centre.
Wainwrights "...a lovely peep around a corner..." from Mellbreak on the direct ascent from Loweswater.
Grasmoor from Mellbreak summit.
Whiteside and Grasmoor from Mellbreak.
The Northern summit of Mellbreak with Starling Dodd behind the Southern summit.
Buttermere from the South summit of Mellbreak.
Starling Dodd summit looking towards Pillar. Note the ironwork has been separated from the stone in the main summit cairn.
The summit column of Great Borne looking over Banna Fell.
Floutern Tarn from Great Borne summit, with Gavel Fell, Low Fell and Hen Comb in view.
Hen Comb summit looking over Buttermere. Background L-R: Robinson, Dale Head, Fleetwith Pike and Starling Dodd.
Looking over Mellbreak to Grasmoor from Gavel Fell summit. Hen Comb is to the left.
The summit cairn shelter on Blake Fell looking North towards the Solway Firth.
Burnbank Fell 'summit', the summit being the old fence corner post! Carling Knott is to the left of the picture.
The final descent with Loweswater and Crummock Water visible. In the centre is Grasmoor flanked by Whiteside and Robinson.