Mellbreak

Height: 512 metres / 1678 feet Grid reference: NY 14843 18562 Category: The Western Fells

There are three summits on Mellbreak, the accepted top being the southern and highest one. Birkett names them North Top of Mellbreak, South Top of Mellbreak and a further, smaller promontory to the south named Scale Knott. The correct spelling is with a single ‘l’ (Melbreak) but it is always spelt with two on the OS map.

Mellbreak across Crummock Water

Mellbreak from Loweswater

North Top

Height 509 metres/1670 feet Grid Reference NY 14306 19471

Robinson from the north top of Mellbreak

South Top

Height 512 metres/1678 feet Grid Reference NY 14843 18562

The Buttermere Valley from the South Top

Mellbreak

Walked on 22/05/2013

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.

Mellbreak

Walked on 25/02/2008

Start point: Loweswater (NY 147 214)

Loweswater – North Top of Mellbreak – South Top of Mellbreak – Scale Knott – High Ling Crag – Iron Stone – Loweswater

Distance: 5.3 miles Total Ascent: 530 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 15 minutes

Weather: Overcast turning to strong winds and showers. 6°C.

The forecast was for worsening weather throughout the day and the rain clouds were always threatening during today’s walk with friends
Roger and Ann Hiley and their dogs Harry and Bethan up to their local fell, Mellbreak. Once at the top of the steep section and onto the summit ridge, the wind really picked up making the going tough at times and the rain well and truly arrived by the time we descended to the lovely lakeside path back to Loweswater. Thanks to Roger and Ann for a great walk today.

Mellbreak across Loweswater.

Mellbreak looks like a steep climb from this angle on the path from the village.

Roger, Ann and dogs on the start of the climb.

The steep scree path.

Loweswater from the climb.

Loweswater and Loweswater Fell.

Our house is down there somewhere.

Low Fell towering above Loweswater.

Whiteside and Grasmoor across the northern end of Crummock Water.

"A lovely peep around the corner" said Wainwright, and who would argue with that? Rannerdale Knotts is central with Robinson behind and Fleetwith Pike to the right at the end of Buttermere.

Grasmoor across Crummock Water.

Rannerdale Knotts from further up the climb. The wind is really picking up now, just look at the water moving on Crummock Water below.

High Stile and Red Pike over Mellbreak's southern top from the summit.

Casper gets muscled out by Harry for a summit shot.

Casper on the summit of Mellbreak.

Robinson from Mellbreak.

Ann, Roger and Harry on the summit.

Whiteside and Grasmoor across Crummock Water.

Rannerdale Knotts and Robinson from the summit ridge.

The Buttermere Valley.

The High Stile ridge just before the heavy rain came.

Three posers on High Ling Crag.

Rannerdale Knotts and Low Ling Crag.

Casper dips his toes in Crummock Water.

This lakeside path is delightful but there was a cold and bleak wind walking along it.

Iron Stone in Crummock Water, Grasmoor across the swell!

Mellbreak

Walked on 26/04/2005

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.

Mellbreak

Walked on 30/10/2003

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.