The weather was good although a little hazy, but I'll take this anytime over clag!!


Parked at Maggie's Bridge where there is a small parking area for 7/8 cars and lies about halfway between to Loweswater village and the lake of the same name. Booted and away by 10am. I headed to the village, passed the Kirkstile Inn and Kirkgate Farm along a walled lane. Reached open hillside through a small plantation and the impressive front of Mellbreak loomed large in front of me.
I gradually made my up through the scree, rock and heather. It was good to feel a little bit of exposure and to do some scrambling.


I didn't spend too long at the north top but continued along the very broad back of Mellbreak to its actual summit about a kilometre further south. It had taken me about an hour and a half to reach this point.
Had a drink and sandwich before descending to the south to visit the minor top Scale Knott, a Birkett.
My plan was to follow the fence line from here in a westerly direction until I could then climb Hen Comb up its south flank. However, there was no obvious path so decided to follow the path around the contour of Mellbreak towards the 'Mosedale Holly Tree'. Across the valley I could now see a faint path making its way up the east side of Hen Comb so I worked my way down to Mosedale Beck and crossed it at the foot bridge where a party of 10 or so had just departed. Another gentleman with a King Charles Spaniel was just in front of me (he has descended Mellbreak down its west side and decided to go directly up Hen Comb's east side). I would me him later at the summit.
I joined the path I had seen and traversed my way along the east of Hen Comb, eventually gaining a fence and following it to the broad ridge between Hen Comb and its subsidiary top, Little Dodd. I had considered walking out to Little Dodd but decided against it. The last part of the ascent was steep and I was glad to reach the top. I met the man with his dog and we had a good chat. He is local to these fells and will complete the full round of Birketts when he does the last 5 in the next couple of weeks!!


It was good to have a break. I departed to the south and this time gained another fence that I followed to cross Whiteoak Moss - a very aptly named mossy area which I believe will be wet most of the time. After about 1km the rough path turns northerly and meets with another fence that leads over White Oak and then onwards to Gavel Fell. The breeze was beginning to pick up by now, no wonder as these hills are very exposed to the west coast.
I continued along towards Blake Fell which has a pleasing aspect when viewed from the south. I dropped down to Fothergill Head and then climbed up to the summit of Blake Fell on a path that was like a carpet.


I now headed to Burnbank Fell which is very rounded and has a simple few stones next to the fence line as its summit marker. It is a fell that appears to be dominated by the superior Blake Fell and indeed the neighbouring Carling Knott.
The obvious path continues north on a gradual gradient but then descends steeply in what I initially thought was the wrong direction but it does loop around to a gate at the fell wall. A very good path then leads along the edge of Holme Wood before a bridge over Holme Beck, a small incline and then a stile leads you into the wood and direct path brings you out at Watergate Farm and a very picturesque view of Loweswater. From here it a short walk along the farm track back to the car.
A very enjoyable walk.