free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
A weekend booked at the Cockermouth Travelodge on the spur of the moment turned out to be a real gift weather wise.
Looking at my balloon map we still have a few hills to visit on the western side of the district, access to these for us is easier from the top side of the Lakes, the roads being better, faster, tried and tested from home.
The fells around Loweswater have held my attention for a while, I'd read a few reports where the five hills lying to the south of the lake would make a good walk, I'd studied the map and decided a clockwise traverse would get the hard work over with at the beginning of the day, so, decision made, this was our day.
Up early to clear skies illuminated by a lovely sunrise, I already had a good vibe about the day ahead. After breakfast we were off, heading for Maggies Bridge car park and the start of the day.
Parking was easy when we arrived at 8.00am, we got ourselves established and were ready for the off at 8.20, sunshine all around with no threat of change at all.
Lovely spring morning in Loweswater village.
First objective was Mellbreak, after a short section of road walking we arrived at the church and soon after the tarmac gave way to a track.
Views from the track
Darling Fell and Low Felll
Mellbreak.
At around NY139201 theres a gate, through this and continue straight ahead on a path through a small plantation to the open fell side.
The climb up Mellbreak looks imposing from here, in reality it's steady and height is gained quickly, the views were opening up nicely.
Views. Loweswater
Darling Fell and Low Fell
Whiteside.
Carling Knott.
Down into the dale.
Crummock Water.
Very hazy Whiteless Pike.
At about point 509m on the map its well worth taking a break to look at the views before continuing to the summit which can be seen about a km to the south.
On the summit at just over an hour and a half from the car, not bad.
Summit pose.
Views from the summit. Great Borne.
In the direction we're going, Carling Knott in the distance.
From the summit we went directly down hill heading for the Mosedale Holly Tree, when we spotted it we deviated and headed in the direction of Thrang Crags on the slopes of Hen Comb with the intention of tackling the hillside direct. This is what we did, it was a steep climb, very steep in parts but it was quick.
Looking back up Mellbreak before the climb.
Hen Comb, steeper than it looks.
We gained the ridge at about NY133182 and followed the path to the summit, it was quite an interesting way up, exciting in parts and well worth the effort.
Summit Shots.
Mellbreak, Grasmoor behind.
Hen Comb Pano.
From the summit the way forward was easy to follow, the hard work was done and the rest of the route looked really enjoyable.
The way ahead.
We set off down to Whiteoak Moss, picked up the fence and followed it for about 750m over soggy ground before following a feint path heading for the lower slopes of Gavel Fell where we eventually met the boundary fence marked on the map at around White Oak then stayed with the fence to the summit.
Again the views are superb, Grasmoor, Whiteside, the Buttermere fells on one side and Great Borne, Starling Dodd, Red Pike and High Stile on the other. We met a fellow walker on the summit of Gavel Fell, he was chilling out sun bathing, really enjoying a near perfect walking day. We sat down and had lunch.
Gavel Pike summit.
Grasmoor, Mellbreak and Hen Comb.
Red Pike and Starling Dodd.
Great Borne.
And onward to Blake Fell.
After a good break we set off for Blake Fell following the fence, this section was a wee bit steep in parts but easy going. On the top we met a group of four people one of which offered to take a photo of us together on a summit, a rareity but it proves I exist, then it was off to our final top, Burnbank Fell.
Blake Fell.
Double trouble.
In the middle distance: Mellbreak and Hen Comb, Rannerdale Knotts, the little pointy thing in the distance.
Burnbank Fell.
Pano from Blake Fell.
This section was nice and steady still following the fence.
View of Grasmoor on the way over to Burnbank Fell
The summit had one of the smallest cairns I've seen, looking over to the ridge leading to Carling Knott we thought it strange that that wasn't a Wainwright, it seemed to have more prominence than the lump we were stood on.
On Burnbank Fell, Denise and little cairn.
Carling Knott.
Looking back to Blake Fell.
From the top we headed N.E on a fairly clear path,
The way down.
to a flat area where we found a boulder to sit on and have lunch number two, we a good look at the views.
The steep ascent of Mellbreak can be seen here in the middle distance.
After our snack we set off east down steep grass to the little bridge over Holme Beck,
View from the bridge.
then a short uphill walk to a gate in the wall leading on to a good path through Holme Wood. This leads to a good track at Watergate Farm which took us back to Maggie's Bridge.
View of Mellbreak on the way back to the car.
Grasmoor again.
Our five fells.
We had a fantastic day, the weather was close to perfect, the views were superb and it's a great way to grab five more of Mr Wainwrights hills.
