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Hills done - Mellbreak, Hen Comb, Gavel Fell, Blake Fell and Burnbank Fell
OS Landranger map No 89
Start - Maggie’s Bridge car park (free), Grid Ref 135210
Distance walked 13 km’s
Height Gain 1050 metre’s
03 June 2011
With good weather forecast i’d decided to have a crack at these five Wainwrights. After two quick stops on route, Troutbeck Bridge for petrol and then Windermere for a few photo’s i arrived at the car park next to Maggie’s Bridge and was on my way by nine o’clock.
A break from driving, Windermere early morningFrom the car park i walked back up the lane turning right at the junction then right again at the inn, down past the church and over a bridge which led to Kirkgate farm. After continuing a few hundred metres along the track i took the path which passes through the forest to Grid Ref 140201.
From the lane looking to Carling KnottLoweswater with Low Fell on the right, from 141200Loweswater with Carling Knott on the left, from 141200Loweswater from a small level area on the way up MellbreakFrom here the grass soon gave way to a scree slope which was obviously the way up. I must have picked a good line as no problems were met, above the flat area in the photo above the scree gave way to rock steps and in no time the angle eased and the north west top of Mellbreak was reached.
Looking north west from Mellbreak‘s small summit cairnFrom Hen Comb looking to Grasmoor seen over MellbreakHen Comb from Whiteoak MossBlake Fell from Burnbank FellI continued to Mellbreak’s true summit before stopping for a 1 hours rest. The best views of the day were had towards Buttermere while descending south from Mellbreak, but the sun being dead ahead ruled out photography. The route to Hen Comb was straight forward and once the summit was reached another hour was spent resting. Once Gavel Fell was reached the hard work was over with only a short distance to Blake Fell then Burnbank Fell and with only a little height to be gained.
Loweswater from around 115216Loweswater from around 115216Descending the path through Holme WoodLoweswater near Watergate farmFrom Burnbank Fell a grassy path heads north east then north as it gets steeper before reaching the track shown on the map. Leaving this track i descended through Holme Wood to reach Watergate farm from where less than 1 km put me back at the car.
Mellbreak from near the car parkMellbreak (zoomed) from near the car parkDub beck near Maggie’s Bridge