Loweswater Fells

Burnbank Fell

Western Lake District

Route: Loweswater Fells

Area: Western Lake District

Date of walk: 3rd February 2017

Walkers: Andrew and Gilly

Distance: 7.8 miles

Weather: Light cloud, with a very strong and very cold wind

There are five Loweswater Fells in all. The three which we climbed today were Burnbank Fell, Blake Fell and Gavel Fell, The other two, Mellbreak and Hen Comb, were not on the itinerary. These remote fells are on the fringes of the Lake District, though they often provide good views into it the heart of it. This is a good place to come if you prefer solitude on the fells, it’s unlikely you’ll see another soul

We parked in one of the roadside spaces near Fangs Brow and headed along the familiar path towards Holme Wood, branching off after about 10 minutes to follow a faint path uphill. Although it’s an easy climb, the task was made quite hard today by very strong winds, approaching gale force, and we did consider turning back at one point

We eventually reached the summit of Burnbank Fell (1,580 feet) and without lingering made the up and down to Blake Fell, the highest of the Loweswater Fells at 1,878 feet. It was too cold to stop and once again we set off immediately for the last fell on the round – Gavel Fell at 1,720 feet. It was another easy down and up

We descended to High Nook and joined an elevated path, the old Coffin Road to St Bees, one which we’ve trodden many times before. This took us above Loweswater and Holme Wood and back to the start

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