Route: Mosser Round
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 31st October 2014
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 5.1 miles
Ascent: 700 feet
Weather: Windy, warm (20c) and overcast with a few bright spells
The Mosser area is a quiet and unfrequented part of the district. It lies on the extreme western edge of the Lake District proper and escapes the attention of most folk thanks to the more obvious attractions of Loweswater and the higher fells which lie to the east
Nevertheless it’s a lovely area and one we’ve never explored properly before. It was high time we remedied this
We parked in the car park at the far end of Loweswater and walked along the road for a short distance, just beyond the Grange Country House Hotel. We then headed across the fields as far as Mosser Mains, at which point we started the return leg, which was mostly along the old Mosser Road which is unfit for cars but is excellent for walking
We walked clockwise so as to have Loweswater ahead of us as we reached the end – a good plan as the views of the lake were superb
Although it was half term week we didn’t see anyone else on the walk. There are no lakes or mountains but there is plenty of beauty to be found in the gently rolling landscape – we’d really enjoyed our time spent here
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
Nuthatch in the garden before we set off
At the start of the walk, looking towards Mellbreak and Loweswater - we’ll be walking away from the lake for once
Waterend
We’ll leave the road just beyond The Grange
A redundant gate
A view back towards Loweswater
The Lakeland Fells have given way to gentler rolling countryside
Bonnie waits for us to catch up
Looking towards Fellbarrow
There were hundreds of mushrooms as we walked along a woodland track
Pardshaw in the distance
Heading towards Mosser
Momentary confusion at Underwood as we walk through the grounds of a private house - but it’s a public right of way
Walking towards Mosser Mains
We could have turned left here to take the old Mosser Road, but decided to continue uphill and join it later on
These sheep charged at us a few times, having taken a dislike to Bonnie (who was on a lead)
St Michael’s Church Mosser
Lonely countryside as we walk past Mosser Fell on our left
It seems strange to see the Fellbarrow/Low Fell range from this side
Walking towards Loweswater and Carling Knott along the old Mosser Road
We leave the Mosser Road at this point to walk down to the lake
Loweswater and Holme Wood
Mellbreak and the Loweswater Fells
The car is parked just round the corner - what a great walk it had been
Good timing - it was lunchtime as we passed by the Kirkstile Inn on the way home
Back home, the red squirrels are frequent visitors again after a worrying absence of several weeks……
It turns out that this was due to an abundance of natural food this autumn. Welcome back
