Route: Hen Comb
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 14th April 2016
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 4.4 miles
Ascent: 1,400 feet
Weather: cloudy but plenty of sunny spells
According to Alfred Wainwright, Hen Comb ‘is the sort of fell sometimes climbed, but rarely twice’. It’s hard to disagree with Wainwright, but I like this fell, and today’s walk would make it my 10th time up here. There’s a wonderful view of the Buttermere valley from the top and equally good views of Lorton Vale and Loweswater on the way down and for me this is a really enjoyable walk
I parked at Church Bridge just beyond the Kirkstile Inn and walked along the track leading into lonely Mosedale. After reaching the foot of Mellbreak I forded Mosedale Beck, which was quite tricky as the beck was running higher than usual. This is the only fell that cannot be accessed after heavy rain
I followed a faint path beside the beck for a while and then a succession of sheep tracks before climbing up a pathless section to gain the ridge below the summit. After reaching the top I followed the easy path back down the ridge, retracing my steps to the start when I arrived at Mosedale Beck
The views on the way down were superb and it’s well worth visiting the fell for these alone
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
Red squirrel in the garden before I set off this morning
Looking back to Church Bridge and the Kirkstile Inn at the start of the walk
Rannerdale Knotts
I pass by Kirkgate Farm
Beyond the farm, the track leads towards the foot of Mellbreak
Crummock Water
The path skirts round the foot of Mellbreak
A view across the valley to Gasgale Gill between Whiteside and Grasmoor
Hencomb - I leave the track here to descend to the beck below
I ford Mosedale Beck here, aided by a pair of walking poles for balance. Bonnie strolls across without a second thought
I follow a faint path above the beck
Lonely Mosedale
The Mosedale Holly Tree on the left - the only individual tree in the Lake District to be named on the OS maps, and quite a landmark in this desolate valley
Looking back along Mosedale and its beck
Crummock Water and Fleetwith Pike come into view on the pathless section up to the ridge
View from the insignificant summit cairn on Hen Comb
Bonnie
Wonderful views on the descent of the easy summit ridge, with Loweswater left and Lorton Vale right
Admiring the view of Lorton Vale
Hen Comb’s next door neighbour - Mellbreak
Looking down to Mosedale Beck
Low Fell
Lorton Vale and Whiteside
Lorton Vale
Loweswater
Whiteside and Grasmoor again beyond the foot of Mellbreak
Loweswater again…
I follow the intake wall back down to Mosedale Beck
The foot of Mellbreak and Mosedale Beck below
I manage to ford the beck again without incident
Looking back up to Hen Comb
I retrace my steps along the track back to the start
The Kirkstile Inn again - a perfect place to end a lakeland walk
