Mellbreak

Around Mellbreak

Western Lake District

Route: Circuit of Mellbreak

Area: Western Lake District

Date of walk: 15th January 2015

Walkers: Andrew

Distance: 7.7 miles

Weather: Mostly overcast – very windy!

I decided against a fell walk today after reading the Mountain Weather Information Service forecast, which did not mince its words – ‘mobility tortuous’, ‘severe wind chill’, ‘whiteout likely’, ‘visibility appalling’, ‘will feel like minus 21C directly in the wind’ – these were a few of the predictions that convinced me that it would be foolhardy to venture up on to the fells

Although I couldn’t climb a fell today, I could walk round one, and Mellbreak is a good candidate for such an enterprise as it stands on its own, unconnected to other fells

I parked in the National Trust car park at Scale Bridge and followed the track down to the foot of Crummock Water. There was a howling wind blowing along the lake, making it look more like the North Sea. I walked round the foot of the lake, but had to make a detour near the Pump House as I was in danger of being blown off the narrow wall

Having regained the edge of the lake, I walked along the western shore watching squalls of wind lift water off the surface of the lake. Although it’s an easy path it was a struggle walking directly into the wind, and on occasions strong gusts almost brought me to a standstill

After rounding the southern end of Mellbreak, I entered lonely Mosedale – a desolate place. It was a squelchy journey along the sodden path, though I made quick progress as the wind was now at my back and it propelled me along. After reaching the end of Mosedale, I walked along quiet country lanes back to the start

Previous time here

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