Hen Comb, Gavel Fell, Blake Fell & Burnbank Fell - Wednesday 10 September 2014
Route
Loweswater - Mosedale Beck - Hen Comb - Floutern Cop - Gavel Fell - Blake Fell - Burnbank Fell - Holme Wood - Watergate Farm - Loweswater
Parking
Church Bridge near The Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater (Free) - Grid Ref NY141209
Mileage
9 miles
Terrain
Grassy & stony paths however the area around Floutern Cop can be boggy.
Weather
Sunny yet hazy although the visibility was good for the most part.
Time Taken
4hrs 20mins
Total Ascent
2755ft (840m)
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
Loweswater - Mosedale Beck - Hen Comb - Floutern Cop - Gavel Fell - Blake Fell - Burnbank Fell - Holme Wood - Watergate Farm - Loweswater
Parking
Church Bridge near The Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater (Free) - Grid Ref NY141209
Mileage
9 miles
Terrain
Grassy & stony paths however the area around Floutern Cop can be boggy.
Weather
Sunny yet hazy although the visibility was good for the most part.
Time Taken
4hrs 20mins
Total Ascent
2755ft (840m)
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
GPX File
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Walk Description
Having been up Low Fell & Fellbarrow this morning we parked up at Church Bridge near The Kirkstile Inn, had a bit of lunch and then headed out to walk more of the less frequented fells. This was a trip out amongst the wilder side of Lakeland and we saw nobody at all for the entire walk.
The route heads out from the start on a quiet lane before this becomes a track and is mostly used for those walkers heading up Mellbreak. Reaching a gate, the route heads to the right and soon arrives at Mosedale Beck, which is crossed, and then the path heads up to join a ridge for Little Dodd & Hen Comb. The ridge rises gradually until the lower slopes of Hen Comb are reached and the path then steepens to gain the summit. Unfortunately the worlds fly population were having their annual pilgrimage to the Lake District and had all decided to visit Hen Comb as well - we got off there as quickly as possible.
Descending steeply to the path between Floutern Cop and the tarn of the same name, we headed over boggy ground to the fence line that marks the path up to Gavel Fell. The path ascends gradually to reach the summit where there are very good views over to Great Borne and the path over to Blake Fell. There is another good path over to Blake Fell and the summit is reached again after a short pull up to the large shelter on the top.
There is now an opportunity to nip over to Carling Knott and back in order to extend the walk but today we opted to head on to Burnbank Fell. From Burnbank there is a steep descent to the Terrace Path, which we followed to Holme Wood, descending through the wood to reach the southern tip of Loweswater. From here it is a simple matter of passing Watergate Farm and following the excellent farm track back to the road to reach the Kirkstile Inn.
The route heads out from the start on a quiet lane before this becomes a track and is mostly used for those walkers heading up Mellbreak. Reaching a gate, the route heads to the right and soon arrives at Mosedale Beck, which is crossed, and then the path heads up to join a ridge for Little Dodd & Hen Comb. The ridge rises gradually until the lower slopes of Hen Comb are reached and the path then steepens to gain the summit. Unfortunately the worlds fly population were having their annual pilgrimage to the Lake District and had all decided to visit Hen Comb as well - we got off there as quickly as possible.
Descending steeply to the path between Floutern Cop and the tarn of the same name, we headed over boggy ground to the fence line that marks the path up to Gavel Fell. The path ascends gradually to reach the summit where there are very good views over to Great Borne and the path over to Blake Fell. There is another good path over to Blake Fell and the summit is reached again after a short pull up to the large shelter on the top.
There is now an opportunity to nip over to Carling Knott and back in order to extend the walk but today we opted to head on to Burnbank Fell. From Burnbank there is a steep descent to the Terrace Path, which we followed to Holme Wood, descending through the wood to reach the southern tip of Loweswater. From here it is a simple matter of passing Watergate Farm and following the excellent farm track back to the road to reach the Kirkstile Inn.
Whiteside & Grasmoor
Mosedale Beck - the path heads to the right and then quickly left to follow the ridge
Grasmoor again with the lower north slopes of Mellbreak
Loweswater, Low Fell & Darling Fell from the path to Little Dodd
Mellbreak
Heading to Hen Comb
The summit of Hen Comb - there were millions of these little blighters therefore we did not hang around
Climbing to Gavel Fell from Floutern Cop
Looking back down the path to Great Borne
The summit of Gavel Fell
Blake Fell with Carling Knott to the right
The summit shelter on Blake Fell
The summit of Burnbank Fell - the recognised summit is the metal straining post
Steep descent off Burnbank Fell to the Terrrace path - we headed right just before the wall
Heading down to Holme Wood with Loweswater and Low Fell ahead
Nearing Holme Beck - Fudge can smell water! Our path crossed the beck and headed left
Grasmoor & Mellbreak from the Watergate Farm track