Hen Comb - Lake District Walk
Monday 5th November 2012
As I had been unwell overnight we had no real plans when we set off on this walk other than to possibly stroll up the valley and back again. In the end we completed a circular walk although I did manage to get a boot full of water not once but twice on this walk.
Start: Kirkstile Inn (NY 1411 2093)
Route: Kirkstile Inn - Little Dodd - Hen Comb - Whiteoak Beck - Maggie's Bridge - Kirkstile Inn
Distance: 5.5 miles Ascent: 425 metres Time Taken: 4 hours
Terrain: Mostly on clear tracks.
Weather: Cold but sunny.
Pub Visited: Kirkstile Inn Ale Drunk: Esthwaite Bitter
Whiteside and Grasmoor at the start of the walk.
Looking across to Carling Knott as we head along the track towards Mosedale.
First of all we had to negotiate Mosedale Beck. I got the first of two bootfulls of water in here.
We didn't have to climb far before Loweswater comes into view.
A little higher and we get a great view down Lorton Vale.
Looking back along the long flat section of the fell as we start up a short but steep section. Unlike the rest of the fell this section had remained in shadow and was still icy in places.
Reaching the summit of Hen Comb we get a fine view across to the snowcapped higher fells.
Red Pike and Fleetwith Pike.
I headed away from the summit cairn to get a view back down Mosedale.
Grasmoor seen across Mellbreak.
Looking across the lower slopes of Mellbreak towards High Snockrigg.
We had our lunch sat in the sun enjoying the view across to Pillar and trying to decide which route to take back.
After we left the summit of Hen Comb we changed our mind about which route to take back and ended up crossing Whiteoak Moss and following the track back to Maggie's Bridge. By the time we had crossed the moss I had another rather wet boot and was rather pleased to finally get onto the good track that you pick up further down the valley. As we headed towards Maggie's Bridge Whiteside and Grasmoor were set alight by the sun.
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