| Name of walk | Lake Mists and Hen Comb |
| Date of walk | 2016-10-25 |
| Distance walked (miles) | 8 |
| Duration of walk | 3 hours 45 minutes |
| Weather | Clear blue skies and sunshine |
| Peaks on walk | Hen Comb |
| Walked with | On my own |
| Parking | Scalehill Bridge NT car park |
I set off well before dawn on Tuesday to drive to Loweswater. The forecast was excellent so I had planned to walk up Hen Comb before bell ringing at Cleator Moor in the afternoon. But before that I would visit the shores of Loweswater and Crummock Water to take some photos.
I stopped at Loweswater to take a few shots across the lake. Sunlight was just hitting the rising mist.
View north.
Looking across to Carling Knott, where I was last week.
Burnbank Fell.
I parked in the NT car park at Scalehill Bridge and walked down through Lanthwaite Wood to the shores of Crummock Water.
Looking over to Mellbreak.
Red Pike above the mist.
I took a few shots of this view with different zooms. The conditions were excellent this morning.
View from the weir.
I cross the bridges heading towards the pump house.
Grasmoor.
When I reach Peel I head over the fields to pick up the track that goes through Flass Wood, under Raven Crag, on Mellbreak.
Raven Crag.
This path takes you out to Mosedale. Looking across to the ridge of Hen Comb.
First I need to descend to Mosedale Beck and attempt to cross it. It is at this point I remember that I haven't brought my stick, which would have been very useful. The water is above ankle depth and some of the stones are submerged, the others slippery, but I manage to get across without incident. I head up the steep track to get on the ridge.
Looking back down the way I have come up. The autumn colours are highlighted in the sunshine.
My shadow looking out towards Loweswater.
My route ahead.
Darling Fell and Low Fell.
A closer view with Criffel, in Scotland, on the horizon.
A very familiar grassy trudge, I have done lots of these in the last month!
Looking back, just before I reach the summit.
Looking down into Mosedale.
View south to Buttermere.
Buttermere in close up.
The small summit cairn on the left with views to Gavel Fell, Blake Fell and Carling Knott.
I head down the back. Great Bourne ahead.
Half way down is a path that leads off to the left, I follow this around until I am looking down into Mosedale.
It is more of a sheep trod than a path, but it will save me a lot of time and the route is far less wet than what would be below.
Just before I reach the gully on my left I head down the grass. I can see a track through the bracken bottom right and I head for that. It should meet the path that goes around the base of Hen Comb.
A great view of Mosedale in its autumn colours.
I join the main track, the bridge over Mosedale Beck is just ahead.
I'm now on a good path all the way back.
Looking across the field to Whiteside and Grasmoor.
The Kirkstile Inn ahead. Unfortunately I don't have time to stop for a drink, it is still a fifteen minute walk to my car, then half an hour to drive to Cleator Moor for bell ringing at 1.30pm, and I don't wish to be too late.
The walk was eight miles in total and took me three hours and forty five minutes. I arrived back at the car park at 1pm and I was a little late getting to Cleator Moor, so I had no time to have lunch before ringing. I was glad I made the effort to make an early start, the best of the weather was in the morning, as I drove back home it was clouding over and by the evening it was raining, typical Cumbrian weather!
Jo.
