Name of walk	Mellbreak, Floutern Tarn, Gavel Fell and High Nook Tarn.
Date of walk	2014-07-17
Distance walked (miles)	11
Duration of walk	7 hours 10 minutes
Weather	Excellent visibility and sunshine.
Peaks on walk	Mellbreak, Gavel Fell
Walked with	Ged and blind Kas
Parking	By the bridge beyond The Kirkstile Inn.

On Tuesday Ged, Kas and I decided to have a walk up Mellbreak and around to Gavel Fell and visit Floutern and High Nook Tarns too. The weather was due to be okay to start and to improve as the day went on.

Our view of Mellbreak from our parking space by the bridge just beyond the Kirkstile Inn. From this angle it looks very unforgiving! We will climb up via the scree paths on the right above the bracken.

Looking back through the bracken at Loweswater.

I took no photos of the scree paths, I must have been too busy concentrating on the route! View over to Whiteside and Grasmoor.

View back to the lake once a bit of height has been gained. Loweswater Fell on the right.

A wonderful view down the Lorton Valley.

Once a small plateau is gained, detour off to the left for the view down Crummock Water towards Buttermere and Fleetwith Pike.

North summit.

We head for the south summit. High Stile still in cloud.

View south from the south summit.

We head for the eastern flank. View back to Whiteside and Grasmoor.

Our lunch spot. There are no complaints about the view!

Close up of Buttermere and Fleetwith Pike.

Robinson and Dale Head on the left and High Stile and Red Pike on the right.

Looking across to Whiteless Pike and Rannerdale Knotts and down onto Low Ling Crag, which always looks like a dog's head to me.

After lunch we set off back to the dip as we were contemplating climbing up to Hen Comb summit (on the right) up the grassy slope. Unfortunately we had forgotten that at this time of the year the 'grassy slope' is covered in waist high bracken.

Heading down from Mellbreak into Mosedale through a steep path in the bracken.

We look for a way up to Hen Comb that avoids the bracken, but there is not one on this side. So we change our plans and head around it towards Floutern Tarn.

Crossing the footbridge.

Kas gets to cool off and have a drink.

Looking back to Mellbreak.

Common Spotted Orchids are plentiful.....I guess that's why they are called common....see, not much gets past me!

View back.

I have forgotten that this route is all uphill. We are aiming for the top of the rise where Floutern Tarn is just to the left.

View back to some big hills.

It is getting a bit too hot for uphill climbing.

Floutern Tarn just below the slopes of Great Bourne.

We take a closer look. No time for a swim today.

We take another long look at the route up to Hen Comb. It is grassy on this side with a track to follow, but I am feeling too lazy to do the detour, besides it doesn't have much of a view anyway, so we continue on. The ground here is quite wet in places. We skirt Whiteoak Moss and follow the fence line all the way up to Gavel Fell. To go the direct route would be very boggy!

We are being watched. I'm glad they are on the other side of the fence!

We have to descend into the dip before we climb up to Gavel Fell.

Kas on Gavel Fell Summit with the Ennerdale Hills of Crag Fell and Anglers Crag beyond.

View to Knock Murton.

Blake Fell ahead, but we are only going as far as the dip where we will head off right through a gate for the narrow grassy path down to High Nook Tarn.

Kas leads the way.

High Nook Tarn below on the right. Loweswater on the left and Crummock water on the right.

High Nook Tarn.

Looking back at our route down into the valley.

We head in the direction of the Kirkstile Inn.

We go through High Nook Farm and pass Maggie's Bridge car park.

View across the field to Mellbreak.

The Kirkstile Inn. Time for some refreshment.

I am disappointed that they have no Mellbreak or Grasmoor beer this time. We make do with their Loweswater brew. As a rule I don't usually touch alcohol, but beer contains far more electrolytes than soft drinks, so it is supposed to be good as a post walk drink. I think I read that in 'Trail Magazine'. Gullible, moi?

The walk was 10.5 miles long and took us 7 hours and 10 minutes, plus pub time. Another excellent day. I got home at 7.10pm and managed to get showered and changed by 7.30, meaning I was only 20 minutes late for bell ringing at Dalton, St. Mary’s. 🙂

Jo.