~Hen Comb~
16th September 2022
Molly on top of Hen Comb
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On Tuesday 13th September I pointed my camera at the skies on a couple of occasions from the fields close to home. Early in the morning, a trans-continental airliner appears to soar over the moon and much later in the day...The Queen's Final Flight. Her coffin was in a Boeing C17 Globemaster heading from Edinburgh to London and it flew almost directly over our house.
Scalehill Bridge
I parked up in the Lanthwaite Wood National Trust Car Park at 1415hrs having driven up from home for a weekend's walking and camping. The car park charges are on a sharp upward trend, so bring plenty of coins, or pay by App or be an NT member to gain free parking.
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Church Bridge & Kirkstile Inn |
Melbreak |
The walk takes in a short stretch on tarmac up to the "red phone box" and then down past the church and crossroads to Church Bridge and onto the country lane which leads into Mosedale.
Whiteside and Grasmoor
My last walk up to Hen Comb was in early 2011, so it's a new one for Molly. It is, in many ways, an unremarkable fell; one that Wainwright claims "is sometimes climbed, but rarely twice." I'm slightly embarrassed to make it my third such occasion.
"Harry's Pool"
Affectionately known to some as "Harry's Pool" after one of the Hiley's retrievers who loved to swim here. It's a pleasant day with a cool breeze and our walk takes us across the beck here and up the fellside to the first bump on the horizon, Little Dodd.
Low Fell
Going back to Wainwright's observations on this fell..."not an exciting walk, but pleasant enough on a sunny day for anybody who doesn't want to get excited." You might be able to make out another walker with her border collie, she brightened her day by listening to music through earphones.
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To Hen Comb |
Fleetwith Pike |
Molly calls me to hurry up as she knows a fine treat awaits the reaching of a summit. Fleetwith Pike catches the eye in the gap between the fells and we are climbing such tomorrow - a proper hour or two of fine mountaineering awaits us.
Looking Back
Molly on top of Hen Comb 1,661ft asl
The view from the summit is a good one. Molly gets her treat and we head off to the south in order to find our return route down Mosedale.
Great Borne
The deep hollow on the north side of Great Borne houses Floutern Crag and in the dip (not seen today) is Floutern Tarn.
Into Mosedale
If I'm going to be honest, I lost the path and we had to battle through dying bracken and marshy squelches in order to find the path into Mosedale. This path remains a little boggy in places until across the footbridge.
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Mosedale Footbridge |
Mosedale Track |
I've booked a meal at The Wheatsheaf in Low Lorton, so there is no time to dawdle. It's now a steady march along the country lane.
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The finest houses are only such because of the ordinary ones; the fastest cars are only such because of the slow ones and so it is with the grandest fells, the ones we talk about in our small circles or in the comfort of the pubs...only the grandest because of the less grand. Hen Comb is often regarded a lowly, less interesting fell and it's 15ft higher neighbour*, Mellbreak, must be grateful for its grand ascent from Loweswater and far superior views throughout the walk. Maybe this will be my last ascent of Hen Comb, or maybe not.
Grasmoor
Mellbreak
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Buttermere Valley |
Oak Cottage |
A very pleasant walk on a sunny day.
Low Lorton (The Wheatsheaf) Campsite
At the time of this photo, mine was the only tent on the campsite. A very neat and well laid out site with static caravans guarding the way up to the area reserved for those who need power to their tents or campervans and then the camping in the cheap seats, about 300 yards from the toilets and shower. However, I thought I had misheard the lady when she told me it was £8 per night for us. I'll be back!
Walkers: Me n' Molly
Time taken: 3hr 45mins over distance of about 7 miles; 1550ft of ascent.
Route: Lanthwaite Wood Car Park, Loweswater Church Bridge, past Kirkgate Farm to Harry's Pool and up to Little Dodd for Hen Comb. Down the south face of Hen Comb to find the path into Mosedale, over the one footbridge and all the way back to the car.
Weather and Conditions: Sunny and cool in the gentle northerly breeze.
Greetings: One on the fells and one at Oak Cottage on the way through at the start. Seekers of solitude might give this one a try.
Refreshments: The Wheatsheaf Inn in Low Lorton is very good. Dogs welcome. I had a good meal in the evening with excellent table service. They keep tight hours at the moment and are not open everyday. It is the pub which runs the campsite.
* I tend to go off Wainwright's Books for mountain heights. The OS map shows the highest point of Mellbreak to be 3m higher than Hen Comb, so more like 10ft in ascendancy until someone else remeasures the two.
All photos copyright Richard Ratcliffe 2022 ©
Take me back to the start ....