Oak Cottage - Loweswater

Retreat to the quiet of the Western Lakes

The Cottage, and  the view up the Buttermere Valley
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Date : Friday 18th February 2005

Occasion : A walk with Ben Hammond, Bob, Kay, Ann and the dogs.

Location : Melbreak and Scale Force, returning via the western side of Crummock Water.

Walk details : 6.2 miles, 1900 ft of ascent. 4.5 hours.

Weather : Bright sunshine alternated with occasional wintery showers. A cool but nice winter day on the hills.

Starting from the cottage we walked past the Kirkstile Inn and across to the base of Melbreak.

Line up - Ann, Ben, Kay and Chris, with Harry, Bethan and Molly the dogs.

Fine views of Whiteside, Hopegill and Grasmoor on the way up the lane from Kirkhead Farm.

The best ascent of Melbreak is to climb straight up the northern front face.

Rather than follow the scree slope the best route swings left and zig-zags up through the heather, climbing steadily upward.

If you use this route, remember to look at the view behind you, but make sure you stop first so as to make sure your feet don't miss the path !

 

 

The view across to the Grasmoor hills again, as seen from half way up Melbreak.

The valley holds Gasgale Gill which, despite the perspective, doesn't drain into Crummock Water.

The view of Crummock and Buttermere from the Wainwright viewpoint

two thirds of the way up the face of the Melbreak.

A close up of Grasmoor summit as a patch of sunlight crosses the top.

The grey skies heralded a strong breeze and a wintery shower.

Sunshine and clear skies again as the shower passed.

Bethan and Harry seem to know how to pose for a photo.

Fine views up to Fleetwith from the descent of the southern but higher end of Melbreak.

 

 

Scale Force Bridge with the outcrop of red rocks colouring the pathway.

 

This was the second objective of our walk today as Kay had never seen the waterfalls.

 

Scale Force is noteable for the fact that it is the highest waterfall in Cumbria, having the tallest single continuous drop of any falls in the Lake District.

 

 

 

Homeward bound now as we passed this magnificent holly tree still full of berries.

( 1st photo doesn't do it justice so please combine it with the second and add a splash of imagination . . . thanks )

 

Our route followed the path past the tree and down alongside the stream as it made its way to the lake.

Another passing wintery shower over Grasmoor

In the foreground is Lower Ling Crag and its fine curved shingle beach.

 

The National Park have organised path improvements over some of the wettest sections of the route alongside Crummock.

 

Last summer they flew in bags of stone by helicopter and over the latter months of last year laid them to protect both the fellside and to make the path easier for the people using the route.

 

 

 

Another wintery shower passes up the lake as we made our return home.

 

The afternoon ended with a dash of sunshine on the higher fells,

and shortly afterwards, a hint of sunset pink.

 

Technical note: Pictures taken with a Canon IXUS 400 Digital camera.

Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder.

This site best viewed . . . with supper and a roaring log fire in Rose Cottage. Is that right Ben ?

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