Remember: Press F11 for a full screen view of this page.
Web Counter when published 1 820 980

 

" Paula and Tom's Mellbreak Climb "

Date & start time:      15th October 2020.  2.40 pm start.

Location of Start :     By the red phone box, Loweswater, Cumbria, Uk. ( NY 143 211 )

Places visited :          Mellbreak (north & south tops) Mosedale Holly and back via the Kirkstile Inn.

Walk details :              5 mls, 1325 ft of ascent, 2 hours plus a 'Loweswater Gold' stop.

Highest point :           Mellbreak, 1,676ft - 512m.

Walked with :              Paula, Tom and our dogs, Dylan and Dougal.

Weather :                      A sunny day with great visibility.

© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Licence number PU 100034184.

 

A month after her last visit, our daughter Paula was over again (can't keep her away !) and this time her son Tom has also joined her.

She was blessed by great weather during her few days her, a pleasant change from the rainy days that plagued her visits in previous years.

Today she offered to take the dogs on a variation of my walk from ten days ago . . . the Mellbreak direct ascent.

Flushed with the success of the pictures, and appreciative of the many kind comments from her last walk on Grasmoor,

she has left her pictures from this walk in order for me to post and narrate on her behalf.

A glorious morning and a real encouragement to get out and enjoy the fells.

Morning cloud gradually clears to sunshine as the final wisps drift across the local summits.

Paula's photos start once she has already reached the base of the steep northern climb.

The bracken has turned an even brighter orange in recent days but the view of the Kirkstile Inn and the Lorton Valley are the same as ever.

The majority of the steep climb has been done and they reach the flatter section of the ascent path.

Tom, half hidden by the tall bracken and heather.

Walking a little off-piste to get a clear view of Whiteside and Grasmoor.

Hopegill Head and Sand Hill through the gap have a patch of direct sunlight on them, brightening their features beautifully.

Thick but patchy high cloud spreads beautiful light and shade on the fells,

throwing contrasting shadows onto the slopes of the High Stile Ridge on one side and Robinson on the other.

A photo stop near the northern summit rocks.

Dougal and Dylan seem delighted to be out on an extended walk once again.

Venturing over to the left hand or more eastern  side of the fells

for a view down to  Rannerdale Knotts and Buttermere Village far below.

Rather than venture over to Scale Force, or round to the lakeside to pass Ling Crags,

they turned right and walked the Mosedale Valley track towards home.

The path becomes a little damp around the back of Mellbreak but improves as they walk on past the Holly Tree.

The afternoon sun adds a yellow glow to the landscape

but the shadow of Hen Comb has moved round now so as to to plunge the holly into shade.

The damp path turns drier and then joins the Ennerdale bridleway.

By the time of this photo it is a proper track that will take them on towards their final goal.

From the Kirkhead farm, they can look back with pleasure at their earlier ascent of Mellbreak.

   
Their final goal . . . or should that be spelt 'gold'.
Our daughter, supping the same from a smaller glass.

In the evening , whilst diner was being prepared, Dougal wakes up and strolls over to see Tom

whilst obviously searching for the source of that lovely potato crisp smell !!

- - - o o o - - -

Not to long ago Ann, Jenna and I ventured over to Ennerdale

which prompted one viewer to send us a winter picture of a visit to the area, taken on one her many trips to the Lakes.

"Thanks for the wonderful photos of Ennerdale. We haven’t been there for quite a while due to circumstances, but it was always a special place to us.

When we stayed at Pardshaw we used to drive over, then walk down the valley to the Black Sail Bothy.

Here's a photo taken at Xmas a few years back looking down on Ennerdale …Happy Days "

Regards Lin

A big thank you Lin for your view of the snowy peaks from Cauda Brow . . . RmH

- - - o o o - - -

 

Enjoyed the walk ?

Now is  your chance to have your favourite web site pictures

hanging on your wall all year round

and to support a good cause.

- - - o o o - - -

" We've done it again.

We've brought you twelve months of Loweswater pictures,

Lakeland scenes and your favourite mountain dogs."

Yes . . . The 2021 Loweswatercam Calendar is now on sale

- - - o o o - - -

Click here  or on the photos

for full details of how to buy your copy.

 

 

Technical note: Pictures taken with Paula's Huawei mobile phone.

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

This site best viewed with . . . a ready supply of Loweswater Gold.

Go to Home Page . . . © RmH . . . Email me here

Previous walk - 11th October 2020 - Pottergill and Pine with Hilton

A previous time up here - (Sorry Tom, it has to be ... ) 16th February 2010 Melbreak with Thomas

Next walk - 16th October 2020 - Round Buttermere with Tom