Route: Mellbreak
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 1st January 2017
Walkers: Andrew, Gilly, two Davids and Frances
Distance: 5.9 miles
Weather: Sunny, very cold and windy higher up
Last night’s New Year celebrations resulted in a late start to the day, and so we decided on a local walk. Mellbreak would be a perfect choice as it would enable our nephew David and his girlfriend Frances to tick off another Wainwright. Having left one car in Buttermere we started the walk from Church Bridge near the famous Kirkstile Inn
After walking along the track to Mosedale for a few minutes we turned off at the firebreak in the wood and started the stiff climb up the nose of the fell. There are some very steep sections where loose scree impedes progress but eventually we emerged huffing and puffing at the north top
A very squelchy walk across the saddle of the fell followed, ending at the southern top of Mellbreak, from where there are lovely views of Crummock Water and Buttermere
We then descended to the head of lonely Mosedale and followed the very juicy path beside Scale Beck and the shore of Crummock Water, and from there into Buttermere village for a reunion at the Bridge Inn with our other nephew Tom and girlfriend Chrissy – a great end to a great walk
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
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Happy New Year from this red squirrel
The Kirkstile Inn from Church Bridge at the start of our walk
We pass by Kirkgate Farm
Further along the Mosedale track
Looking across to Crummock Water
...and to Whiteside, Hopegill Head and Grasmoor
Having left the track, a view back down the firebreak as the hard work begins
Whiteside, which the youngsters in our party had climbed yesterday
Just before the scree section, looking back to Loweswater - the hills of Scotland are just visible in the distance
Grasmoor on the far side of Crummock Water
‘A lovely peep around a corner’ as described by Wainwright
Down below, the headland where we’d walked yesterday, with Grasmoor dominating the scene
Loweswater - and the hills of Scotland beyond the Solway Firth
The gradient eases at last
Our other walking companion today - Bonnie
Frances is glad to arrive at the summit - as are we all
North top of Mellbreak - which is 8 feet lower than its south top
Loweswater and Scotland again from the north top
Looking down into lonely Mosedale
Gilly sets off to the south top, a traverse which involves as much bog hopping as it does walking
The south top right of picture
Grasmoor
South top of Mellbreak, looking towards Buttermere and Fleetwith Pike
Looking east towards the snow covered Helvellyn range
A summit photo of David, Frances, David and Gilly - not forgetting Winnie and Bonnie
Crummock Water and Buttermere seen as we start to descend towards Mosedale
The descent is much gentler than the steep and slippery ascent - a compelling reason for following this walk from north to south
Nice light on Rannerdale Knotts
Heading towards Mosedale
Whiteless Pike and Rannerdale Knotts
Crummock Water and Buttermere again
Whiteless Pike…
…and again as we head towards the lakeshore path
One of the footbridges by the shore of Crummock Water
Fleetwith Pike
…and again
We cross Buttermere Dubs via Scale Bridge
Path to Buttermere village
Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks in fading light as we approach the village
Journey’s end at the very hospitable Bridge Inn
Next day - it’s worth recording an unusual garden visitor - a stoat
Stoats feed on rabbits and could presumably take a red squirrel if caught unawares. As soon as the coast was clear, this squirrel came to claim what was left of the food
A short while later, a view of Mellbreak from Lorton Vale brought back memories of a wonderful walk
