Route: Mellbreak
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 11th May 2013
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 6.7 miles
Ascent: 1,700 feet
It had been raining all day with low cloud obscuring all the fells, and we’d abandoned the idea of a walk, even a low level one. However by mid afternoon there was a sudden break in the clouds, some sun appeared, and it was game on! In view of the late start we opted for a local fell – Mellbreak
We parked near the Kirkstile Inn (very conveniently placed for refreshments at the end of this walk) and made the steep ascent up the north flank of the fell. It had been raining for the last few days and the walk across the top to the southern end of the fell was juicy to say the least. There were some wonderful views though, and they took our minds off our soaking feet
We descended to Crummock Water and walked back along the shoreline. We’d had a fantastic 3 hours or so, all the more enjoyable because it was so unexpected
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)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
A squirrel in the garden just before we set off
The north face of Mellbreak, not exactly the north face of the Eiger, but steep enough for the likes of us
Just before the start of the climb
Loweswater from the lower grassy slopes of Mellbreak
The path soon turns to scree and gets steeper
Looking back to Fellbarrow and Low Fell
A rainbow across Whiteside and Grasmoor
Lorton Vale
Not far from the top, a short detour to Surprise View
Crummock Water and Grasmoor
North top of Mellbreak
Bonnie on the north top - it was windy up here
Looking along the ridge of Mellbreak to its southern top
Looking west, the Irish Sea
Crummock Water and Buttermere
Lower down now, and looking back up to Mellbreak
Heading towards Crummock Water
Scale Beck
Looking back to Fleetwith Pike
Low Ling Crag protrudes into the lake
Grasmoor through the gorse
Lanthwaite Woods across the lake
Nearly back to the car, the ‘negative signpost’. Mellbreak is in the background
