Get Lost Mountaineering

Hen Comb from Loweswater village

Start/Finish

Small car park, by an old red phone box where the road to the Kirkstile Inn leaves the road to Loweswater (lake). If starting here, walk to the Kirkstile inn. One alternative is to drive down this road to the Kirkstile Inn but turn left at the inn then fork left where there is space for about 2 cars about 20 metres down the road. There is usually plenty of space at the Kirkstile Inn but this would require permission from the Inn.

Distance/Time

7 km   About 2 – 3 hours

Peaks

Hen Comb, 509 m, NY 132 181.   OL4 North Western Lakes

Introduction

This is a fairly gentle walk with none of the seriousness posed by Melbreak on the other side of Mosedale. A mixture of paths and tracks lead easily to the summit from where there are excellent views to Melbreak, Red Pike, Starling Dodd and Great Borne.

Route

(1) From the bridge below the Kirkstile Inn, take the right fork signed for Mosedale. Follow the road to Kirkgate Farm then the track around the farm to reach a wood. At the gate, go right and follow the wall along a mainly grassy track alongside the wood. When the wall drops down on the right follow it on a path to cross Mosedale Beck which is not usually a problem but could be after rain. Ascend up the other side, still following the wall to reach a fence. Either cross the fence and head up through the ferns on a faint path to reach open ground then head roughly south to either pick up a track coming in from the right or to rejoin the fence. Alternatively, do not cross the fence but follow it on a path becoming a track to cross the fence at a stile. From the stile follow the grassy track to reach a metal gate after which there is a path which climbs steadily up to reach a small plateau where a medium cairn marks the summit of Hen Comb, 509 m.

(2) Retrace the outward route which offers better views than descending south from the summit and returning via Mosedale. It also avoids wet and marshy ground below Hen Comb's south end.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 12^th August, 2024.