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" Six Welshmen and a mountain " Date & start time: Sunday 22nd May 2011, 2.35 pm start. Location of Start : The red phone box, Loweswater , Cumbria, Uk ( NY 143 211 ) Places visited : Kirkhead Farm, Mellbreak (north and south tops) back via the west traverse. Walk details : 4.75 mls, 1600 ft of ascent, 3 hrs 35 mins. Highest point : Mellbreak South Summit 1664 ft - 512 m. Walked with : Trevor and the Boys (John, Martin, Norman and Tich) and the dogs, Harry and Bethan. Weather : Sunshine and showers with a cool breeze, much less extreme than forecasted.
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Six Welshmen and a mountain " at EveryTrail [ Alter the settings to zoom or change the Map, use Everytrail to download the Gps route ] |
Loweswatercam viewer Trevor from Wales was up in the Lakes and was planning a walk " with the boys " up one of our local fells today. Which fell ? There's a fifty / fifty chance of getting it right if you've looked at the beer pumps which we employed to good effect on our return. The start at the red phone box . . . but it was waterproof gear from the start. Still, the weather seemed to be much better than forecasted so the prospects were good for a relatively dry walk. Trevor, Martin, myself, Norman, John and finally Tich on the right . . . (photo taken by Ann) The Kirkstile Inn with the rain shower passing down the Lorton valley behind leaving us with steadily improving weather. A splash of colour from the gardens of the relatively modern house at Kirkhead. Clearing skies as we walk up the track towards Mosedale. Whiteside Fell, Hopegill Head and Grasmoor stand out in the clear air now the rain has passed. Trevor views the prospect of the climb ahead.
The extensive views down Lorton Valley now that we are clear of the trees. Cutting diagonally up across the base of the scree makes the climb a little easier. Everyone remarked how it was a bit like the north face of the Eiger . . . with the distinct possibility of folk down in the valley watching us through binoculars as we climbed up the steep face of the fell. [ Ann was unable to join the walk as she is recovering (well) from minor knee surgery last week . . . and yes . . . she was watching.] Two faithful hound above Dropping Crag. Unusually they are down below us rather than out in front. Trevor seems to be catching his balance as he walks out to the Buttermere viewpoint. Lovely sunshine now but there's a rain shower crossing the top of the valley. A slight hint of Bluebell-blue remains in the field below the curved wall on Rannerdale Knotts. After many false summits we reach the flatter area near the top of the fell. The next one will be the northern summit for real. Martin takes my camera for this summit shot. We'll not argue which of the two cairns at this end of the fells is higher but what is certain is that the one at the southern end is higher than both of them by about 10 feet (3 metres on the map) ! Harry checks out the view ahead. Our view of Buttermere and Fleetwith Pike would improve as we continued on along the top of Mellbreak. A brisk shower approaches from the north west . . . and Norman stops to put his waterproof on. [ You can even see the rain on the photo due to the slow exposure in the poor light.] Over as quickly as it came, the rain has gone and our summit photo shows it dry and clear again. " The View from the Edge." It was worth crossing the short distance from the summit to the eastern crags to enjoy the more extensive views. Whiteside, and the Whin Ben climb up to its western summit, enjoying some dappled sunshine. Martin taking a look at Grasmoor across the lake.
Trevor still enjoying the views up the valley. Below us in the sunshine were High and Low Ling Crags the latter forming an isthmus which sticks out into the lake. Zooming back out to the full view again.
A figure of eight on the summit plateau brings us back to the middle of the fell where we dive off towards the edge and find the top of the west traverse path which will take us back down towards Mosedale again. Clear skies and lovely sunshine now as we walk the high path. Our return was slowed as we watched what we presume were two Peregrines flying high above the crags. Despite being high above us they were too large for Kestrel and too small for Buzzard. They had swept back wings but hovered well . . . that's when they weren't being harassed by a pair of black crows. The final section of the walk with the Kirkstile ahead. Zooming in . . . taste buds bursting into life with the prospect of a little re-hydration. Back down to the firebreak path, we've completed the round trip of the fell. Just the walk back along the Kirkhead track to do. Five Welshmen and a Mountain. The summer leaves have obscured the cottage which can be seen through a gap in the trees during the winter months. Hi Matt . . . make that six pints of Mellbreak ! No time to leave the last one settle . . . as " the Boys" are waiting. [ If I don't get the picture now the glasses will all be empty] - - - o o o - - - |
Technical note: Pictures taken with my Canon G10 digital camera. Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder. This site best viewed with . . . a second re-hydration stop, this time with tea and scones, at the end of the walk. Go to Top . . . © RmH.2011 . . . Email me here Previous walk - 13th May 2011 Beacon Fell Country Park A previous time up here - 28th March 2009 Ed's Mellbreak 214 Next walk - 23rd May 2011 Storms and Squirrels
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