Hen Comb from Loweswater
Lake District Walk
Nat Park - Lake District - Lake District Western Fells
Wainwrights - Hen Comb
County/Area - Cumbria
Author - Lou Johnson
Length - 5.4 miles / 8.8 km Ascent - 1250 feet / 379 metres
Time - 4 hours 0 minutes Grade - moderate
Maps
Ordnance Survey Explorer OL4 | Sheet Map | 1:25k | BUY |
Anquet OS Explorer OL4 | Digital Map | 1:25k | BUY |
Walk Route Description
Click image to see photo description.
This Lake District circular walk starts from Church Bridge (Loweswater) and explores Hen Comb in the Western Fells. Rising to the modest height of 509 metres, this 'Wainwright' offers pleasant walking and fine views to the Vale of Lorton and Buttermere. Generally speaking, the fell is quiet, and you can enjoy the wonderful landscape in peace and quiet.
The start is Church Bridge, Loweswater, where there is space for a few cars (grid ref. NY140208). After parking, follow the lane south towards Kirkgate Farm. Keep to the left of the farm buildings to join a walled lane which leads up to a gat. Entering open fell. Turn right and with trees on your left continue the gentle climb for a further 250 metres. Turn right alongside a wall to drop down to stepping-stones across Mosedale Beck (grid ref. NY137200).
Follow an obvious path northwest to reach a wall. Turn left and walk parallel to the wall in a south-westerly direction gaining height gradually. Reaching a fence, turn left up a clear path heading south. Continue for 320 metres and turn right to a stile in the fence. Once across the stile, bear left and continue more steeply up the ridge to cross Little Dodd. The path becomes softer as you make progress. Cross a fence and complete the steep climb to the summit of Hen Comb. During the ascent you will have been rewarded with some fine views especially to Buttermere with Fleetwith Pike the prominent fell behind the lake.
A clear path leads south from the summit. Ignore the path off to the right and continue the descent with the path soon following a fence downhill. Nearing the valley, bear left and join a bridleway running to the east. Continue on the grassy path over higher ground which soon swings north into Mosedale. Pass below Thrang Crags on your left to cross a footbridge over Mosedale Beck (grid ref. NY139181). The onward path becomes much clearer to reach a fence and gate. Continue ahead keeping Mosedale Beck to your left.
Reaching a fence (grid ref. NY139185), bear sharp right alongside the fence (on your left). You soon cross a side stream after which you bear left to join a clear track with Mellbreak rising to your right. Continue a pleasant walk through Mosedale to re-join the outward route close to the stepping-stones. Pass through the gate and continue to Kirkgate Farm from where you pick up the lane back to the start.
Other walks nearby
Walk 1290 | Mellbreak | moderate | 7.0 miles |
Walk 1302 | Low Fell and Fellbarrow from Loweswater | easy/mod | 6.0 miles |
Walk 2021 | Whiteside, Hopegill Head & Grisedale Pike | moderate | 7.5 miles |
Walk 1231 | Grasmoor via Whiteless Pike | moderate | 7.0 miles |
Walk 2020 | Rannerdale Knotts and Crummock Water from Cinderdale Common | easy/mod | 2.5 miles |
Walk 2539 | Grasmoor and Rannerdale Knotts | moderate | 8.0 miles |
Walk 1142 | Buttermere Circular | easy | 4.5 miles |
Walk 2609 | Grasmoor via Crag Hill | mod/hard | 8.0 miles |
Walk 2735 | Fleetwith Pike and Buttermere Circular | mod/hard | 8.5 miles |
Walk 2642 | Buttermere Horseshoe | very hard | 14.0 miles |
Recommended Books & eBooks
Lake District: Low Level and Lake Walks
This guidebook describes 30 of the best low-level walks in the Lake District. From delightful wooded glades and sparkling tarns, to waterfalls and glacier-carved valleys towered over by craggy mountains. The walks described aim to seek out the best walking that the lower areas of the Lake District have to offer.
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Walking the Lake District Fells - Buttermere
Part of the Walking the Lake District Fells series, this guidebook covers a wide range of routes to 32 Lakeland summits that can be climbed from the Buttermere, Lorton and Newlands valleys, with highlights including Haystacks, High Stile, Grasmoor and the fells of the Coledale Round. Suggestions for longer ridge routes are also included.
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Mountain Weather
Stay safe on the mountains with detailed weather forecasts - for iOS devices or for Android devices.