Mellbreak from Loweswater
Lake District Walk
Nat Park - Lake District - Lake District Western Fells
Wainwrights - Mellbreak
County/Area - Cumbria
Author - Lou Johnson
Length - 7.0 miles / 11.4 km Ascent - 2100 feet / 636 metres
Time - 5 hours 40 minutes Grade - moderate
Maps
Ordnance Survey Explorer OL4 | Sheet Map | 1:25k | BUY |
Anquet OS Explorer OL4 | Digital Map | 1:25k | BUY |
Ordnance Survey Landranger 90 | Sheet Map | 1:50k | BUY |
Anquet OS Landranger 90 | Digital Map | 1:50k | BUY |
Walk Route Description
Click image to visit gallery of 12 images.
Mellbreak, in many respects, dominates Crummock Water despite the presence of much higher fells nearby. However its steep eastern flank plunges towards the shores of the lake and for most of the day casts a dark shadow across the water. This Lake District circular walk follows the main ridge of Mellbreak and does involve some mild scrambling. There are also a few sections where scree makes life a little uncomfortable.
The start is in the small parking area near the telephone box (Grid ref. NY142210) on the road into Loweswater from Vale of Lorton. After parking proceed down the lane towards the church. At the cross-roads by the pub, go right and immediately left to follow the lane past Kirkgate Farm and south towards Mosedale. Continuing in a walled lane you reach a small conifer plantation (Grid ref. NY 139201).
Leave the lane here and walk up through the trees with Mellbreak rising ahead. The path crosses an area of grass before slanting across the obvious scree slope. Taking a 'head-on' approach the path climbs steeply. There are a number of alternative routes with some sections where it is loose underfoot. Upward progress is quick although you may spend time finding the most suitable path. Reaching a rocky knoll you get the first of many grand views along Crummock Water and Buttermere.
The first and lower of Mellbreak's two summits is soon reached and you get a superb panorama in all directions. Going south an obvious path wends its way along the fell to the south summit. From here follow a similar line to descend to the bridleway through Mosedale (Grid ref. NY 146175). Turn left and continue to the shores of Crummock Water.
The return route is easy, following the shoreline although there are a few sections where the path is boggy. Where the path divides about a mile from Loweswater village, take the higher path. This leads via High Park and Low Park back to the cross roads at the start of the walk. Turn right along the lane in front of the church and you are soon back at the start after tcking Mellbreak off your list of Wainwrights.
Other walks nearby
Walk 3676 | Hen Comb from Loweswater | moderate | 5.4 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
Walking the Lake District Fells - Keswick
Part of the Walking the Lake District Fells series, this guidebook covers a wide range of routes to 30 Lakeland summits that can be climbed from Keswick, Whinlatter, Bassenthwaite, Caldbeck, Mungrisdale and Threlkeld, with highlights including Skiddaw and Blencathra. Includes suggestions for longer ridge routes.
More information
Walking the Lake District Fells - Patterdale
Part of the Walking the Lake District Fells series, this guidebook covers a wide range of routes to 35 Lakeland summits that can be climbed from Ambleside, Grasmere and Patterdale and the Thirlmere and Ullswater valleys, with highlights including Helvellyn and Fairfield. Suggestions for longer ridge routes are also included.
More information
Mountain Weather
Stay safe on the mountains with detailed weather forecasts - for iOS devices or for Android devices.