Mellbreak, Hen Comb, Gavel Fell, Blake Fell and Burnbank Fell

I stayed over in Keswick with John Lister and enjoyed a few beers and a meal in the evening before meeting up with John Deasey and Neal Lever. Such is the power of social media that I didn't know any of these gentlemen before joining Facebook and Twitter, nor had I met them before last year's Great Britain end-to-end walk. While in Keswick, John D tweeted about our meetup plans, and someone messaged asking to join with a trained dog. I replied: "Absolutely!"

Waking up to high, overcast skies and light rain, we drove over Whinlatter Pass where I spotted a rare red squirrel perched on a drystone wall—a great omen! Arriving in Loweswater, we met up with John D, Neal, Peter Dixon, and Oscar the distinguished tan Labrador. Soon our group of six was assembled at the Kirkstile Inn car park and on our way.

The walk began with a steady gradient for one kilometre to the foot slopes of Mellbreak before hitting the formidable north face. The next kilometre averaged a steep 30% ascent over sliding scree. As we climbed, Loweswater emerged in full, glorious view. Wainwright regarded Mellbreak as the best partnership of mountain and lake after Wastwater and the Screes—a view with which I heartily concur!

Reaching the summit after a steep finish past White Crag, we took a well-earned break. Our group brought together impressive hiking pedigrees: John L had walked in Patagonia and Peru, Neal had trekked to Everest Base Camp, Peter and Oscar regularly walked Scottish Munros, John D was a fell runner, and I had completed the 1,120-mile end-to-end walk.

After admiring views of Fellbarrow, Low Fell, Whiteside, and Grasmoor, we descended off the mountain into Mosedale.

Crossing Mosedale Beck provided some comical balance challenges for the group on slippery stepping stones, before we faced the relentless, steep ascent of Hen Comb. From Hen Comb, we traversed down toward the marshy expanse of Whiteoak Moss, which we crossed with dry boots thanks to well-spaced grass tussocks.

Ascending the south side of Gavel Fell along a fence line, we regrouped before heading north toward Blake Fell, the highest of the Loweswater fells.

Reaching Blake Fell, winds gusted up to 52mph, bringing brisk rain squalls and freezing our hands. We enjoyed expansive views of the Cumbrian coast, Solway Firth, and Cogra Moss below.

After a brief navigational hiccup where I accidentally led us toward Carling Knott before turning back, we reached Burnbank Fell—our fifth and final Wainwright—before descending steeply beside a wire fence into Holme Wood.

Walking through the delightful evergreen and deciduous mix of Holme Wood brought us out to the shores of Loweswater. Edging past Watergate Farm and Maggie's Bridge, we enjoyed gentle conversation all the way back to the Kirkstile Inn car park. Five and a bit hours of fantastic walking in superb company concluded with well-earned pints!