Hen Comb from Loweswater village

From the telephone box parking spot, take the narrow lane on the left hand side signposted to the Kirkstile Inn. At the church bear left, and then right to pass below the Kirkstile Inn.

Cross Church Bridge, pass the other parking space on the right, and continue along the lane to Kirkgate Farm. Keep left through the edge of the yard area and into the rough enclosed lane.

Follow the lane to the end and go through the gate. Immediately turn right onto the track alongside the intake wall with a stand of conifers to your left. In 200m (220 yards) as the wall bears right, follow it down to the ford.

Cross at the shallowest point, beware that the stepping stones, of sorts, are very slippery. Better to get wet feet than fall over and there are cascades downstream from the ford so utmost care required. Do not attempt the crossing when Mosedale Beck is in spate.

Having wrung your socks out, proceed up the bank. Ignore the path to the left and instead follow the path ahead through the grass with a wall to your right. In a little over 200m (220 yards) from the ford, bear left to head for the ridge line. The path doesn't pass along the crest of the ridge yet. Whilst traversing along below the ridge and a fence, watch for a step-stile at the end of the wall that appears ahead. Turn right to the stile, and cross to the other side. Small dogs can get underneath the fence nearby, Collies and bigger will need to go over. Now the path makes a half-hearted effort at being on the ridge line but just go with it.

After Little Dodd the path widens as it becomes mossy and damp. There's quite a bit of bilberry about too. The fence across the path may be stepped over and dogs underneath again. Then the final wet climb to the summit.

The summit cairn of Hen Comb is not seen until the last moment. A small pile of stones is set on the top of a slight rocky outcrop amongst the grass.

From the summit cairn of Hen Comb follow the narrow path through the grass heading southwards. It soon bears slightly right to descend a slight ridge, and then joins alongside a fence. Ignore the sheep trods that criss-cross the path, keep heading downhill.

The bridleway may not be glaringly obvious even from above but you will find the gate and stile which lies across it. Gingerly cross the watery reeds before the gateway and turn left away from the gate - do not go through. The path, such as can be found, keeps mostly to higher ground. Keep left, and in just 100m (110 yards) try not to miss an indistinct split in the path. Take the left fork to keep to a slightly higher ridge of ground with wet bogs on either side. When the ridge ends, slant left across a reedy patch and keeping left skirt the southern flank of Hen Comb. Short sections of path exist amongst the grass, moss, peat, reeds, and water.

Surprisingly, after a while, a more consolidated path does start to materialise and beyond a small knoll the footbridge over Mosedale Beck appears. Beyond it lies a better, firmer path.

Cross the bouncy steel footbridge and join the track. Now you can at last pace out a little on a generally firmer surface. Just watch out for the odd boggy hole.

Go through the gate, the track swings right and left again around a fenced enclosure cross a couple of deep washed out fords.

Join with a better maintained track and bear left heading through Mosedale. The beck now meanders happily below to your left. To your right rears the grass, scree and heather slopes of Mellbreak.

Reaching the stand of trees again, go through the gate and follow the lane back to Loweswater.