A bus-enabled linear 21km walk over Hen Comb and Fellbarrow.Route: taking the 10:45am 77 Honister Rambler (having, we assumed, missed an earlier already full Cockermouth-Buttermere free shuttle) to Buttermere and starting walking at 11:20am to the west side of Crummock Water, initially along the shore level stony path. At a stream (GR: NY136170), turning left on a less obvious path ascending to half way up the lower slope (of Lingcombe Edge) and then later turning left again, with the path, perhaps in the vain hope of avoiding marshy ground and following this round to a footbridge by Scale Force. Crossing Scale Beck and continuing on the upper of two paths, keeping left under the slope of Starling Dodd on marshy ground past a ruin. A little later, the path trending right across the floor of the valley but surprisingly less marshy than might have been expected. Once on the far side of the valley, at a fork, staying left to head directly for a hill mistaken for Floutern Cop, the ascent of which required a course correction to the right. Retracing the initial route from the Cop across the saddle for a fairly steep ascent of Hen Comb and down the ridge, bending right over a stile to reach the end wall and down to cross the stream, gingerly, helped by stepping stones, and on to the Kirkstile for a pint.
Afterwards, taking the road to Foulsyke and then a path left into a wood and along under the hill before doubling back, initially planning to continue on the lateral path to the solitary tree. Lured by a zig-zag right, hoping the awful direct route had been changed, taking this though then disappointed that the path quickly reverted to the original relentless direct ascent route. Along the ridge, skipping Sourfoot Fell to the left and Hatteringill Head beyond, to descend the long straight farmer’s track and then Mosser Fell Road to Lorton Low Bridge and back home.
Conditions: still, dry and positively warm in the sun.
Pub: the Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater, for Cumbrian Ales Pacific Voyage (and, later, the Swan, Cockermouth, for Fyne Ales Jarl and the Liverpool FA Cup victory).
