Loweswater via Mosedale up Hen Comb: route map, distance and time
506 m · Lake District C&W · OS grid NY132181
Hen Comb is a 506m grassy ridge south of Loweswater, a quiet Wainwright standing between Mellbreak and Gavel Fell above the boggy floor of Mosedale.
Walk into Mosedale, cross the wet valley floor and climb the grassy north ridge to the top.
Loweswater via Mosedale at a glance
| Distance | 2.2 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 320 m |
| Time up | 1h 0m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 1h 25m, down the same way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Loweswater village (Kirkstile Inn) |
| Start grid reference | NY 131 201 |
| Summit grid reference | NY132181 |
Loweswater via Mosedale map
The start (green) and the summit (blue). Peakify has no GPX track for this route yet, so follow the description and your map.
Height profile and getting to the start
Near the start
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
How long Loweswater via Mosedale takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 0h 50m | 1h 10m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 0m | 1h 25m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 1h 10m | 1h 45m |
Times leave out stops. Coming down the same way, the table counts the ascent once; steep descents on rough ground can be as slow as the climb.
- Today: sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:06. Start by 15:41 to be down before dark, allowing 1h 25m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:52, sunset 18:04. Start by 15:39 to be down before dark, allowing 1h 25m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Hen Comb summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Hen Comb right now. The main Hen Comb page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Hen Comb forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
About Hen Comb
Hen Comb is a 506m grassy ridge south of Loweswater, a quiet Wainwright standing between Mellbreak and Gavel Fell above the boggy floor of Mosedale. More about Hen Comb, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, HuMP, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Gavel Fell (524 m), 1.6 km west
- Mellbreak (511 m), 1.7 km east
- Great Borne (616 m), 1.9 km south-west
- Starling Dodd (633 m), 2.6 km south-east
- Blake Fell (573 m), 2.7 km north-west
Challenges that include Hen Comb
More walks from Loweswater village
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Loweswater round up Blake Fell
- Loweswater via High Nook Tarn up Gavel Fell
- Loweswater via Floutern Tarn up Great Borne
- Loweswater via the north end up Mellbreak
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 131 201, the summit at NY132181), what happened and how many are in your group. If you have no signal for a call, a text to 999 works once you have registered your phone with emergencySMS: text "register" to 999 before you go.
Loweswater via Mosedale: questions and answers
How far is Loweswater via Mosedale?
Loweswater via Mosedale is 2.2 km one way to the summit of Hen Comb, with 320 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 4.4 km.
How long does Loweswater via Mosedale take?
About 1h 0m to the summit of Hen Comb and 1h 25m there and back by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops. A relaxed group takes nearer 1h 45m for the round trip.
Where do you park for Loweswater via Mosedale?
Loweswater via Mosedale starts from Loweswater village (Kirkstile Inn). The grid reference is NY 131 201.
Is Loweswater via Mosedale suitable for beginners?
Yes, for fit walkers on a clear day. Peakify grades it Moderate: a long climb on a made path, but the top is high, exposed and colder than the start. Turn back if the cloud comes down and you can't navigate.
What time should I start Loweswater via Mosedale today?
By 15:41 at the latest. Sunset on Hen Comb today is 18:06, Loweswater via Mosedale takes about 1h 25m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Loweswater via Mosedale?
Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).