Mellbreak & Scale Force

Date: 30 May 2011
Distance: 6.2 miles
Ascent: 1550 ft


I've always wanted to climb Mellbreak ever since I first saw the fell. In fact it is probably the fell originally piqued my interest in fell walking. Approaching it from Loweswater it is just so imposing and looks completely inaccessible, with it's extensive scree and even more extensive crags.


I have collected a walking in the form of my friend and next door neighbour. He seems happy to have me as a guide (of sorts), though I am sure I will get us hopelessly lost at some point. Not on Mellbreak though, its stand-alone nature makes it impossible to get lost on.



We parked up at Maggie's Bridge where there is room for a single car and set off.


The route up the north face of Mellbreak is not apparent from the lower approaches. Once at the foot of the scree fall, two routes present itself. Firstly if you are mental you could attempt the screen directly. The more sensible route involves a less direct path intersecting the scree fall at the top. We took the latter.


Wainwright described the ascent as a steady plod. It is certainly that any despite you never quite knowing where the path is going next its a reasonable easy walk, with on or two short scrambles thrown in for good measure.


Both myself and my friend are not fans of exposure and there is once section of the path that skirts round an outcrop and has a fairly precipitous drop into a gully. This is the only exposed section on the way up and wasn't the bad.


Once in deep in the crags, the light scrambling was fun and there is a small grassy section with really excellent views before the final ascent to the north summit.


The weather on the way up had been showery, but on each summit we seemed to be greeted with a brief deluge, especially on the south summit.


The summits and the depression were very boggy, especially the south summit. Judging by that, I am glad our route avoided Mosedale, noted for its wetness. Despite the damp conditions, the views were still OK. The peak of Grassmoor was just shrouded in cloud and Fleetwith Pike was difficult to pick out through the showers. 


We headed down in the direction of Scale Force. The route of the south summit is clear, bur rather steep in parts. The path to Scale Force though is difficult to intercept from the fell. We eventually shimmied down a bank and jumped the beck for a short cut.


There was a particularly dead sheep on the side of Mellbreak, it looked like it had been killed by some animal. I can only assume a fox had got at it. It was a right mess.


Scale Force was very impressive. Less visited than Aira Force but more impressive if you ask me. I'd like to have shimmied up the 1st level, but the rocks looked far to wet, so I never bothered.


The walk back to the car took is via the banks of the excellent Crummock Water. I think Crummock is my favourite lake. Surrounded by very high and steep fells and still fairly peaceful and quiet. The weather gave it a very moody fell on our return home.