Hen Comb facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hen Comb |
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Seen from the footpath in Mosedale.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 509 m (1,670 ft) |
| Prominence | c. 145 m (476 ft) |
| Listing | Wainwright |
| Geography | |
 Hen Comb
Location in Lake District
Hen Comb
Location in Allerdale
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| Location | Cumbria, England |
| Parent range | Lake District, Western Fells |
| OS grid | NY133181 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 89, 90, Explorer OL4 |
Hen Comb is a cool fell (that's a type of mountain or hill) located in the western part of England's famous Lake District. It's one of the group called the Loweswater Fells. You can find it south of Loweswater lake and the small village of Loweswater. Even though Hen Comb isn't super tall, climbing it can be a bit tricky because it's mostly surrounded by wet, marshy areas called bogs.
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Where is Hen Comb?
The Western Fells are a group of hills in the Lake District. They are shaped a bit like a triangle. On one side is the River Cocker, and on the other is Wasdale. As you go west, the hills get smaller, leading towards the coast.
Hen Comb is part of the Loweswater Fells. These fells are sometimes compared to the fingers on a hand. They spread out southwest from the "palm" area around Loweswater village. Hen Comb is one of these "fingers," along with Burnbank Fell, Blake Fell, Gavel Fell, and Mellbreak.
Hen Comb's Shape and Surroundings
Hen Comb is a long, narrow hill that starts near the fields of the Loweswater valley. It then climbs southwards. The first part of the climb reaches a smaller top called Little Dodd, which is about 1,187 feet high. After that, the ridge becomes flatter for a while.
Then comes the final climb to the top, which is a rounded, dome-shaped area. The sides of the summit are quite steep. On the southwest side, there's a dip that connects Hen Comb to Floutern Cop. Floutern Cop is a smaller hill that's part of Gavel Fell.
Hen Comb doesn't directly connect to Mellbreak, which is to its east. These two hills are separated by a wet valley called Mosedale. The Mosedale valley curves around the top of Hen Comb towards the west. It starts at a place called Floutern Tarn. A tarn is a small mountain lake.
Floutern Tarn is a long, thin lake that often looks a bit gloomy. It sits between Floutern Crag (a rocky cliff) and a pile of huge rocks. To the south of Hen Comb, you can see Great Borne and Starling Dodd. The western edge of Hen Comb is marked by Whiteoak Beck, a stream. Like Mosedale Beck, Whiteoak Beck flows into the water that comes out of Loweswater lake. Across the valley from Hen Comb are Gavel Fell and Blake Fell. The very marshy area where Whiteoak Beck starts, called Whiteoak Moss, is just below Floutern Cop.
What is Hen Comb Made Of?
The rocks that make up Hen Comb are mostly from the Kirkstile Formation. These are mainly mudstone and siltstone layers. They are often found with other rocks from the Skiddaw group.
Mining History
There used to be mines on Hen Comb!
- Whiteoak Mine: This mine was on the northwest slopes. People dug for lead here between 1864 and 1891. You can still see the pit where a 40-foot waterwheel once stood. This wheel would have helped power the mine.
- Mosedale Mine: On the eastern side, Mosedale Mine was also a trial for lead, but it wasn't as successful.
- There are also remains of an iron mine near Floutern Tarn. This mine was worked on and off during the 1860s.
Reaching the Top of Hen Comb
At the very top of Hen Comb, there's a pile of stones called a cairn. This cairn marks the highest point of the grassy, rounded summit. From here, you can get a really good view! You can see the Buttermere valley and the Grasmoor range beyond it. You can also clearly see both arms of the Western Fells spreading out.
How to Climb Hen Comb
The most common way to climb Hen Comb is from Loweswater village. You would start by walking up Mosedale valley. You might need to cross the river early on (there's no bridge, so it can be wide). This path can lead you up to Little Dodd.
It's important to know that traveling through the wet, swampy areas of Mosedale or Whiteoak Moss can lead directly to the summit. However, it's very rare to stay dry! A famous writer about the Lake District, Alfred Wainwright, once said that Hen Comb rises "like an island from the sea" out of a "desolate tract of marshland and bog" that surrounds it like a moat. So, be prepared for some wet feet if you decide to explore this fell!
