I’ve done Great Mell Fell about three times and took the route you took except on one occasion I was daydreaming on the descent and didn’t go to the right at a fork in the path. The straight on (slightly left) path takes you through the woods. It was a bit steep and wet under foot in the woods until it joins a lower path. It took me a bit longer but it’s no problem.
I’ve taken a few wrong turns through daydreaming fortunately none leading me into trouble, just some annoying backtracking.