Height: 600 metres / 1970 feet Grid reference: SD 13551 85490 Category: The Outlying Fells

Black Combe

The shelter and trig column at the summit

Summit tarn
Height: 600 metres / 1970 feet Grid reference: SD 13551 85490 Category: The Outlying Fells
Black Combe
The shelter and trig column at the summit
Summit tarn
Walked on
Start point: Whicham Church (SD 135 827)
Whicham Church – Black Combe (OF) – South Top of Black Combe – Seaness – Whicham
Distance: 4.7 miles Total Ascent: 574 metres Time Taken: 1 hours 45 minutes
Weather: Hazy with the odd sunny spell. 14C.
It feels like ages since I have been to Black Combe and even longer since I ascended from Whicham Church, the quickest and easiest way to get to the top. The weather wasn’t good for distant views as it was very hazy and the predicted rain came as I set off home in the car.
Looking across to Kirksanton and Silecroft Wind Farm. Some people complain about windmills spoiling the view but at Kirksanton there is an application to build a new nuclear power station right by that wind farm. I know which I would prefer.
'Which other fell can be ascended in carpet slippers?' said Wainwright about the climb to Black Combe along this path from Whicham.
Looking back from further up the path. There are virtually no distant views today as it is so hazy but the Furness Peninsular can be made out on the horizon.
Walked on
Start point: Beckside (SD 153 847)
Beckside – Whicham Mill – Whitecombe Head – Black Combe (OF) – South Top of Black Combe – Eller Peatpot – Beckside
Distance: 5.5 miles Total Ascent: 560 metres Time Taken: 2 hours
Weather: Overcast. 15oC.
More cloud but no rain at least for our walk this morning up to Black Combe, that great hulk of fell at the south-western tip of the Lake District. It is a relatively easy ascent following Whitecombe Beck all the way to Whitecombe Head, the sting in the tail being the very steep descent to get back to the valley.
Walked on
Start point: Beckside (SD 153 847)
Beckside – Whicham Mill – South Top of Black Combe – Black Combe (OF) – Whitecombe Moss – White Combe (OF) – White Hall Knott – Beckside
Distance: 6.25 miles Total Ascent: 657 metres Time Taken: 2 hours 30 minutes
Weather: Overcast. 16oC.
Another day with non-existent views; the whole of the Lake District seemed to be enveloped in low lying cloud today with the promise of further (summer!) weather like this for a few days yet. I had a walk up to Black Combe, a relatively easy walk, and a nice one whatever the weather – at least the rain held off!
The way ahead following Whitecombe Beck. It is interesting to compare the predominately green colour of today's photos with those from last time here on 20th January
A misty Black Combe summit - I found an England flag on the way up, so it now resides on the top of the trig. column!
Walked on
Start point: Beckside (SD 153 847)
Beckside – White Hall Knott – White Combe (OF) – Whitecombe Moss – Black Combe (OF) – South Top of Black Combe – Whicham Mill – Beckside
Distance: 6.25 miles Total Ascent: 657 metres Time Taken: 2hours 20 minutes
Weather: Generally dull with the odd sunny spell. 7°C
Black Combe stands isolated at the south-western tip of the Lake District and today it stood isolated as the only cloud-free fell I could see! Well, it did at first, anyway – the mist soon rolled in to cover the very top of Black Combe by the time I arrived. The descent of Black Combe following this route is particularly attractive, following the beck all the way back to the start point.
Walked on
Start point: Beckside (SD 153 847)
Beckside – White Hall Knott – White Combe (OF) – Whitecombe Moss – Stoupdale Head (OF) – Black Combe (OF) –South Top of Black Combe – Whicham Mill – Beckside
Distance: 6.25 miles Total Ascent: 657 metres Time Taken: 2hours 20 minutes
Weather: Sunny and bright.
Black Combe lies in the extreme south-west of the Lake District and its remoteness from other fells means that it is rarely visited and its detachment from the main fells means that it is easily identifiable from a distance.
The sun shone more than could have been expected this morning with the thick covering of cloud over the top of Black Combe lifting by the time I reached the summit. Black Combe is described in Wainwright’s Black Combe chapter in his book ‘The Outlying Fells of Lakeland’, page 176.
Elevation profile of the route. Key: WHK=White Hall Knott, WC=White Combe, SH=Stoupdale Head, BC=Black Combe
Walked on
Start point: Beckside (SD 153 847)
Beckside – White Hall Knott (83) – White Combe (84) (OF) – Whitecombe Moss – Stoupdale Head (85) (OF) – Black Combe (86) (OF) – South Top of Black Combe (87) – Whicham Mill – Beckside
Weather: Sunny and bright, misty on Black Combe summit.
A walk in the sunshine today around the Cirque of Black Combe, a remote fell in the extreme south west of the Lake District. Its detachment from other fells makes it unique and its unobstructed view allows great views of the high fells and to the Irish Sea.
“the amplest range of unobstructed prospect may be seen that British ground commands” – said William Wordsworth about Black Combe.
As well as taking in the Birkett tops, parts of this walk are described in Wainwright’s Black Combe chapter in his book ‘The Outlying Fells of Lakeland’, page 162.
The walk started at Beckside on the A595 where there are parking spaces by the side of the road. I followed the tarmac for a short way until just before the Fox and Goose cottages, and then a track almost hidden by dense trees and signposted for White Combe lead to the heavily brackened fell side. The track went up the side of the fell, I followed it to the col and then cut back left to the grassy, flat summit of White Hall Knott
Kirkby Moor over the Duddon Estuary from the ascent of White Hall Knott. The water in the foreground is Baystone Bank Reservoir.
Looking down the Whicham Valley from White Hall Knott. From White Hall Knott, it was back along the shoulder and an easy ascent to the summit of White Combe, topped with a large stone cairn and wind shelter.
Black Combe from the summit of White Combe. From White Combe, it was an easy, pathless ascent over lush grassy moor to the summit of Stoupdale Head marked by a small pile of white quartz. The views to the Scafell range from here were stunning.
Zooming in on the Scafells. The Buttermere fells and Great Gable are to the left. From Stoupdale Head, it was back along the path following the rim of firstly Whitecombe and then Blackcombe Screes, up into the cloud at 550 metres and onto the summit of Black Combe.
and the summit tarn. From the summit, it was across the dip which holds the summit tarn and onto the South Top which has a large, round cairn which can be seen from the valley below.
and a view through the mist to the Irish Sea and West Cumbrian coastline. Then it was along the shoulder and head for the Whitecombe Beck valley below. Once below the cloud, the views to the south were fantastic.