SOUTH
TOP OF BLACK COMBE, BLACK COMBE, STOUPDALE HEAD, WHITE
COMBE, & WHITE HALL KNOTT from WHICHAM
(Allen's 5th birthday walk)
Summary
Date - 25th August 2009
Distance - 7 miles Ascent
- 2113ft
Map - OL6
Start point - Parking by Whicham
church (SD 135827)
Summits Achieved
Name
Height (ft)
Height (m)
Grid Ref
South Top of Black Combe
1926
587
SD 1357 8515
Black Combe
1970
600
SD 1355 8548
Stoupdale Head
1548
472
SD 1515 8736
White Combe
1361
415
SD 1545 8628
White Hall Knott
1020
311
SD 1556 8559
Preface
"Poor Uncle Bob", said
Grizzly. "He is having pretty poor weather for his fortnight
at the caravan site near Coniston."
"Your right. It was rather wet
when Dad and Uncle Brian went to see them", replied Shaun.
Just then Allen came bounding in.
"I have good news. The weather looks pretty good for
tomorrow and Dad has arranged to walk with Uncle Bob. We are
climbing Black Combe, as Uncle Bob has never done it. It is my 5th
birthday too, so it will be a great way to celebrate."
"That will be great",
piped up Tetley, "as we will be able to tick off those
Birketts, - Black Combe south top and White Hall Knott."
"Even better for me",
said Little Eric, "as I have not climbed any of them before.
The Walk
We think that we
should mention that Black Combe is the most westerly fell in the
Lake District, with just a few miles of flat country beyond it to
the coast. Dad comes from Southport, a resort further south down
the coast, where on a clear day Black Combe can be seen. There is
a saying in Southport, that if you can see Black Combe it is
going to rain, and if not, it is raining! Alfred Wainwright
included this fell in his Outlying Fells book.
We had to be up early,
because it was quite a long drive. When we set out it was raining,
but thankfully it cleared up on the way. First along the familiar
A590 to Greenodd, where we turned off to follow the A595, that
climbs up over the tops at Gawthwaite. From here we had a clear
view to Black Combe. By-passing Broughton in Furness, we crossed
the Duddon Bridge. Then on along the picturesque route to
Beckside where we met Uncle Bob. The walk was not a full circle,
so leaving Uncle Bob's car here, we then all drove on in Dad's
car to Whicham, parking by the church.
Where this large tree,
in the churchyard, had this huge fungi growing on it.
A narrow path led between the
church and the old school, then down some steps to a narrow road,
which leads just to Mirkbank. The path went round behind the
house to a junction of paths, where the incorrectly spelt
signpost directed us right, to commence the climb up the fell.
The ascent was steep and
unrelenting, so we took rests to take in the views. Black Combe
itself looked magnificent its slopes purple with heather and
patches of contrasting gorse too.
After a col, the gradient eased a
little and the upper part of the fell now came into view -
another fantastic sight with an expanse of purple heather
clothing it. We could see that after a further climb, the track
traversed left across the face of the fell and then turned up
right. Before walking on we took the time to take in the views to
the coast.
"Don't you think that's worth
a picture", enquired Allen.
"Yes", replied Dad, as he
got the camera out.
When we reached the point where the
track turned up right, we could see further ahead, that it turned
left. However, at this point we were now just below the south top,
so Dad and Uncle Bob climbed immediately to the right up a rough
slope to reach this lower summit. It is peppered with sharp rock
sticking out of the ground. In the centre is a low circular pile
of stones that marks the actual summit. Here Uncle Bob posed for
his picture.
Nearby stands a huge tall circular
cairn from which there is a fine view down to the Duddon Estuary.
This is taken looking south, and
you might notice that the clouds look rather foreboding. A little
later Dad phoned Uncle Brian, who said it had been pouring with
rain all morning in Morecambe. He was rather surprised when Dad
told him that apart from a little drizzle it had been dry all the
time here. This was due to the fact that there was a strong north-westerly
wind, that had blown the bad weather further south. Now crossing
this summit area, we descended to a col containing a small tarn,
from which a short ascent brought us to the main summit with its
trig point contained in a circular shelter.
It was photo time for us, and we
dived out of the rucksack and sat by the trig point.
It had been warm when we set off
but up here it was much cooler so Dad and Uncle Bob donned their
coats. While we had lunch, they chatted to a gentleman with his
young son. They were just in shorts and T-shirts, and we could
see plainly that the young lad was shivering. They had not
brought any coats, but it just goes to show that on the fells you
need to be prepared for anything. Just by where Dad was sitting,
he noticed this graffiti carved in the rock dated 1864. He
guessed it was a couple whose surname started with 'L'. We
wondered who they might have been?
Taking our leave of the summit, our
way led in a north-easterly direction quite close to the rim of
the dramatic Black Combe screes, where we paused while Dad took
this picture.
Meanwhile we were being closely
observed by this lamb. His mother as you can see was quite
unconcerned and ignored us completely.
The path became boggy as it
descended gently to reach the ridge of White Combe. We were going
along this, but first we had to reach the summit of Stoupdale
Head. This involved walking on ahead for a little way, then
striking left to the cairn. As it was Allen's birthday, Dad took
his picture on his own, as well as with us all.
Backtracking to the ridge, Dad and
Uncle Bob then made short work of the walk to the large cairn at
the summit of White Combe. Uncle Bob kindly took Dad posing here.
photograph
courtesy Bob Woolley (Uncle Bob)
"Wow", called out Allen.
"Looking across now you can see how Black Combe gets its
name."
"Yes", agreed Tetley,
"Dad needs to take that shot for our story."
"True", called out Shaun,
"but just look at that view across to the Coniston Fells. I
can recall some wild and wet days when we have been up there.
"Your right, replied Grizzly.
"Do you remember that horizontal hail storm, it made us look
like snowmen!"
Below we could see White Hall Knott
that was to be our last summit of the day. None of us had visited
this before.
Descending steeply to a col we then
struck right to its narrow ridged summit. Jumping out we posed
for our picture as usual.
Now while Dad was busy with this
task, Uncle Bob had been studying the map and terrain, and
suggested a steep descent down the face to pick up a track
through the bracken. It was necessary to take care, but this was
accomplished without too much difficulty, and then the track led
all the way to the gate and the main track, that we would
otherwise have taken. At the gate we met some riders who were
going up the fell. They thanked Dad and Uncle Bob for opening the
gates for them, remarking on our perfect timing. Here they are
getting organised for the start up along the bridleway.
A little later strung out as they
climb further up, with White Hall Knott above.
Dad's boots were very clean up to
this point, but now it was necessary to negotiate a very muddy
path to the road, so they were well and truly mucked up. At the
road it was just a quarter of a mile right to Uncle Bob's car at
Beckside (SD 153847). He then drove us to Whicham and Dad's car.
We did not go straight home, rather Dad followed Uncle Bob to his
caravan at Park Coppice. It was nice for Dad to see Aunt Ann and
the family again. She very kindly made a delicious meal for Dad -
shepherd's pie potatoes and vegetables. Just what he needed, and
it saved him having to get something when he got home. About 18
15 we finally set off for home, after a great walk and day out
with Uncle Bob!! We have now done all the tops in this group of
fells. Allen celebrated his 5th birthday in style too.