Hill: Black Combe
Date: Wednesday 15th April 2015
Company: Just myself
Distance: 8km, Ascent: 580m
Time: 2Hrs 30Mins
Click here to see a map of the route undertaken
Prior to walking up Black Combe, I sat in the car waiting for the rain to stop. I eventually gave up waiting and set off walking in the rain.
St. Mary's Church, Whicham:
Old School House, Whicham:
The cloud-level was sitting around 200m; visibility was really poor.
Public Bridleway to Black Combe:
During the ascent, I didn't bother taking photos of low-cloud. The following two photos were actually taken during the descent.
Apart from the low-cloud and almost zero-visibility the walk was fairly pleasant. Just a case of following the wide public bridleway all the way to the summit.
Ascent of Black Combe:
Looking back towards Millom:
On reaching the summit area, I had a good walkabout as I was not convinced the trig point was the high point. This was possibly because the mist was playing tricks with my vision, as several places seemed highest.
I did consider sitting in the shelter and waiting for the cloud to lift but as there was no certainty that it would lift I returned back down the hill.
Summit trig point and shelter of Black Combe:
During the descent, the cloud started to lift and by the time I got back to the car the cloud-level had risen to circa 500m. As there were signs that the day was improving, I drove round to Corney Fell for an ascent of Whitfell. I parked at the bridge over the Buckbarrow Beck where there is room for two or three cars.
Hills: Whitfell and Buck Barrow
Date: Wednesday 15th April 2015
Company: Just myself
Distance: 8.8km, Ascent: 405m
Time: 2Hrs 25Mins
Click here to see a map of the route undertaken
Once on the public bridleway, I followed it to it's end on Burn Moor.
Public Bridleway to Whitfell:
I was a bit displeased to look back and see Black Combe now free of cloud. However on the plus side, it was becoming an increasingly nice day and I was about to ascend another hill
.
Looking back towards a now cloud-free Black Combe:
Ascent towards Burn Moor:
As I progressed towards Whitfell, Buck Barrow was increasingly catching my attention.
Buck Barrow:
I stopped briefly at a viewpoint cairn on the flank of Burn Moor.
At viewpoint cairn on flank of Burn Moor:
I carried on across the wide expanse of Burn Moor not really thinking it was a hill top. I failed to go to the summit cairn of Burn Moor realising afterwards that it is a Wainwright Outlying Fell.
Looking towards Whitfell from Burn Moor:
I got good views towards the Eskdale hills and beyond during the walk across Burn Moor. I could see no snow remaining on any of the hills.
Lake District hills:
Ascending Whitfell:
I really enjoyed looking at the clouds today. There were some beautiful skies.
Looking back towards Buck Barrow and Burn Moor:
On reaching the summit of Whitfell, I took some photos and then made my way back towards Burn Moor.
At the summit of Whitfell:
View from the summit of Whitfell:
Whitfell summit cairn and shelter:
However, there was no way I was not ascending Buck Barrow, it looked too good to miss! I therefore cut across towards Buck Barrow.
Heading across to Buck Barrow:
From a distance, the Buck Barrow summit looked really rocky; a bit like a mini Cobbler. However despite it's rocky appearance, getting to the summit is just a walk.
Beautiful sky above Buck Barrow:
At the summit of Buck Barrow:
After visiting the summit of Buck Barrow, I also visited Great Paddy Crag and Kinmont Buck Barrow (535m top).
Looking towards Kinmont Buck Barrow from top of Great Paddy Crag:
Looking towards Black Combe from the summit of Kinmont Buck Barrow:
I could see my car from the summit of Kinmont Buck Barrow. I therefore made my way back directly, in a straight line, towards the car.
Looking towards Ravenglass and Seascale during descent:
This afternoon's walk more than made up for this morning's poor weather.
Buck Barrow is a real gem of a hill. If ascending Whitfell, a Buck Barrow extension is a must.