Climbing Black Combe

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Our view

"Climb out on a limb, far removed from the higher Lakeland fells."

Walk directions

From the car park at Whicham church, walk along the walled path between the church and the old school to a lane. Turn left to walk up behind Kirkbank. At a bridleway sign, turn right onto the open fell.

The fellside is covered in bracken, but a broad, grassy path leads straight up a little valley. Avoid a path climbing steeply to the left. Towards the top of the valley, bracken gives way to grass and bilberry. Behind you, coastal views are developing nicely, stretching beyond Millom to the Furness Peninsula.

The broad path becomes stony as it slants left across a heathery slope. Nearing the summit, the high fells of the central Lake District appear ahead. Ignoring the faint path continuing straight on, follow the clearer route that bends sharp right for the final pull to the broad, domed top of Black Combe. A trig point is enclosed by a circular wall.

You can turn around and retrace your steps to Whicham, or enjoy a fine circuit around the fell. Head northeast from the summit and you’ll soon pick up a reasonably clear path heading in your direction. Follow this for about 250yds (230m) and then turn left along a narrow, grassy trail that broadens as it descends.

Descend to a broad heather-clad shoulder. The path swings left near an old sheepfold, then back right. The village of Bootle soon comes into view. At a fork, ignore the path dropping left (it gets too steep) and keep straight on. The path later swings left and continues down beside a fence on Butcher’s Breast, then runs by a wall, fords Hallfoss Beck and passes close to the ruined farm of Hall Foss.

Keep to the path beside the wall, fording Holegill Beck near a solitary larch. Pass abandoned Fell Cottage and cross Monkfoss Beck on a little bridge. When a fork is reached, keep left to follow a grassy path across a slope of bracken. A track leads past Whitbeck Mill, then passes scattered cottages before meeting the main road (A595) at Whitbeck church.

Turn left through a layby and go along the verge. At a footpath sign to Black Combe, go up the path a few paces then branch right on a path just above the road. Eventually it climbs away from the road and forks. Bear left here, later walking beside a wall. Continue along a track, soon passing the bridleway sign above Kirkbank. Retrace your route to the car park.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Clear path to top, indistinct at start of descent; two significant fords on return route

Landscape - Broad, open, whaleback hill covered in bracken and heather

Dog friendliness - On lead or under close control throughout

Parking - Car park at Whicham church (with honesty box) or layby at Whitbeck church

Toilets en route - None on route

Walks in Cumbria Dog-friendly walks in Cumbria

About the walk

Black Combe truly dominates this quiet corner of the Lake District. Its steep slopes rise to a domed summit (1,968ft/600m) that often wears a woolly cap of cloud. Moist air rising from the Irish Sea has to cross Black Combe before reaching the higher fells, so tends to leave a puffy cloud tethered...

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Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

Cumbria's rugged yet beautiful landscape is best known for the Lake District National Park that sits within its boundaries. It’s famous for Lake Windermere, England’s largest lake, and Derwent Water, ‘Queen of the English Lakes', but other lesser-known areas in the south, such as the Lune Valley and the coastal towns, are secret gems of wide cobbled streets and rolling hills.