Two More Days Surveying Footpaths in Whicham

On Monday amidst glorious blue skies & even warm enough for shorts (we weren't quite brave enough) we set of to survey three more paths including the highest point in the parish - Black Combe (600m) It was relatively flat as we walked along the western side of the fell. The three paths were a circular route starting in Whitbeck & walking to the northern end of the fell before climbing & heading south over the summit & back down to the road & then walking low level back to the start. It was quite hazy, we couldn't see the Isle of Man, but could see St Bees Head beyond Sellafield. The running water here makes the mud & grass look like stalactites How old is this piece of machinery & how long has it been laid to rest here

Looking across to Corney Fell. A road passes over this fell & is a bit of a rat run to cut the corner on the A595.

Looking down on Bootle

Looking across to the Old Man of Coniston

And in the opposite direction out to sea

We were sure we had seen a little snow on the northern faces of the higher lakeland peaks as we drove over. The un-named tarn between the two summit cairns was quite icy.

We didn't stop at the main summit and shelter as there were three sets of people already there so continued to the lower summit cairn for lunch.

A panorama from the lower cairn of the view inland

Quite an impressive cairn even at the lower point (587m). We had climbed up from only 50m above sea-level so were glad for a rest.

Rather hazy but looking south to Millom with Barrow beyond that

Zooming in on Duddon Sands

Someone has spent a lot of time creating this

After lunch we start the descent back into Whicham

Although it is 600m high Black Combe isn't one of the 214 Wainwright main fells but is documented in the book "The Outlying Fells of Lakeland" (as is Dent the fell closest to our house). Today we decided to go back to Whicham & finish the lower level footpaths that we hadn't already surveyed. Our first path took us form the A595 to the Black Combe path we had walked on Monday

Then across the A595 to walk another three paths to Kiskin. We don't believe this gate is opened very often as these three ladybirds appear to have found a winter home here (we were very careful not to disturb them)

A benefit of all the rain to the dogs when tarns spring up in the fields

An impressive three span bridge carries the railway over the River Annas

Looking across to Black Combe

The bridge as we return

We were then rewarded with a flypast from two Hercules transporter planes Followed by a much quicker & noisier jet

We drove into Whicham to complete the last two surveys & spotted this bird of prey in the next field (it flew away when we got closer)

It had been a lovely day & the sun was still shining far out at sea, although the cloud was gathering now inland

We just have three more footpaths to complete which are three different routes up White Combe (472m) so we will probably have to complete these over two more trips.