Monday 19th June 2006

The low cloud and rain that had stopped us walking the day before continued today but as it was the last day we decided to head up to Black Combe anyway. At the start looking at the brightness out to sea we hoped the cloud might lift but Black Combe remained in cloud and was an exercise in navigation using a compass and GPS as visibility was often little more than a few feet. 

Start: Beckside (SD 153 847)

Route: Beckside - White Hall Knott (91) - White Combe (92) - Stoupdale Head (93) - Black Combe (94)
            - South Top of Black Combe (95) - Hallbeck Gill - Beckside

Distance: 6.5 miles     Ascent: 647 metres     Time Taken: 4 hours 45 minutes   

Weather: Low cloud with light rain towards the end.

Pub visited: None        Ale Drunk: None

The Wicham Valley from the ascent to White Hall Knott.

The clouds lifted briefly to give this view across the Duddon Estuary. The hills across the estuary are
 Kirkby Moor, the reservoir in the foreground is Baystone Bank Reservoir.

The summit of White Hall Knott with Black Combe lost in cloud behind it.

White Combe from White Hall Knott.

White Combe summit.

Stoupdale Crags from Whitecombe Moss ........

............. by the time we reached the summit of Stoupdale Head the cloud had descended, so no views.

As we crossed Whitecombe Head the clouds lifted slightly to give this view of the valley below.

The summit of Black Combe. The England flag on the floor had been placed on the trig point a few
 hours early by Sean McMahon  whom I had met at the start of the walk.

We thought this was the summit cairn on the South Top of Black Combe, the GPS was giving us the
 correct grid reference. I have since found out that there is another much bigger cairn  on the
 flat summit which we couldn't see in the mist.

White Hall Knott, from Black Combe, with the Coniston hills just visible in the background.
 A few minutes later the clouds returned and White Hall Knott's summit disappeared.

Whitecombe Beck.