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White Combe FROM near Whicham

Lake District Walk

Nat Park - Lake District - Lake District Lesser Fells

County/Area - Cumbria

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 4.5 miles / 7.3 km    Ascent - 1400 feet / 424 metres

Time - 3 hours 40 minutes    Grade - easy/mod

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Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - White Combe FROM near Whicham
Click image to see photo description.

A short but energetic walk exploring White Combe and its associated valleys. White Combe offers good walking and lies at the southwestern corner of the Lake District National Park. The hill sees few walkers despite offering some fine views to its higher neighbour Black Combe and to Duddon Sands and the Irish Sea.

The start is a small layby 100 metres east of Fox and Goose Cottages on the busy A595 east of Whicham (grid ref. SD158849). After walk in front of the cottages and take the signed foot path into a field. The path runs parallel with the A595 following a hedge on the left. Continue to the end of the field and turn left along a track enclosed by hedges. This leads to the intake wall and open fell. Take the clear path heading roughly cutting across the steep hillside at an angle. A steady climb with the crags of White Hall Knott above on your left. The path bears left and crosses the eastern flank of White Combe.

Leave the path when level with the top of a gulley on the right (grid ref. SD157862) and bear half left up to a large cairn, from the where you can enjoy the best views. From the cairn walk uphill in a northerly direction to re-join the main path and continue up to Whitecombe Head (grid ref. SD151874). A short diversion to the right offers a good view down Stoupdale and the crags at the head of the valley.

From Whitecombe Head, walk west on a grassy path and bear left down into a valley with Whitecombe Screes up to your right. The path descends into the valley turning right and then left to follow Whitecombe Beck downstream. Cross the beck over a small footbridge (grid ref. SD149862) to follow a clear track that leads down to pass Whicham Mill. Stay on the track to reach the A595. Cross with care and turn left. Just past an entrance to Beckside Farm, pass through a gate to follow an unsigned footpath into a field. Aim for the gap in the hedge and continue to the left of a small quarry soon joining a clearer track that leads to the A595.Turn right and the layby is a short distance along the road on the left.

Other walks nearby

Walk 2271 Black Combe from near Stoneside Hilleasy/mod6.3 miles
Walk 3656 Hodbarrow Lagoon from Haveriggeasy4.2 miles
Walk 1301 Great Stickle & Stickle Pikemoderate5.0 miles
Walk 1993 Ravenglass & the Esk Estuaryeasy3.4 miles
Walk 1124 Beacon Tarn & The Beacon from near Torvereasy/mod4.0 miles
Walk 1058 Beacon Fell & Beacon Tarn Circulareasy/mod4.0 miles
Walk 1668 Silver Knott & Muncaster Fell from Irton Road easy/mod5.0 miles
Walk 2355 Blea Tarn & Eskdale Greeneasy/mod6.5 miles
Walk 3110 The Old Man of Coniston & Dow Crag from Torvermod/hard8.5 miles
Walk 1299 Green Cragmoderate6.5 miles

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