Black Combe

Nearest town:
Dalton-In-Furness (14km SE)
OS reference:
SD136855
OS sheet:
96
Latitude:
54° 15' 27.36 N
Longitude:
3° 19' 35.24 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Black Combe (Sacred Hill) by GLADMAN

Looking approx north-west along the coast toward such delights as Seascale. The destroyed 'circles mentioned by Cope in his tome (used to) lie beneath this flank...

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Feb 10, 2013
comment 0 Comments
Image of Black Combe (Sacred Hill) by GLADMAN

Looking approx south, nearing the summit of this 'Mother Hill-to-end-all-Mother Hills'. The Giant's Grave stone pairing is approx centre, right.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Apr 28, 2010
comment 0 Comments

Articles

Black Combe

GLADMAN
GLADMAN Oct 29, 2009
comment 1 Comment

Lucky owners of Mr Cope's great orange tome will need no introduction to this, Lakeland's most southerly 600m mountain, or 'fell' as they call them in these parts. If ever there was a 'mother hill', Black Combe is surely the archetypal case within Britain. Not only does it possess Sunkenkirk (Swinside), one of these Isles' finest stone circles, upon it's north-eastern foothills, there are also the elegant Giant's Grave monoliths and Lacra circles/rows to the south and three (count 'em) now virtually obliterated stone circle sites to the west, upon the coast. Clearly Black Combe was the object of significant ritual focus, of that there can be no doubt.

It is fitting, therefore, that Black Combe appears a 'friendly' mountain, with a clear track leading from the church at Whicham northwards to the 1,968ft summit at a pretty steady gradient. Also, since it is located upon the coast, it is a fabulous viewpoint – famously celebrated by Wordsworth – the vista including not only coastline 'luminaries' such as Blackpool Tower and, er, Sellafield, but virtually the whole of Lakeland. On a clear day (ha!) the view apparently extends all the way to Wales and Scotland. Nearer to hand, the eastern flank of the mountain is enlivened by some fine cliff lines, no doubt the eponymous 'black combes'. It is indeed a splendid mountain.

Needless to say friendly appearances can be deceptive, my visit to the mountain coinciding with winds gusting in excess of 50mph, with a band of driving rain and cloud sweeping in from the sea later on. Nevertheless, or perhaps because of the conditions, it was a wondrous experience to visit Black Combe. In a way I think I now know what those ancients were thinking when they venerated it ......

comment 1 Comment

Black Combe

IronMan
IronMan Jan 28, 2002
comment 0 Comments

Black Combe. People just seem to like saying the name of this hill. It's domination of the coastal landscape round here is incredible.

It can be seen from very far away – on a clear day, along the coast of Lancashire it's distinctive shape heralds the start of the Lakeland high ground. From atop the surrounding mountain landscape also, Black Combe is easily made out, part of the last high ground before the Irish Sea. Coniston Old Man has a particularly good view out to Black Combe, and from here you can appreciate how the surrounding landscape fits together.

Black Combe is a very special place.

comment 0 Comments

Miscellaneous

Black Combe
Sacred Hill
fitzcoraldo
fitzcoraldo Aug 4, 2006
comment 0 Comments

" VIEW FROM THE TOP OF BLACK COMB

THIS Height a ministering Angel might select:

For from the summit of BLACK COMB (dread name

Derived from clouds and storms!) the amplest range

Of unobstructed prospect may be seen

That British ground commands:--low dusky tracts,

Where Trent is nursed, far southward! Cambrian hills

To the south-west, a multitudinous show;

And, in a line of eye-sight linked with these,

The hoary peaks of Scotland that give birth

To Tiviot's stream, to Annan, Tweed, and Clyde:--

Crowding the quarter whence the sun comes forth

Gigantic mountains rough with crags; beneath,

Right at the imperial station's western base

Main ocean, breaking audibly, and stretched

Far into silent regions blue and pale;--

And visibly engirding Mona's Isle

That, as we left the plain, before our sight

Stood like a lofty mount, uplifting slowly

(Above the convex of the watery globe)

Into clear view the cultured fields that streak

Her habitable shores, but now appears

A dwindled object, and submits to lie

At the spectator's feet.--Yon azure ridge,

Is it a perishable cloud? Or there

Do we behold the line of Erin's coast?

Land sometimes by the roving shepherdswain

(Like the bright confines of another world)

Not doubtfully perceived.--Look homeward now!

In depth, in height, in circuit, how serene

The spectacle, how pure!--Of Nature's works,

In earth, and air, and earth-embracing sea,

A revelation infinite it seems;

Display august of man's inheritance,

Of Britain's calm felicity and power!"

William Wordsworth

1813.

comment 0 Comments

Sites within 20km of Black Combe

Like all websites everywhere, we use cookies.