Black Combe Walking Festival
The first ever Black Combe Walking Festival gets underway tomorrow, with nine days of walks and talks among the rugged gems and cool award winning coastline of the Western Lake District.
From gentle rambles exploring the areas nature reserves to towering Wainwrights in the Duddon Valley, there is something for everyone at the festival.
You can find everything you need to know about the events and activities taking place via their website. Here’s a run-down of the jam-packed programme though:
Friday 27th May 2011. Wainwright: A talk from Eric Robson.
Join broadcaster Eric Robson, friend of the late Alfred Wainwright and chair of the Wainwright Society for the opening of the Black Combe Walking Festival.
Saturday 28th May 2011. Black Combe. 10am, Silecroft Station.
The most imposing mountain in the area and one of the few places where you can view England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man (on a clear day!).
Sunday 29th May 2011. Dow Crag and Seathwaite Tarn. 9.30am Millom Heritage Museum
Dow Crag rises proud from the impressive Goats water opposite The Old Man of Coniston. We’ll travel by minibus to Seathwaite in the Duddon Valley, where we’ll ascend via Seathwaite Tarn. The bus will leave at 9.30am from Millom Heritage Museum or 9.50am from Broughton Market Square.
Monday 30th May 2011. Bootle Fell and Corney. 10am at Bootle Station.
At the rear of Black Combe and above the quaint village of Bootle, which was England’s smallest market town, this delightful walk includes history, waterfalls and spectacular coastal views. Meet at Bootle Station (parking available) at 10am. After the walk we’ll head for lunch at the Byre Cafe in Bootle.
Tuesday 31st May 2011. A guided walk around RSPB Hodbarrow. 10.30am at the reserve entrance, mainsgate road.
Join RSPB warden, Dave Blackledge and his team of volunteers on a short guided walk around the flooded mines of Hodbarrow Nature Reserve. Meet at the reserve entrance on Mainsgate road at 10.30am.
Tuesday 31st May 2011. Seaness and Whitbeck from Silecroft. 1.30pm at Silecroft station.
For those not confident of reaching the top of Black Combe, the ascent of its coastal foothill, Seaness, one third of the height, is a great introduction to walking on the Combe. The walk will start at Silecroft Station at 1.30pm. Your effort will be rewarded (weather permitting!) with stunning coastal views, and buzzards and skylarks overhead. From the top of Seaness we will descend towards Whitbeck, turning back to Silecroft near Townend Hall and returning along the path by the intake wall.
Wednesday 1st June 2011. Silecroft to Millom Nature Walk. 10am at Silecroft station.
Join some of our local plant and wildlife enthusiasts on our own Springwatch walk from Silecroft station to Millom Station, calling at: the ancient standing stones of Giants Grave, Silecroft and Haverigg beaches, the Beach Cafe and Hodbarrow Nature Reserve.
Thursday 2nd June 2011. Nature Detective Trail. 10am at Millom Childrens Centre.
Join Millom Children’s centre and local Natterjack man, Bill Shaw from the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation trust on a free family walk to the beach with lots of fun activities along the way. All ages welcome. Bring a waterproof and wellies if wet!
Thursday 2nd June 2011. A Duddon Valley Wander. 10.30am at Broughton Market Square.
Join the Lake District National Park voluntary wardens on a walk in the Duddon Valley exploring Wordsworth’s favourite valley. Meet at Broughton Market Square at 10.30am.
Friday 3rd June 2011. Holborn Hill Heritage Walk. 10am at Millom Heritage Museum.
Before the town of Millom was built, Holborn Hill was the principal village in the area, it was well known to travellers, on the old pack horse route between Whitehaven and Ulverston, and the crossing place of the Duddon Sands. Join a local expert from Millom Heritage Museum on an informative guided walk around the town.
Friday 3rd June 2011. Arnaby and the Duddon Estuary. 1pm at the Green station.
This is a most enjoyable 5-mile walk around some of the small hamlets, pastures, woodlands and coastline of the Duddon Estuary. Includes part of the Cumbria Coastal Way.
Saturday 4th June 2011. Eskdale to Ravenglass. 10.15am at La’al Ratty car park, Ravenglass.
Meet us at Ravenglass station, before catching the La’al Ratty through to Dalegarth station, Eskdale. We’ll then walk back to Ravenglass exploring the network of footpaths and bridleways beneath the fells of Eskdale and Muncaster. Tickets for the Ravenglass and Eskdale railway to be bought separately.
Sunday 5th June 2011. Millom Park and Rock Park. 10am at Thwaites Village Hall, The Green.
Beginning at Thwaites Village Hall in The Green, we’ll head to the hills and woodland above Millom with wonderful views of the Duddon Estuary and Black Combe. En route we’ll make a brief visit to Millom Rock Park, an outdoor geology museum. Passing through the woods of Millom Park, we’ll circle round to Millom Castle then across the fields back to The Green. Bring a picnic lunch.