Walk two of the day would see us collect Black Combe from St Mary's Church Whicham which is one of three routes suggested by Wainwright the alternative routes being from Holegill Bridge, Bootle and ascent from Corney Fell Road Summit, the same Fell Road which we had just left, yet despite their appeal, ascent from Whicham won purely based on the view over the Whicham Valley and the Cumbrian coast. It's been sometime since I last summited Black Combe, the very same fell that I chose to summit after completing my Wainwrights back in 2011 so yeah, I guess this route also holds sentiment too.

Since leaving the top of Corney Fell road the pass had become considerably busier as we descended towards Ravenglass passing over Buckbarrow Bridge where the road twist abruptly over Buckbarrow Bridge all the while stopping at almost every passing place if only to let other road users pass, I am told that the Corney Fell Road is "bumper to bumper" during the week as workers travel from the south towards Sellafield, even throughout the Winter months; something that I struggled to visualise but Google Maps will confirm this.

We soon found ourselves motoring along the A595 passing through Bootle flanked by Black Combe on one side, and the Cumbrian coast on the other before arriving just after midday at St Mary's Church Whicham.

We secured two parking spaces on the Church car park and with no need to kit up we shouldered packs and made our way towards the Church yard where we spent a few moments reading the carvings on the gravestones and two particular graves caught our eye which read; Sergeant T.Huddleston, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner Royal Air Force who died 2nd October 1944 age 19 with the second grave belonging to Private Tom Caddy Machine Gun Corps (Inf) who died 11th March 1920 age 23 from the effects of gas received in action 1914 - 1918 Both men where from the Whicham valley.

It certainly left a sombre feel to the start of the walk.

The ascent alongside Moorgill Beck felt much more difficult than it should have which was put down to a hot midday sun where we were sheltered from any breeze, although once onto open fell side the breeze came and so to did a little respite as the path slowly eased revealing that the summit was still quite a distance away but with a comfortable path underfoot and a warming sun overhead all we needed now was the sight a cloud free summit.

We continued with our ascent passing two large families on their way down, one of which had group of young children with them who took great joy running down the fell side shouting at the tops of their voices, despite this it was noted how nice it was to see young children enjoying themselves out in the open instead of being stuck inside watching the telly.

We round the fellside and was presented with the final march towards the summit via a grassy hurdle from where we detoured to pay a visit to Blackcombe Tarn which had a real tranquil feel to it despite the crowds we had just passed.

The summit is just over our shoulder now, onwards and upwards as they say.

Having passed a fellow already eating lunch at the top of the screes we soon found a sheltered spot out of a now cooling breeze and broke out lunch while looking back on Buck Barrow and trodden ground. Our view over the Screes was fantastic as we watched the cloud shift silently from fell side to ridge then beyond.

"Where's your dinner David" I already ate it back in the car!