White Coomb

About White Coomb

This broad Corbett is the highest point in the Moffat Hills, offering a rugged plateau experience overlooking the dramatic hanging valley of Loch Skeen. While the summit is hidden by its neighbours, the approach past the Grey Mare’s Tail waterfall provides one of the Southern Uplands' most spectacular hill walks.

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Did You Know?

• •The name derives from the Old English 'cumb', describing a deep valley or hollow, while 'White' refers to the pale Nardus grass (white bent) that coats the slopes, giving the hill a lighter appearance than the dark, heather-clad moorland nearby.
• •From the summit cairn, the view to the southeast is particularly fine, looking down the length of the Moffat Water valley toward the Solway Firth, with the distinctive skyline of the Lake District fells visible on the horizon in clear weather.
• •The standard route traverses the rim of a spectacular glacial amphitheatre containing Loch Skeen; this high-altitude loch is one of the best examples of a post-glacial landscape in southern Scotland and is home to Britain's rarest freshwater fish, the vendace.
• •The crags around the Grey Mare's Tail and the post-glacial corries are a haven for mountain plants like purple saxifrage and provide nesting sites for peregrine falcons and feral goats, which are often seen grazing the steep lower slopes.
• •Negotiating the high ground toward Hart Fell involves crossing some of the Southern Uplands' most committed peat hags, where the 'White' Coomb title feels like a cruel joke to anyone currently knee-deep in black, viscous mud.