20 hours ago
A spectacular seven-mile walk over the Lakes' soaring Scout Scar
A t the Lake District's southeastern corner, the limestone escarpment of Scout Scar rises abruptly above the Lyth Valley, a line of white cliffs that's stark against the softly green pasture and woodland. Alongside neighbouring Cunswick Scar, it is one of Alfred Wainwright's Outlying Fells, with a quiet drama distinct from Cumbria's more famous summits.
From Underbarrow Road a neat path climbed through scrubby hawthorn and young ash. Higher up, a break in the trees revealed a surprise view over wooded Whitbarrow to the Furness Fells, Windermere hidden in the folds of the hills. At the top, the full length of the precipitous scarp stretched ahead, Morecambe Bay shimmering in the distance.
We made our way along the edge, detouring up to the Mushroom shelter, a local landmark built in 1912 for the coronation of George V. Away from sun or rain, it's a delightful spot to pause and take in the views: west to the jagged tops of Coniston and Langdale; north to the rolling Sleddale and Bannisdale fells — more of Wainwright's outliers; east to the Howgills.
