Wainwright Routes - Scout Scar Route One

Scout Scar - Route One

Start - Sizergh Castle SD 497 878

Distance - 3.5 miles

Ascent - 635 feet

Time - 1 hour : 40 minutes

The National Trust car park at Sizergh Castle is the starting point fror this walk

Exit the car park via a gate at its northern end

Sizergh Castle from the gate

A path signposted for Helsington Church bisects an open field

Looking back to Sizergh Castle

Another gate leads into another field .....

..... which is exited via a handgate into Rash Spring Wood

Looking over towards The Helm from the handgate

Heading along the path through Rash Spring Wood towards Holeslack Farm

Approaching Holeslack Farm

Holeslack Farmhouse

Pass through a gate onto a lane which provides vehicular access to the farm

Looking back to the barns of Holeslack farm

After a short but steep climb the track begins to level off

Heading towards Helsington Church

Part way along the track a footpath turns off and descends to the Park Moss Wetlands in the Lyth Valley, a favourite spot for bird watchers

St. John's Church

Opposite the church is a three part toposcope

Arnside Knott across the Kent Estuary

Whitbarrow across the Lyth Valley

Gummer's How across the Lyth Valley

The Coniston Fells across the Lyth Valley

Helsington Barrows from the toposcope

We continue along the church's access lane .....

..... to where it joins the Brigsteer ~ Kendal road at a cattle grid

Looking down to the Lyth Valley Wetlands from the cattle grid

Turning right from the cattle grid a gate gives access to Helsington Barrows

The southen end of Helsington Barrows is a National Trust Woodland

Arnside Knott and the Kent Estuary

The woodland enclosure is exited via a gate which lies beyond a prominent yew free

Continuing on the path towards another wall .....

..... which is followed to its highest point

As the wall turns away we continue on the path which descends into a wooded dell before .....

..... climbing steeply up to the Helsington Barrows/Scout Scar escarpment

Looking out from the southern end of the escarpment

Scout Scar from Helsington Barrows

The Eastern and Far Eastern Fells from Helsington Barrows

Barrowfield Farm from Helsington Barrows

Looking back along Helsington Barrows

Looking across to Red Screes on the horizon

The Barrowfield Cairn

The path alongside the escarpment

The Coniston Fells from the edge of escarpment

Hodgson's Leap on Scout Scar comes into view

For those who wish to visit the trig point first, follow the course of this wall as it climbs onto the Bradley Field plateau, the column stands to the south of the wall. We continue along the edge of the escarpment to visit the 'Mushroom' cross-shelter and viewpoint

Approaching the top of Hodgson's Leap

The 'Mushroom' comes into view from the top of Hodgson's Leap, bear right here onto a direct path to the shelter

The Shap Fells an Whinfell ridge across Bradley Field

The Howgills across Bradley Field

Heading towards the 'Mushroom'

Approaching the 'Mushroom'

The 'Mushroom' shelter on Scout Scar

The inside of the dome has a 360 degree toposcope and an information board above one of its benches

The shelter is not quite sited on the highest point of Scout Scar ... that lies about 300 yards to the north but it has no distinguishing features

The Shap Fells and Whinfell ridge

The Howgills

Gragareth and The Helm

Arnside Knott and Whitbarrow

Gummer's How

The Coniston Fells and the Langdale Pikes

Red Screes, Caudale Moor, Yoke, Ill Bell, Thornthwaite Crag, High Street, Mardale Ill Bell, Harter Fell, Kentmere Pike, Branstree and Tarn Crag on the horizon