Over Nicky Nook.

Start. Scorton.

Route. Scorton - Snowhill Lane - Higher Lane - Nicky Nook - Grize Dale - Slean End - Tithe Barn Lane - Scorton.

Notes. Sunderland Point on a sunny day, Sue had nipped to the loo, leaving me killing time taking some photos across the River Lune to the Hills of the Bowland Forest, startled by a voice in my ear I swung round, now I’m old but this guy was a darn site older, “Hes yer bin up theer”, or words to that effect “Nicky Nook yer ged a gred view”, “actually I have, from what I can remember I could see bugger all it was wet”, with that he turned to leave, I took another snap turned round to find him gone. Inspired by this strange encounter and the fact Sue has never been up the aforementioned hill we headed to Scorton the start of this short but rewarding walk.

Nicky Nook may only be but a pimple at 696ft but it’s a pimple on the western edge of the Forest of Bowland, a pimple commanding sensational views over the Lancashire coastal plane including Morecambe Bay, the Lake District and the western edge of the Bowland Fells. After visiting the vantage point of Nicky Nook we returned via the wooded cleft of Grize Dale, a small reservoir, waterside sylvan woodland trails with the brooding mass of the hill we’d just climbed looking down on us.

There’s plenty of parking in Scorton, there’s even a large private car park at the Garden Center open to the public, opposite which Snowhill Lane climbs out of the village. We climbed tarmac under foot, the lane carried us across the noisy M6 before the sound was muted by tree cover, through woodland we wandered across Tithe Barn Brook then on to a road junction, to the left a kissing gate marking the start of the path up Nicky Nook.

Up was steep, steps helped, through gorse we ascended all the time stunning views across the Lancashire coastal plane opened out, the top soon tilted into view and we found ourselves amongst the crowds, yes I forgot to mention this is a very popular little hill. Fortunately for us most of the would be hikers headed back the way they come, we headed over the hill looking for a descent path into the wooded cleft of Grize Dale.

Path located, Grize Dale located we headed west down the valley, alongside a reservoir at first then through cool woodland the sound of a tumbling stream for company, when the valley started to open out a crossing of paths greeted us, a parting of the ways, our way was to Higher Lane and Slean. This path climbed through mature Beech trees along the edge of Pedder’s Wood, it deposited us in Higher Lane next to the houses at Slean End. Just passed the houses a foot-path descended through fields, we descended with it, it deposited us in Tithe Barn Lane, all that remained to descend the lane under the M6 back into the streets of Scorton.

view route map.

home.

Outside the Barn at Scorton, across the other side of the road Snowhill Lane leaves the village, our guide into the promised land.

The Church of St Mary and St James, passed on the ascent of Snowhill Lane.

I promise the views will get better.

Reflections, an unnamed tarn passed on our ascent.

A promise kept, wonderful views over the flatlands of the Lancashire coastal plane.

This may only be a chip on the shoulder of the Bowland Fells but it's a chip with attitude, soaking up views to the grey hills of South Lakeland.

Staggering views to the western seaboard, far right Heysham Power Station and Sunderland Point, just visible in the far distance BAE Systems Barrow Ship Yard.

Looking across The Tarn to the heather and bracken coated slopes of Harrisend Fell.

This small hill, Nicky Nook certainly provides a fine viewpoint.

Seen from the summit, over the slopes of Harrisend Fell, Ward's Stone.

Lit by the sun, Nicky Nook, in shadow Ward's Stone and Harrisend Fell.

The water level's a bit low today, in fact Grizedale Reservoir looks a mess.

Striding out through ancient Beech trees along the edge of Pedder's Wood.

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