Helsington Barrows and Scout Scar from Scroggs.

Start. Scroggs Wood.

Route. Scroggs Wood - Helsington Laithes - Warriner's Wood - Brigsteer Road - Helsington Barrows - Scout Scar - Bradleyfield - Bradleyfield Farm - Brigsteer Road - Lane Head - Helsington Laithes - Scroggs Wood.

Notes. I’ve got company today, Sue’s in charge, she's picked the route, so she’s leading the way. After parking next to the River Kent at Scroggs we wandered up the tarmac access road, this deposited us on the main road into town, directly across the busy road a finger-post invites the lucky rambler to Helsington Laithes, we crossed to join the path.

A hundred yards further on a path junction welcomed us, yellow arrows pointed the way, we turned left. This farm drive lead past a wonderful old building, Helsington Laithes Manor, a stunning property dating back to the 13th century, with walls between 4ft and 8ft thick, this is a fabulous old building steeped in history.

We continued, the drive guided us under the Kendal By-pass to a rather large foot-path sign, a stile aided our access to the field where a track, easy to follow guided us along the edge of field boundaries. Keeping to the track we soon reached a narrow trod crossing the field, this we followed, over a stile then up the next field to access Brigsteer Road, directly in front of us a large gate welcomed us, a portal to the stunning landscape of Helsington Barrows.

With a good path under foot we ascended between hawthorn and holly, juniper and gorse, dense bushes and ash struggling for a root hold in fragile limestone soils. Our guide on this section a fine example of a dry stone wall, never very far away to our left. On reaching a wall corner we turned north, another good path then guided us across a wide limestone ridge to the trig point on Scout Scar. Not the highest point the mushroom a famous local landmark can lay claim to that, we headed there next.

From the Mushroom with it’s extensive views we turned south, casually wandered to a dry stone wall containing a kissing gate, passed through said gate to start our descent. Again a good path guided us, through hawthorn, juniper and gorse, again a dry stone wall for company. The wall ended just before Bradleyfield Farm, after passing said farm the access lane ushered us to Brigsteer Road.

Once on Brigsteer Road we turned south, a sizeable chunk of road walking followed, on reaching a lone bungalow a stile allowed access to field paths. Why do cows hang around next to stiles? or is it just me thinks that, well there was a bloody herd of the things right plumb in our way. There was another path further along the road but I told Sue different, over the stile and through the bovine lawnmowers we walked, how brave was that, as we walked down the field I kept glancing back, there’s always one you can’t trust. Unscathed we left the field at Lane Head Farm, from where it was a short walk down the lane, back under the by-pass to Helsington Laithes and the lane leading through Scroggs Wood back to the River Kent and the parked car.

view route map.

home.

Fungi in Scroggs Wood.

Sue strides out eager to explore the delights of Helsington Barrows.

From sheep pastures above the Kent valley views to The Helm.

Narrow field paths guide us to Helsington Barrows.

Across the divide of the Kent valley The Helm backed by Middleton Fell and the Barbon High Fells.

The blue/grey hills of Lakeland as seen from Helsington Barrows.

Viewing Arnside Knott from the wide ridge guiding us to Scout Scar.

On Scout Scar enjoying stunning views across Lyth Valley to a saw tooth skyline of Lakeland giants.

This is secret Lakeland where sheer cliffs plunge into gentle woodland and only locals know and tread these wonderful paths.

Looking down on Barrowfield Wood from the cliffs of Scout Scar.

Timeless views across Lyth Valley, grey on the horizon the Coniston massif.

Wreathed in cloud and probably driving rain, hidden in the murk High Street.

Above Hodgson's Leap looking down Lyth Valley to Arnside Knott and the Kent Estuary.

Marking the highest point on this wonderful limestone plateau, The Mushroom.

Shattered rock, stunted flora and stunning views over Kendal Fell and the Kent valley.

Descending through Bradleyfield looking across a patchwork of limestone pastures to the hills above Longsleddale.

Farleton Fell as seen from a field full of cows (there behind you) above Lane Head Farm.

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