Over Whitbarrow.
Start. Mill Side.
Route. Mill Side - Low Fell End - Buckhouse Wood - Whitbarrow Lodge - Ravens Lodge - Rawsons - Rawsons Wood - Farrer's Allotment - Harvey Nature Reserve - Lord's Seat - Whitbarrow Scar - Beck Head - Mill Side.
Notes. The last time I ventured out I mentioned Whitbarrow, so it seemed appropriate that today with a few hours to spare I should climb the hill christened “white barrow” by our Norse forefathers. They sailed into upper Morecambe Bay looking for land to settle and local girls to bear their sons, the white cliffs of Whitbarrow acted as a beacon, they obviously new a good place when they saw one.
I parked at Mill Side before wandering up the lane leading to Beck Head, the tarmac lane guided me but a few yards to a finger-post inviting me to Fell End, I passed between farm buildings to access a superb path running along the base of the Whitbarrow cliffs. This splendid track was once the main road west, built above the flood plane. Before the advent of drainage all land to the south and north into Lyth Valley would have been inundated with salt water at high tide. I followed this ancient road east, passed the splendid buildings of Whitbarrow Lodge, passed Raven's Lodge in the shadow of the White Scar cliffs and onto Rawsons where I turned left to start my ascent. Through woodland I climbed with a dry stone wall for company, I briefly stepped onto a land rover track which guided me west before a faint path ushered me through birch woods. Above the cliffs of White Scar I wandered then on to the south west corner of the plateau, here I stopped to soak up the views and have a chat with other walkers before heading north.
The traverse across this wonderful tract of upland is quite spectacular, a wander through a kirst landscape laid down at the bottom of a shallow tropical ocean 350 million years ago, stunted vegetation and limestone scars guided me towards the 750ft summit, christened Lord's Seat, a splendid cairn marks the spot. A few minutes drinking in the views followed before following a cairned path south west, after crossing a wall the path and I plunged over the Whitbarrow Scar cliffs, a slanting shelf honed from the cliff face made for a safe descent. Once on level ground I wandered behind a football field to access field paths leading to a tarmac lane, I turned left away from the buildings of Witherslack Hall. With tarmac under foot I strolled out hunting for a bridleway that would guide me to Beck Head, once located it was a short walk through Beck Head back to Mill Side and the patiently waiting car.
Approaching Fell End.
Views to the south east.
Once the main road now an outstanding foot-path in the shadow of the Whitbarrow cliffs.
Disused quarry near Ravens Lodge.
About to pass below White Scar.
Rawsons marks the end of level walking.
On the edge of Rawsons Wood viewing Scout Scar over Lyth Valley.
Above the tree line, drinking in views over Lyth Valley, grey on the far horizon Potter Fell with Scout Scar to the right.
The wonderful landscape above the scars.
The tide's in, Arnside Knott seen over upper Morecambe Bay.
On the far horizon Lord's Seat.
Lord's Seat and the cliffs of Whitbarrow Scar.
Walkers stride out across Whitbarrow.
Wonderful limestone scenery, 350 million years in the making.
Looking to Scout Scar, grey across the horizon the Howgill Fells.
View taken over the Winster valley, in the trees Witherslack Hall, dominating the horizon Gummer's How.
Life's hard on this plateau above the scars, you can tell the prevailing wind direction from the shape of this yew tree.
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Breath-taking views from Lord's Seat.
Scout Scar as seen from Lord's Seat.
Gummer's How seen over the Winster valley.
Looking north from Lord's Seat, just visible on the far horizon the mountains of Lakeland.
Looking down on the green fields of the Winster valley.
Black Yew Scar, Chapel Head Scar combine to make up Whitbarrow Scar, seen from the bridle way to Beck Head.
The spring at Beck Head.