Scout Scar from Home.
Start. Oxenholme.
Route. Oxenholme - Oxenholme Lane - Natland - Hawes Lane - Hawes Bridge - Scroggs Wood - Helsington Laithes - Lane Head - Brigsteer Road - Bradleyfield - Scout Scar - Underbarrow Road - Cunswick Scar - Cunswick Fell - Kendal Fell - Serpentine Wood - Queen's Road - Serpentine Road - Beast Banks - Lowther Street - Water Side - Burton Road - Oxenholme Road - Oxenholme.
Notes. Work commitments tied me up until after lunch today, by the time I got home it was gone one, the sun was shining but the days are short this time of year. If my calculations were right I should just about be able to walk from home in time for sunset from the wonderful limestone uplands above the Kent and Lyth Valleys. I always enjoy this diverse stroll to Scout Scar, it gifts the rambler with something for every taste culminating in wonderful views from a limestone plateau.
I set out from home, you dear reader could start from almost anywhere en route, I'd recommend the Leisure Centre, Kendal, Natland Road or the small Serpentine Woods car park if you can squeeze in, and unlike me forget the road walk to Oxenholme join the canal at the Leisure Centre, walk to Hawes Lane, it makes sense.
My route followed tarmac to Natland, then a little more as Hawes Lane ushered me to the banks of the River Kent. I wandered north along the west bank, field paths under foot, the fields today were full of bovine lawnmowers, they took little notice as I rambled passed. Once at Scroggs I turned my back on the river, a narrow tarmac lane guided me through woodland depositing me at the main road into Kendal, I crossed continuing up a lane signed Helsington Laithes. This path shepherded me up hill under Kendal By-pass as far as Lane Head. I wandered passed the farm buildings to join a green trod leading along the edge of a field terminating at the tarmac of Brigsteer Road.
A few hundred yards along the tarmac surface, opposite a large lay-by a finger-post points across a vast field. This path I followed to a metal kissing gate, I passed through said gate to access Bradleyfield, a wonderful tract of unspoiled limestone upland. Onwards I walked to another metal kissing gate, I passed through this one before turning right, with a dry stone wall for company and stunning views over the shattered limestone of Helsington Barrows I ascended to the summit of Scout Scar. Unfortunately on the walk in from Scroggs I'd observed a large bank of cloud drifting in from the west, the drapes were drawn killing any chance of any sun set tonight. I wasn't the only disappointed person up there, but I was the only fool who'd walked over five miles to get there, the rest had used the power of internal combustion and utilised the Scout Scar car parks.
I traversed the scar passed the car parks and on to the summit of Cunswick Fell, a wonderful little hill with stunning views, I drank them in before heading south east. It was starting to get dark now, with a well trod path under foot I traversed Kendal Fell before entering Serpentine Wood, in the half light of a winters evening I found this place rather creepy. As kids we used to come here, sit in a place we christened the Fairy Ring and scare the life out of each another, the stories we told came flooding back. I passed a dog walker who said nothing just looked at me through the corner of his eye, now I was looking behind me, my pace quickened before escaping the tree cover onto Queen's Road.
From Queen's Road I joined Serpentine Road then Beast Banks, I descended to the Town Hall before following the road to it's right (Lowther Street), this deposited me on Water Side, a wide path running parallel to the river, my guide south. Over this wide walkway I wandered, passed a housing estate, a children's park, art galleries and the Parish Church. On reaching Netherfield Bridge I decided as it was dark I'd just follow the road back to Oxenholme.
Seen over the green fields of the Kentdale the limestone upland of Scout Scar.
The River Kent above Hawes Bridge.
The river at Scroggs looking to The Helm.
Viewing The Helm from above Helsington Laithes.
On the short climb to Brigsteer Road looking to Farleton Fell with Clougha Pike and the hills of Bowland grey across the horizon.
The Middleton Fells bathed in sunlight.
The scene over Bradlyfield, across the horizon Whinfell Beacon and it's lieutenants, Ashstead Fell and Castle Fell.
Taking a breather, scanning the wonderful tract of limestone upland that is Helsington Barrows.
The grassy rolling hills of the Middleton and Barbon High Fells, seen from near the trig point on Scout Scar.
Timeless views across Lyth Valley.
Across the valley Whitbarrow, we were up there the other day.
Stunning vistas over Lyth Valley.
View taken towards the mouth of Lyth Valley, capturing Arnside Knott and the waters of upper Morecambe Bay.
A wonderful stage set of Lakeland mountains, they may be indistinct but you can easily make out the Coniston massif to the left, Crinkle Crags, Bow Fell and the Langdale Pikes the bumpy bits in the middle, and the rolling boggy tops of High Raise and Ullscarf off to the right.
The stunning view from the summit of Cunswick Fell, looking to the head of Kentmere and the massive bulk of High Street.
It's an inspiring place the summit of Cunswick Fell, here we have a view over little Lord's Lott to a saw tooth skyline of Lakeland favourites.
Looking down on Staveley and the mouth of the Kentmere valley, dominating the horizon Red Screes.
Ahead is Kendal but first I have to traverse Kendal Fell to the far right.
The blue/grey hills of Lakeland seen from Kendal Fell.
It's quite dark now, the camera makes best use of the light available if you can hold it still long enough, I'm in a rush it's spooky in here.
Victorian summer house with a few haunting tales to tell.
The River Kent seen from Water Side.
A welcoming glow, the Parish Church.