The Kendal Scars.

Start. Kendal (Little Aynam).

Route. Kendal (Little Aynam) - Bridge Lane - Miller Bridge - Kent Street - Finkle Street - Allhallows lane - Sepulchre Lane - Serpentine Road - Queen's Road - The Tram Heights - Kendal Fell - Kettlewell Crag - Cunswick Scar - Underbarrow Road - Scout Scar - Bradleyfield - Bradley Field Farm - Brigsteer Road - Kendal.

Notes. After dropping the boss at work I had intended to ascend Gowbarrow overlooking Ullswater, but there was a problem, snow, the Kent valley was dressed in it's Winters best. Now I've lost count the ammount of times I've tried to cross Kirkstone Pass after a fresh dusting of snow, unfortunately to reach Gowbarrow I had to do just that, yes I know I could have gone via infamous Shap Fell, or used the M6 to Penrith then double back. There was a lot of I clouds but the truth was I didn't want to. So I dropped Sue in town, found a free parking space and headed onto the limestone scars overlooking Kendal. Little Aynam marked my starting point, no parking restrictions on Sundays, there is a small car park on Queen's Road but that was packed to bursting point.

Once parked I wandered back to Miller Bridge, you can access the car park on Queen's Road by just walking west, use alleyways or roads just keep climbing. I wandered to the Town Hall then climbed Allhallows Lane to access Low Fell Side, from where I stepped onto the cobbled surface of Sepulchre Lane. Once on Queen's Road I turned north, soon reaching the car park. The track leaving the rear of the car park was christened The Tram Heights, it marks the route of a long gone tram way, used to transport limestone from the quarries under Kettlewell Crag for use in the construction of Kendal's House of Correction, also long gone.

It guided me into snowy vistas and onto way-marked paths traversing Kendal Fell, once across the fell I descended a small paddock to access the foot-bridge spanning Kendal By-Pass, a long easy climb followed before reaching the summit of Cunswick Scar. From the large cairn the views are quite staggering, I hung around a while before wandering south.

With Scar Wood to my right and views over Kendal Fell my left I casually rambled on, at the end of the scar a kissing gate allowed access to a small cops and the Scout Scar car parks. I wandered passed said car parks to a metal kissing gate allowing admittance to Scout Scar, the views from this shattered limestone escarpment were breath-taking. The temptation to wander it's length was overpowering, my planned route was to visit the Mushroom (a four sided wind shelter) then descend through Bradleyfield, for once I stuck to it.

The descent through Bradleyfield was a real Winter wonderland wander, quite stunning, the views ahead gripping, I stopped many times. The Shap Fells, old Wainwrights herd of sleeping elephants the Howgill Fells, and the Middleton and Barbon High Fells all dressed to impress in their white bib and tucker, a view you could soak up and savour as you walked. After passing Bradley Field Farm the farm lane guided me onto Brigsteer Road, the start of the descent back into town.

view route map.

home.

Benson Knott seen from Miller Bridge over the River Kent.

Heading up the Tram Heights with the trees of Serpentine Wood to my left.

A stunning view over an icy wonderland, the Whinfell Ridge, Ashsteads Fell, Castle Fell and Whinfell Beacon.

Who needs Summer when Winter brings scenes like this.

Ascending Kendal Fell looking over Kendal to Benson Knott and the pastoral lands of Hayclose.

Glistening white in the sun, the manicured links of Kendal Golf Coarse.

Striding out towards Cunswick Scar, that reassuring crunch of frozen snow under my boot soles.

On a cold bitter day views to Kendal Fell from the ascent of Cunswick Scar.

White coats on the high mountains, the Langdale Pikes look stunning in Winter garb.

A fine cairn should always accompany a fine view, Cunswick Scar may only be 680ft high but it earns this cairn, , Benson Knott across the Kent valley with the Howgill Fells to the left.

Under a heavy blanket of snow, in sunlight and shade the Howgill Fells.

Descending Cunswick Scar looking to the high tops of the Yorkshire Dales, just nine miles as the crow flies.

Views over Kendal town, on the far horizon Middleton Fell melts into a bank of snow bearing cloud.

Walking through a Winter wonderland, with this stunning view for company, Scar Wood and Cunswick Scar backed by Potter Fell and Brunt Knott.

The timeless beauty of Lyth Valley in Winter.

Wandering along the jagged edge where Scout Scar plunges into Lyth Valley.

Looking over the flat lands of Lyth Valley, top left Arnside Knott, to the right Whitbarrow.

Near the summit of Scout Scar enjoying extensive vistas over Bradleyfield and Kentdale, across the horizon the Middleton and Barbon Fells hold that bank of cloud at bay, allowing little old me to savour sunshine on snow.

The start of a dramatic descent through Bradleyfield.

Stunning Winter conditions over the limestone of the Kendal Scars.

Looking back up my descent route, and by the amount of footprints a lot of other walkers too.

Near Bradleyfield Farm looking to Kendal Fell.

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