The Kendal Scars.

Start. Kendal (Little Aynam).

Route. Kendal (Little Aynam) - New Road - Kent Street - Branthwaite Brow - Market Place - Wainwright's Yard - Low Fell Side - Fountains Brow - Serpentine Road - Queen's Road - Tram Heights - Kettlewell Crag - Kendal Fell - Cunswick Fell - Cunswick Scar - Scout Scar - Hodgsons Leap - Helsington Barrows - Bradleyfield - Brigsteer Road - Ghyll Side - Captain French Lane - Abbot Hall Park - Waterside - New Road - Little Aynam.

Notes. West of Kendal within easy walking distance of the town centre rises a dramatic eye-catching limestone escarpment, a landscape of fractured weathered rock, cracked and crumbling, home to stunted vegetation, plunging cliffs and awesome vistas. Some would say the best views across the Southern Lakes can be had from this plateau above the scars, the late Harry Griffin claimed they were the best views in England, who am I to argue.

I had to drop Sue off at work so rather than waste a day I opted for a walk across the Cunswick and Scout Scar plateaus, it was Sunday, no parking restrictions, I left the car on Little Aynam. A nice new bridge spans the River Kent allowing access to the town centre. Via New Road, Kent Street and Branthwaite Brow I made my way to Wainwright’s Yard, this guided me onto Low Fell Side where loads of bloody steps aided my ascent to Queen’s Road, at a small car park I joined the Tram Heights, an excellent footpath following the line of an old tram way.

It had been overcast up to now but the sun was trying it’s best to burn through the murk, the mercury was rising fast. The old tram way guided me to Kettlewell Crag where I stepped onto a steep trod ascending through scrub and rough vegetation, I then traversed Kendal Golf Course a well marked path under foot. Stiles and gates aided my crossing of field boundaries, a fine footbridge ushered me across the busy A591 before field paths deposited me at a striking cairn marking the summit of Cunswick Fell.

From the cairn a good path guided me south along the edge of a dry stone wall, I strolled above Cunswick Scar and Scar Wood, when the wall turned right I continued in it’s company until a kissing gate allowed access to a small cops, a good path guided me through said cops depositing me on Underbarrow Road. A few yards down hill a kissing gate allowed access to the Scout Scar plateau, a unique place where the bones of the landscape cut through the fragile top soil and flora fights for a root hold. The scar tilts gently to the east with a steep western scarp plunging into the flatlands of Lyth Valley.

I followed the edge of the scarp as far as a dry stone wall, I then turned my back on the precipitous drops in favour of the gentle eastern slopes. With the dry stone wall for company I wandered on passed the trig point then slowly downhill, on reaching a wide path I turned left, passed through a metal kissing gate then continued to a large field. Once Kendal Race Course, now sheep pastures, a green path traverses the field, I traversed with it to reach Brigsteer Road, unfortunately it was tarmac walking from here on.

Brigsteer Road guided me back into Kendal, via Gill Side and Captain French Lane I descended, once in the main street I wandered through Abbot Hall Park then along the banks of the River Kent via Water Side, Water Side terminated at New Road leaving me to re-trace my steps back to Little Aynam.

view route map.

home.

I thought these were worth showing you, the only remaining cast iron fronted shops in Britain, you pass them in Branthwaite Brow.

Murky views across Kendal from the Tram Heights.

Following the route of the old tram way near Kettlewell Crag.

Viewing Cunswick Fell from the edge of Kendal Golf Course.

The summit Cunswick Fell.

A play of light across Kendal Fell.

The mist's burning off the landscape gifting me with some wonderful views.

Ascending Scout Scar looking back to Cunswick Fell.

Spectacular sweeping views from Scout Scar.

The timeless beauty of Lyth Valley.

Above Barrowfield Wood, savouring this stunning walk above the western scarp.

From Hodgson's Leap hazy views to the mountains guarding the Kentmere Valley.

Taking in the bewitching beauty of Lyth Valley, across the horizon the Coniston massif.

Views across the barren but beautiful Scout Scar plateau.

Stretching to the west the dry stone wall guiding me from the hill.

An array of rocks, the bones of the landscape breaking through the fragile soils.

Over the wall Bradleyfield, Kendal Fell and the grey rolling hills of the Howgill Fells.

Views across Helsington Barrows.

Seen from Bradleyfield, Benson Knott.

Arched gateway the entrance to Abbot Hall Park.

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