Untitled Document

The River Kent, Scout Scar and Sizergh.

Start. Oxenholme.

Route. Oxenholme - Burton Road - Natland - Hawes Lane - River Kent - Scroggs - Helsington Laiths - Lane Head - Brigsteer Road - Bradleyfield - Helsington Barrows - Brigsteer Brow - Helsington Church - Holeslack Farm - Sizergh Castle - Sizergh - Nannypie Lane - Wilson Place Footbridge - Larkrigg Hall Bridge - Cracalt - Natland - Helm Lane - Burton Road - Oxenholme.

Notes. We’ve had a bit of snow in the Kent valley, the Police have declared a major incident, roads in and out of the area were closed, thousands stranded, power lines down, electric supply's disrupted. Ours was still on as I looked out of the window, the street lights shone brightly illuminating a winter wonder land. The next day dawned bright, that opaque light you get reflecting off deep snow flooded the living room, the car was going nowhere but could I resist a walk in the snow.

I left Oxenholme via field paths leading to Natland, from Natland Hawes Lane guided me to Hawes Bridge and the banks of the River Kent, it was the west bank that tempted me. Up until now I hadn’t a clue where I was heading, now Scout Scar appeared to be my destination. I kicked my way through deep powdery snow, gates and stiles aided my crossing of field boundaries. Eventually I stepped onto tarmac at Scroggs, a tarmac lane cuts through Scroggs Wood it had been cleared, this guided me to one of the main roads into Kendal, light traffic today I casually crossed before joining the lane accessing Helsington Laiths.

I wandered on to a fork in the lane, right I went, again the lane had been cleared but, after passing under Kendal Bypass I arrived at Lane Head, the start of field walking. Through deep snow I slowly climbed my aiming point a bungalow at the top of the field, a stile allowed access to Brigsteer Road, from this obviously unimportant byway, untreated and bloody icy I made my way to the path that ascends Scout Scar.

The snow was deep, my legs burning but the landscape on this limestone plateau in these conditions was stunning. I ascended to a large cairn where the scar takes a steep tumble into Lyth Valley, here I turned left. This is the quiet end of Scout Scar, I was now walking through virgin snow, not a foot print in sight. The going was slow, at one point the snow was deep and difficult to battle through, I stopped then decided to ascend to a dry stone wall, this would guide me onto safer ground. It did and I soon found myself walking along the access lane to Helsington Church.

After passing said church the lane descended to Holeslack from where field paths lead to Sizergh Castle. I had intended to get some lunch in the castle cafe, as the place was closed I continued down the access drive to join Nannypie Lane, this in turn guided me under the main road into South Lakeland then down to the banks of the River Kent. After crossing the river at Wilson Place Footbridge a bridleway guided me through fields followed by a narrow green lane, said lane terminated at a field gate, the bridleway continued passed Larkrigg, over the disused Kendal/Lancaster Canal then on to Cracalt a scattering of farm buildings and a few houses on the edge of Natland.

I then followed the road into Natland, walked passed the village green to join Helm Lane, this then guided me passed High House under the West Coast Main Line then up a steep hill. Legs burned, breath came short and sharp, walking through snow and ice had taken it’s toll. Helm Lane spat me out onto Burton Road within a stones throw of Oxenholme, tired legs needed dragging the final few hundred yards.

This had been one of those walks that leaves you shattered, with that warm feeling running through your whole body, a sence of satisfaction, you know you'd do it all again tomorrow, but you won't because the snow will have melted.

view route map.

home.

Sizergh Fell seen over the snow topped houses of Natland.

The Kendal to Lancaster Canal once a busy waterway that made Kendal a wealthy town, sadly now filled in and grazed by sheep, it does make a superb footpath though.

Hawes Gorge where the River Kent gets squeezed between limestone cliffs.

Riverside path north of Hawes Gorge.

The lane through Scroggs Wood, a small side note, this lane leads to a small industrial site, that was once the site of the last water powered snuff mill in the country, the mill building still stands.