Scout Scar 10.5 or 5.7 miles

Scout Scar circuit from Kendal via Sizergh Castle the River Kent and Canal.

This is a full day walk with lots to see and do, I would allow for a good five hours of walking and adding extra time for any visits and admiring the views. It is also suitable for anybody staying at the Caravan Club site at Sedgwick who could start the walk by the suspension bridge. Refreshments are plentiful in Kendal and again once at Sizergh there being not only the castle N.T. tea shop, but the Strickland Arms and the Sizergh farm Barn shop accessed by a side turning marked to the left shortly after turning out of the castle grounds. It is also possible to descend down to Barrowfield Farm off the Scar via a steep track into the village of Brigsteer to the Wheatsheaf Hotel, surprisingly it adds very little to the distance, if you ascend up to Helsington Church, but is a bit more climbing. I have done this on numerous occasions, and after a full lunch and a beer there is nothing better for convincing yourself that the extra climb has earned you the right to a pot of tea and a flap jack at Sizergh Castle.

Full walk 10.5 miles or 17Klm. Shorter walk 5.7 miles or 9.2Klm.

Starting from the Victorian Town Hall on Highgate cross the road into Allhallows Lane. Here you will pass by an interesting collection of independent shops and food outlets on the right hand side, whilst the left hand side is dominated by three public houses, the most striking is probably the Miles Thompson with its 70 foot high chimney, originally a municipal bath and laundry, and later used as council offices. At the Black Swan public house bear left onto Beast Banks, the climb here is fairly steep so turning left in to Gath Heads by the bench seat eases the climb. Proceed along this ancient walk for just over a hundred meters when the left had wall drops to reveal a wonderful view across the town towards the castle and the surrounding fells. To the right is a stone walled stepped path, take this to the top turning right at the junction of paths up onto the open area of Castle Howe. Opposite you across the open green space is an obelisk erected to celebrate the glorious revolution of 1688. 

Climb the steps in front of the obelisk and take the left hand circular path at the top, about half way round another set of stone steps on the right gains access to the monument. Interestingly this was the site of the first Kendal Castle. Exit via the same steps and turning right and continuing between two stone walls turning left onto Beast Banks. Almost immediately you are onto Summer Hill, the street name is displayed on the stone wall. Cross the road in front to follow the pavement left of the triangular green. Cross over into Brigsteer road and continue until you reach the last house on the left where a clear path way descends to the left, at the junction of the paths turn to the right and continue until you reach a housing estate road named Underwood where you turn left. After the third close on the right take the foot path to Brigsteer Road.

The path runs uphill and then bears right behind the houses meeting a walled lane at a T junction, turn left here and at the next junction turn right onto a tarmac drive, bearing right and then left to reach the road where you cross and turn left taking the pavement. Underneath you on the bridge is the Kendal by-pass, shortly after the road bears left by impressive stone gate posts bearing the legend Kendal Racecourse. Take the footpath here towards the farm, as the farm track straightens out bear left in a circular loop away from the farm bearing back towards the top right hand corner of the field to a kissing gate. For most of the year the farmer cuts a wide path in the grass to indicate the route. You are now on the old race course which opened in 1821 its history after that is of some interest and it continued in various guises until the early 1990’s.

Once through the kissing gate take the clear path going uphill with a stone wall on your right until you reach another kissing gate in a wall. The views in all directions get better as you climb, and the ground is awash with wild flowers. The stone walls are also home to adders, although rarely seen. When you reach the kissing gate turn around and take in the stunning view of the fells. Once through the gate take the path bearing right across the limestone in between stunted trees towards a structure not surprisingly named the mushroom.  

 It was constructed in 1912 as a four way shelter and around the inside of its domed roof a topological frieze names the summits and features for the full 360 degrees. From the mushroom looking towards the lyth Valley and the Langdale Pikes bear left along the edge of the scar. This is my preferred path for the view of the valley and for easy navigation; if though you have young children or it is windy you might like to consider one of the many higher paths away from the edge. The old saying all roads lead to Rome is true, our objective is to reach the kissing gate on the corner of Brigsteer Road, and providing you keep to the right following the valley, or if higher by keeping Whitbarrow, the fell opposite in sight, you will end up at the correct spot.

 Assuming you are walking along the edge of the scar after about half a mile Barrowfield Farm can be clearly seen in the valley below, and shortly after a junction of paths are met, marked by a huge low stone cairn.
 The walk at this point can be shortened considerably by turning left at this cairn and following the clear path which brings you back to Kendal Racecourse exiting by a stone stile turn left here and in about 100 you will reach the gated entrance you took earlier, you can now retrace your steps back into Kendal. 
 To continue the full walk keep straight on until you reach a narrow path that descends to your right between trees, in front of you the view is of the village of Arnside on the Kent Estuary with its railway viaduct. The path climbs back up through the trees and emerges by a stone wall on your right; follow the path bearing left as it turns towards a kissing gate. From here a broad track leads down to a gate onto the road, turn right here and almost immediately take the lane to Helsington Church and view point, keep to the lane until you reach Lumley Fell bunk house.

To the side of the bunk house a detour of approximately 300 meters can be taken to visit the “Lost Farm” the buildings walls now forming part of the field wall.

Retrace your steps to inspect the three –part toposcope that names the landscapes features.  Continue on the lane past the church which is an interesting visit, and turn left down the farm track named Berry Holme. When the wall on your right ends by an ancient gate post, as the track bears left towards the farm, strike off in the direction of the pole, you are now going down steeply and the ladder stile you are heading for is out of view for most of the distance. Climb over the stile and again the gate you are heading for is unseen but head diagonally right until the field gate is reached. Turn right on the track and within thirty meters take the footpath to the left descending through the trees to emerge on a track, continue straight on Sizergh Castle is your objective and is soon reached.

The castle is a National Trust property and is closed on Fridays and Saturdays, although the cafe is normally open every day until the winter season when it opens only at weekends.

The gardens and house here are well worth a visit.

Leave the castle by the exit signs in the car park and follow the lane turning right at the bottom. It is possible to cut the corner off by following a low wall beside a small stream, head to your right at the goodbye sign on the lane. When the castle grounds end by the road in front of you is the Strickland Arms public house, turn immediately left unless visiting the pub and continue straight down the lane until you reach the River Kent where you turn left towards Wilson Place. At the end of the lane before the caravan site a suspension foot bridges appears on your right, cross over this bridge and turn left alongside the river. The walk from here is straight forward with the exception of a left turn about 200 meters after the first field gate through a stone wall, it becomes a foot path at this point whilst the bridleway carries straight on and away from the river. If you do miss this turn the bridleway meets the canal which also returns you to Kendal. The intended route follows the river with evidence of its past industrial use as a gunpowder works.  The foot path emerges onto the road at Hawes Bridge, the river beneath is very impressive at this point descending rapidly over rocks. Turn left up the hill on exiting the field and you can either turn in through a gate to your left or continue up the hill to a metal kissing gate which leads you onto the canal.

Both routes are good options, and if you are not too fond of cows the canal is probably the best choice. The river path eventually ends at a tarmac road where you turn right up to the tee junction where you turn left past the shoe warehouse, following the road and river back into Kendal taking the subway at the end of Natland road and continuing until you bear left over Nether Bridge and turning right towards the church and back into Kendal and the town hall. The canal option brings you to the junction by the shoe warehouse, just keep straight on. 

 </Scout Scar circuit from Kendal via Sizergh Castle the River Kent and Canal.pdf

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