For those of you that are thinking of going onto the hills I would strongly recommend that you read the advice given by the Mountain Rescue organisation of England and Wales. To read this advice, which will open in a new page please click HERE. If you would like to make a donation to the Mountain Rescue organisation which is purely voluntary please click HERE. Please make the time to read the advice page.

"5Km south-west of Kendal. Found at the south-east edge of the Lakes and noted for it's expansive views, geological and botanical interest, Scout Scar is a wonderfully elevated limestone edge. From Helsington Church this route gains and traverses the scar before before dropping to make a return through Honeybee Wood"..........Not my words but those of Bill Birkett in his book Exploring the Lakes and Low Fells Vol 1.

This is the section of the walk I missed out on the previous week, so being alone, Edith was visiting her brothers I though I would fit it in after having my gold injection. The only way I differed from Bill was that I walked the route the other way around, preferring to have a long gentle descent at the end of the walk.

Whitbarrow from Heslington Church

Clouds of the Conistons

A look over to Heslington Barrows as I descend the hill-side from the Church

Get it right and you should pick up the lane through this gate. If you go to far right just follow the fence till you find a stile and path down.

A glimpse of Whitbarrow through a break in the trees

At the end of the road you emerge onto the Brigsteer road. Turn right and walk up the road for 50 yards or so to take a lane on the left signposted "Barrowfield"

The Forestry Commision have been busy on the lower slopes of Burnbarrow Scar

Follow the lane ignoring any turn offs.

Until just before this gate where a path is taken on the left through the deliciously named Honeybee Woods.

The path meanders through the woods before.....

...emerging at Barowfield farm. Our path goes to the right.

Starting the climb up the scar.

This is the main reason I did the walk this way round. It was now around 1pm and quite warm. This way although steeper would keep me partly in the shade.

Not yet at the top but a lovely place to stop and gasp for air.

The final climb was in the open as can be seen here

Onto the scar edge now and walking N'wards to the big cairn.

The big cairn. Not likely to be missed the cairn marked the start of AW's return to Kendal via the old racecouse in his Outlying Fells book. I followed this path for awhile before turning N'wards.

Distant Lakeland fells

And Howgills

Scout Scar Trig point

Langdale Pikes

After walking towards the Mushroom or the Banstand as BB calls it I returned to this memorial seat by the wall for some shade.

Magic!

As I made my way back along the scar I noticed how the sky was altering making all kinds of patterns.

Back at the big cairn

The route ahead with the long ridge of Whitbarrow across the Lyth Valley

Gorgeous skies.....Edith will be sooooo jealous

Arnside Knott straight ahead across the Kent estuary

A look back

Dropping down into the ditch once the site of an ancient trackway according to BB.

Looks like it's still being used

About to enter Helsington Barrows

As you can see this is National Trust land unlike Scout Scar which is private.

The other reason for reversing the route....an easy descent

Looking back.

When you exit Heslington Barrows and turn right down the road too pick up the lane to the Church.

St John's church Helsington. Perhaps not the prettiest of churches but a what a location.

Next Walk:      18th June 2009 - Lake District (SE) - Around the Vale of Winster

Last Walk:       14th June 2009 - Local - A local Sunday afternoon walk

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