Scout Scar facts for kids
Scout Scar, also known as Underbarrow Scar, is a cool hill in the Lake District in England. It's located west of Kendal, in Cumbria, and sits above the village of Underbarrow. This hill reaches a height of about 235 meters (771 feet).
A famous walker named Alfred Wainwright wrote about Scout Scar in his book The Outlying Fells of Lakeland. However, the top he described was a bit lower, at 233 meters (764 feet). This spot is about 270 meters south of the actual highest point. Wainwright's suggested walking path also includes another nearby hill called Cunswick Scar, which is about 207 meters (679 feet) high. The very top of Scout Scar is special because it rises 109 meters (358 feet) above the land around it. This makes it a "HuMP," which means "Hundred Metre Prominence."
Both Scout Scar and Cunswick Scar are made from a type of rock called Carboniferous Limestone. This rock gently slopes towards the east, but has a very steep side facing west.
The Mushroom Shelter: A Special Spot
At the lower, southern top of Scout Scar, there's a unique shelter. Locals call it "The Mushroom" because of its shape. It was first built in 1912 to remember King George V. The shelter was fixed up in 1969 and again in 2003 to keep it in good shape. Inside, there's a special map called a toposcope. This map helps you figure out which mountains and landmarks you can see from the shelter, like the Central Fells.
Easy Ways to Explore Scout Scar
There's a car park at an old limestone quarry not far from the top of Scout Scar. The Lake District National Park Authority has made a special walking path on Scout Scar. It's part of their "Miles without stiles" project, which creates easy-to-use routes. They say it's "A short, steep walk to one of the best views across the entire southern lakes." This path is good even for "robust pushchairs," meaning it's quite accessible. It leads from the car park to a great viewing spot just below the very top of the scar.
Protecting Nature on Scout Scar
Scout Scar and Cunswick Scar are very important for their plants and animals. Because of this, they have been named a Site of Special Scientific Interest. This means they are protected areas where nature is carefully looked after. In 2005, these scars became part of an even bigger protected area called Morecambe Bay Pavements. This larger area includes other important limestone places in Cumbria and Lancashire, helping to protect their unique natural features.
