Whitbarrow always lifts my spirits when returning along the A590 after a spell ‘down south.’ If the sun is shining the sheer crags live up to their name of White Scar. I have got used to its ‘bald head;’ the non-native trees were removed to encourage rare plant communities and herb-rich limestone grassland.

Park on the old road, grid reference 453839, which runs parallel with the A590. Access this by taking the second turning on the left if approaching from the south west via the Meathop roundabout.

1 After parking return to the narrow lane and turn left to ascend uphill in the direction of Mill Side. Take the first track on the right, signed Low Fell End, to pass through the farm buildings and on along a walled track. At its end, look for the large wooden gate, on the left, into Buckhouse Wood. Beyond climb through the trees to join a wide track and turn right. This takes you below the sheer limestone side of Whitbarrow’s White Scar. After a dramatic mile you reach Raven’s Lodge. Go through a little gate to join a narrow road and turn left and walk on for another half mile to reach Rawson’s. Turn left to walk behind the house crossing a tarmacked area to join a narrow path into woodland.

2 The path soon winds right, and then left, on a huge zig-zag up through pleasing woodland to a T-junction of tracks. Ignore the white arrow and turn left to go on up through the trees. Follow the track as it winds right and then curves left through birch. Carry on along the good track, with Barney Crags to your right, until you reach a clearing and can see the tiled roof of a barn. Head slightly right and descend to see this fine building for storing hay bales.

3 Go behind the building to pick up a path which climbs steadily through more woodland and keep ascending until you reach the open top of the Scar and walk on a little way. Ahead you can see a huge cairn. Well before it you arrive at a grassy swathe going off left. Follow this up and down small slopes, past limestone outcrops and where many trees have been felled with only their stumps remaining. At a small indistinct T-junction of grassy paths, turn right and follow a narrow trod that soon curves left and goes on in the same general direction as before. This eventually joins up with a wide track coming from the huge cairn. At one point the excellent track suddenly narrows to tiny path through a few wind-blown bushes only to emerge in all its glory once more.

4 This wide easy-to-walk way carries on over the slopes soon with a magnificent view down to the silvery River Kent as it meanders on its way to Morecambe Bay. Follow the grassy trod as it curves sharp right and descends over pasture and through scattered bushes to a gate in a wall. Continue on to pass through a gap in another wall. Curve left for a few steps and pass back through the wall. Then follow a narrow path, with care, down and down through dense woodland to arrive at a track, with an almost obscured waymark at its foot and a seat to your left.

5 After a pause, turn right and walk the easy track, still well up on the slopes until you reach white waymarks that direct you down sloping narrow paths to reach a very wide track. Turn right and follow it out of the trees to arrive at a signposted junction. Bear left down a good track to reach a narrow road. Descend left to join a wider road at the junction. Walk left and wind round with this road until you can spot the A-road and walk on to join it.

Information

Distance: 7 miles

Time: 3-4 hours

Terrain: Good paths, tracks and grassy trods through woodland and over the extensive grassy top.

Map: OS Explorer 7, English Lakes, south eastern area.

NB: Restrictions on space mean that this article provides a general summary of the route. It is advisable for anyone who plans to follow the walk to take a copy of the relevant Ordnance Survey map.