Nab Scar

Strictly, Nab Scar is the cliff, the steep and wooded crag that drops to Rydal Water. The top itself lies a little way back, on a curving ridge of low grassy mounds. The second mound is the highest, and a large cairn marks it.

This is where the western arm of the Fairfield Horseshoe begins or ends. From Rydal village a repaired path climbs the ridge in tight zigzags between stone walls, with a ladder stile and a small tunnel beside it for dogs. It is short and steep, and anyone coming down it at the end of the horseshoe has to brake hard most of the way. An alternative start is White Moss car park, between Rydal Water and Grasmere: follow Dunney Beck up towards Alcock Tarn, then swing east onto the ridge.

There is no scrambling, only steep path and grass. Above the summit, the ridge carries on north as a grassy walk to Heron Pike.

The view west is of the Central Fells, and you look down on Rydal Water, with Grasmere beyond. Further up the ridge Windermere comes into sight too.

Look out for the aqueduct stone on the way up. It marks the line of the tunnel that carries the Thirlmere aqueduct under the fell. Nab Cottage, on the lakeshore below, was once home to Lake Poets. Nearby Dockey Tarn is one of the smallest named tarns on Ordnance Survey maps.