Get Lost Mountaineering

Heughscar Hill from Roehead near Pooley Bridge

Start/Finish

The end of the tarmac road to Roehead from Pooley Bridge where the road has been widened to allow tarmac parking for about 8 cars. If there is no space, park nearer to Pooley Bridge but without irritating local residents. At very busy times, it may be necessary to park in Pooley Bridge itself but that is not a bad thing. Pooley Bridge is on the B5320 about half a mile from where the A592 Penrith to Patterdale road reaches the junction at Ullswater. Go through the village. At the mini-roundabout junction where the B5320 forks left, go straight on, passing the village hall (on the right) to reach a crossroads. Go straight across and park at the end of this road if possible.

Distance/Time

4 km       1 – 2 hours depending on how much wandering around you do!

Peaks

Heughscar Hill, 375 m, NY 488 231.      OS 1 : 50 000 , sheet 90.

OS 1 : 25 000 Outdoor Leisure 5, English Lake District NE Area.

Introduction

This is a lovely short walk. There are good and very distinctive paths all of the way. On a clear day, there are extensive views, across Ullswater, to much of the Helvellyn range. Slightly nearer, much of the Great Dodd range will be seen on a clear day as well as Gowbarrow and Great and Little Mell Fells which are almost directly across the lake. Blencathra is well seen behind the two “Mells” on a clear day. To the north, the Cross Fell range is fairly obvious. To the SE, the limestone escarpment of Knipescar Common should be visible as well as Hare Shaw, Selside Pike and Branstree. You should have gathered by now that Heughscar Hill is a superb viewpoint. It is also archaeologically interesting with a stone circle and plenty of old tumuli and cairns shown on the maps. There is a lot to see if you wish to wander around. This route covers the stone circle, the summit and the scar but explore further if you wish! When the higher hills are in full winter conditions, Heughscar Hill will be much kinder to you.

Route

(1) Go through the gate and follow the obvious track. Go straight on at a crossroads where a wide grassy path goes right. Continue to another crossroads where a track goes right. Take this track and follow it to where it crosses the top of Elder Beck. The stone circle, not that obvious as the stones are quite small, is on the left about here. Walk slightly E of N, on a choice of paths, and climb gentle slopes, crossing the initial track on the way, to reach the summit plateau where a small cairn marks the summit of Heughscar Hill, 375 m. If you wish to explore then turn right when the initial track is reached and walk towards Askham before returning and ascending to the summit.

(2) Walk N along the western edge to reach some solar panels. Descend left here and follow the obvious path, which is the old Roman road, back S under the edge. Soon Heugh Scar will be reached. It is fairly obvious but not very large as limestone scars go. Walk past the scar then take the path going off right which shadows a wall down towards a mobile phone mast and reaches the outward track by the gate at the end of the road.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 14^th February, 2014.