Nab Scar: Height, Walks and Views above Rydal Water

Nab Scar rises above Rydal at the southern end of the ridge leading towards Heron Pike and Fairfield. At 450m, it is modest beside the higher Eastern Fells, but its position gives it a generous outlook over the central Lakes. For many walkers it marks the opening climb of the Fairfield Horseshoe; for others, its views over Rydal Water are reason enough to stop here.

A rocky shoulder above Rydal

Nab Scar is the southern shoulder of the long ridge descending from Fairfield through Great Rigg and Heron Pike. Its steep, rocky face above Rydal Water gives it a stronger presence from the valley than its height might suggest. Rock outcrops, bracken and open fell ground characterise the upper slopes, with woodland below. This meeting of wooded valley and open ridge is an important part of its character: the higher fells feel close, but so do the lakes and settlements beneath them.

The outlook is one of Nab Scar’s chief attractions. Rydal Water lies immediately below, while Grasmere and Windermere form part of the wider prospect. The surrounding ridges give depth to the view without requiring a climb to one of the district’s highest summits. Clear conditions reward time spent looking across the valleys as much as towards the higher ground.

Nab Scar in the Eastern Fells

Alfred Wainwright included Nab Scar in The Eastern Fells, the first book of his Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells. Its recorded height is 450m, or 1,476ft, placing it 190th in height among the 214 Wainwrights. The summit grid reference is NY355072. Those figures describe a relatively low fell, but its position on a major ridge makes it a familiar name to walkers exploring the Fairfield group.

Heron Pike is the next Wainwright along the ridge to the north, with Great Rigg and Fairfield beyond. Nab Scar belongs to the western side of the Fairfield Horseshoe, the well-known circuit of the ridges enclosing the Rydal Beck valley. Low Pike stands on the opposite arm. Nab Scar can therefore be appreciated both as an individual objective and as part of a much longer fell day; its modest height should not be confused with the demands of the full horseshoe.

A fell above Wordsworth’s Rydal

The landscape below Nab Scar has a close association with William Wordsworth. Rydal Mount, his home from 1813 until his death in 1850, stands at the foot of the fell. That connection adds a literary setting without needing to attach a particular poem or anecdote to the summit. Rydal’s houses, gardens, wooded slopes and small lake remain an intimate foreground to the open fell above: a distinctive contrast within the central Lake District.

Where Nab Scar stands

Summit at grid reference NY355072 · open full map

The real Nab Scar

Walking Nab Scar

We make artwork, not route guides — these are the guides we'd point a friend to:

• Guide links to be curated.

Weather on Nab Scar

Conditions estimated at summit height (450 m) via Open-Meteo. For a walker's forecast, use the Mountain Weather Information Service.

Nab Scar on your wall

A painting of Nab Scar can bring that familiar contrast of rocky fell, wooded slopes and quiet water into a room. As a print or canvas, it offers a lasting connection to Rydal, whether you remember the climb towards Heron Pike or the view from below.

Own “Sunlit Nab Scar Over Water” — our painting of Nab Scar → or browse all Fells & Mountains artwork

Neighbouring Wainwrights in The Eastern Fells

• Heron Pike 612 m
• Stone Arthur 504 m
• Low Pike 508 m
• Great Rigg 766 m

Part of our guide to all 214 Wainwrights — see the full index.