Wainwright Icon

Nab Scar
450m (1477ft)

The Eastern Fells, The Lake District, Cumbria, England


Record Nab Scar as Bagged, Climbed & Conquered


Wainwright Icon

Wainwright
(No. 190)

Walk Nab Scar walking UK Mountains in The Eastern Fells The Lake District National Park Cumbria, England

The view from the summit of Nab Scar

Photo: Peter Inglis

You can find Nab Scar & all the walks that climb it on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps: (click/TAP to select)

The Lake District National Park


1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (the ones with orange/yellow covers):

OL7 The English Lakes - South Eastern area


1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Map (the ones with pink/magenta covers):

90 Penrith & Keswick, Ambleside


See Nab Scar and the surrounding tops on our free-to-access 'Google Style' Peak Bagging Maps:

See Nab Scar and the surrounding tops on our downloadable PDF Peak Bagging Maps:

NB: Whether you print off a copy on to paper or download it to your phone, these PDF Peak Baggers Maps will prove incredibly useful when your are up there on the tops and you cannot get a phone signal!


You can walk to the top of Nab Scar by using any of these 3 easy‑to‑follow route maps:
Walking Boot Print Icon

Walk c247 The Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside

A classic lakeland horseshoe walk

Walk GPS Icon
Walk GPX Icon
Walk PDF Icon

Vital Statistics:

Length: 11ml (17.5km)
Ascent:3,633ft (1,107m)
Time:7.75hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 7 Icon (Hard)
Walking Boot Print Icon

Walk c389 Great Rigg, Fairfield and Hart Crag from Ambleside

A variation on a classic route

Walk GPS Icon
Walk GPX Icon
Walk PDF Icon

Vital Statistics:

Length: 12.25ml (19.5km)
Ascent:3,984ft (1,214m)
Time:8½ hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 8 Icon (Hard)
Walking Boot Print Icon

Walk c230 The Scandale Beck Horizon from Ambleside

Fabulous high level route

Walk GPS Icon
Walk GPX Icon
Walk PDF Icon

Vital Statistics:

Length: 12.5ml (20km)
Ascent:3,411ft (1,040m)
Time:8 hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 8 Icon (Hard)

Other walkers who hiked, climbed, bagged and summited Nab Scar Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Nab Scar

Melfyn Parry walked up Nab Scar on November 21st, 2023 [from/via/route] Followed route C247 - walked out of Ambleside on the A591 & just after Scandale Bridge we crossed the road to follow the lane into the Rydal Hall estate, went passed the cafe & the Hall & then turned right to pass Rydal Mount. Here we veered left to take the stone steps path to the top of Nab Scar, again following a well defined path we were soon on Heron Pike. Continuing along the path with a slight detour to ascend Heron Pike north top. Continuing on to Great Rigg & onwards to Fairfield. We stopped here for lunch & the clouds lifted to give great views over towards Helvellyn & Sunday Crag. After pausing to take some photos we retraced our steps for a few metres before heading left to follow the ridge line to ascend Hart Crag, then Dove Crag & then High Pike. The undulating ridge takes you through some quite boggy areas & on to Low Pike & then down to High Sweden Bridge (a fascinating old bridge). All that was left to do from here was to follow the trail downwards in to Ambleside returning to the village by the Salutation Hotel. [with] DS [weather] Visibility was very good below 800m. By lunchtime the cloud had lifted even more to give clear views of the whole horseshoe. A dry day with sunny intervals, quite cold above 600m but very pleasant below this level. - Doing the walk in a clockwise direction as per C247 is best as the ascent anticlockwise would be much more of a cardio vascular workout.

David Higginbottom climbed Nab Scar on February 8th, 2023 [from/via/route] Route 247 [with] Carolyn [weather] Very poor

James Hughes bagged Nab Scar on June 26th, 2023 [from/via/route] Nab Scar, Heron Pike, Great Rigg, Fairfield, Hart Cragg, Dove Cragg, High Pike, Low Pike [with] Solo [weather] Four seasons in a day. Unsettled with showers at times, cold & misty around Fairfield, improved on descent into Ambleside. - Chatted with Andrew from Littleborough. Outraged by parking cost & then toilet fee. Pint at Golden Rule (Robinsons Cumbria Way) at end.

Rob Prikanowski hiked Nab Scar on June 21st, 2023 [from/via/route] c247 [weather] Cloudy but dry, strong wind.

Nina Adams summited Nab Scar on May 7th, 2023 [from/via/route] Stickle Tarn - Easedale Tarn - Grasmere - Alcock Tarn - Nab Scar [with] Craig [weather] Partly Cloudy 16C

Sarah Moore conquered Nab Scar on December 5th, 2022 [from/via/route] c247 / The Fairfield Horseshoe (from Ambleside) [with] On my own [weather] Beautiful start with a cold edge... turning to icy cold with sleet & minimal visibility between Great Rigg - Fairfield - Hart Crag. - This one scared me. The realisation that if I slipped up at Fairfield then I don't know that I could have waited an hour plus for mountain rescue was very scary. Used the GPS & was proud of myself but major "eeek"

Martin Hartshorne scaled Nab Scar on September 14th, 2022 [with] finley [weather] Low cloud then sunshine to finish

Ian Ashton walked up Nab Scar on August 20th, 2022 [from/via/route] Failed Fairfield horseshoe [with] Stevie H [weather] Bad

Mr Davison climbed Nab Scar on November 18th, 2017 [from/via/route] Fairfiled horseshoe [with] Ian F, Ian F, Mike, Gary, Simon, Martyn, Andy [weather] sunny,

Christine Shepherd bagged Nab Scar during May, 2007 [from/via/route] Walked from Rydal using walk c247 Did this walk for the sixth time on 19.6.22 [with] Tony Sailes [weather] Lovely at this stage, misty later. - Climbed again with Miriam on 30.7.07. On 3.4.11 I climbed this in very windy conditions. Did Fairfield Horseshoe solo on 12.5.12 & I then did this last walk again by myself on 25.3.18 in glorious sunshine.

To add (or remove) your name and experiences on this page - Log On and edit your Personal Mountain Bagging Record

. . . [see more walk reports]



More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Nab Scar

Loughrigg Fell (left), Rydal Water and Nab Scar from High Sweden Coppice

Loughrigg Fell (left), Rydal Water and Nab Scar from High Sweden Coppice

Photo: Raymond Brown (27)

Nab Scar summit cairn on The Fairfield Horeshoe

Nab Scar summit cairn on The Fairfield Horeshoe

Photo: Mike Walker (349)

The Fairfield Horseshoe from the summit of Fairfield with Dove Crag (left), Rydal Beck, Ambleside, Windermere, Nab Scar and Heron Pike (prominent right)

The Fairfield Horseshoe from the summit of Fairfield with Dove Crag (left), Rydal Beck, Ambleside, Windermere, Nab Scar and Heron Pike (prominent right)

Photo: Christine Shepherd (116)

Steve Taylor and Ian Matthews Golledge looking back over Ambleside & Lake Windermere as we ascended Nab scar and on up to Fairfield

Steve Taylor and Ian Matthews Golledge looking back over Ambleside & Lake Windermere as we ascended Nab scar and on up to Fairfield

Photo: Steve Gilmore (5)

The setting sun from Nab Scar on The Fairfield Horeshoe

The setting sun from Nab Scar on The Fairfield Horeshoe

Photo: Mike Walker (351)

Nab Scar, Heron Pike, Great Rigg and Fairfield from Rydal Park

Nab Scar, Heron Pike, Great Rigg and Fairfield from Rydal Park

Photo: Wayne Hill (39)

Looking down to Ambleside from Nab Scar with Rosie dog

Looking down to Ambleside from Nab Scar with Rosie dog

Photo: Reasons Togonorth (5)

Rydal Water and Grasmere from the shoulder of Nab Scar

Rydal Water and Grasmere from the shoulder of Nab Scar

Photo: Andy Malcolm (15)

Helm Crag, Gibson Knott and Steel Fell from Nab Scar

Helm Crag, Gibson Knott and Steel Fell from Nab Scar

Photo: Christine Shepherd (110)

Helm Crag, Seat Sandal,  Grisedale Hause, Fairfield, Great Rigg, Stone Arthur, Heron Crag, Nab Scar, Loughrigg and Grasmere above The Pass of Dunmail Raise from the top of High Raven Crag

Helm Crag, Seat Sandal, Grisedale Hause, Fairfield, Great Rigg, Stone Arthur, Heron Crag, Nab Scar, Loughrigg and Grasmere above The Pass of Dunmail Raise from the top of High Raven Crag

Photo: Alan Wainwright (206)

Loughrigg Fell and Rydal Water from Nab Scar

Loughrigg Fell and Rydal Water from Nab Scar

Photo: Christine Shepherd (109)

Lake Windermere, Nab Scar, Heron Pike, Heron Pike (North Top) and Great Rigg (far right) from the summit of Low Pike (Scandale)

Lake Windermere, Nab Scar, Heron Pike, Heron Pike (North Top) and Great Rigg (far right) from the summit of Low Pike (Scandale)

Photo: Mike Walker (318)

Rydal Water (centre) with Lake Windermere (top left) and Grasmere (right) from Nab Scar on The Fairfield Horeshoe

Rydal Water (centre) with Lake Windermere (top left) and Grasmere (right) from Nab Scar on The Fairfield Horeshoe

Photo: Mike Walker (350)

Ambleside and Windermere from Nab Scar

Ambleside and Windermere from Nab Scar

Photo: Peter Inglis (10)

*Heron Pike and Nab Scar from Fairfield

*Heron Pike and Nab Scar from Fairfield

Photo: Wayne Hill (35)


Send us your photographs and pictures on, of, or from Nab Scar

If you would like to add your walk photographs and pictures featuring views from, on or of Nab Scar to this page, please send them as email attachments (configured for any computer) along with your name to:



and we shall do our best to publish them.

(Guide Resolution = 300dpi. At least = 660pixels (wide) x 440 pixels (high).)

Send us your photographs and pictures on, of, or from Nab Scar via Facebook

You can also submit photos via our Facebook Page.

NB. Please indicate where each photo was taken.






Follow go4awalk.com on Twitter Follow go4awalk.com on Facebook


Home






Find new Friends to go walking with

Walk all 214 Wainwrights in just 59 Walks. Download GPS Waypoints - Great Walks you must not miss!

Walk The Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge Walk - All the Latest Route Information, GPS Waypoints and Split Times to keep you on Schedule

Walk The British Three Peaks Challenge Walk - All the Latest Route Information and GPS Waypoints

See our pick of The Best Walks in The Lake District - Great Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of the Best Lake District Ridge Walks - Great Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of the Best Lake District Walks to do in the rain - Great Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of The Best Walks in Snowdonia - Great Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of The Best Ridge Walks in Wales - Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of The Best Walks in The Brecon Beacons - Great Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of The Best Walks in The Yorkshire Dales - Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of The Best Walks in The Peak District - Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of The Best Walks in The Forest of Bowland - Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of The Best Walks in Shropshire - Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of The Best Walks in Cheshire - Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of The Best Walks in Lancashire - Walks you must not miss!

Not sure where to walk next? Try Peak Bagging - Great Walks you must not miss!

Not sure where to walk next? Walk part of a National Trail - Great Walks you must not miss!

Walks with Downloadable and Uploadable GPS Waypoint Data

Walking Kit and Gear Tested by Walkers

Full Site Search