North Pennines
Back Scar
534M
1752FT
About Back Scar
Rising above the limestone heart of the Southern Fells, this 533-metre summit offers a quiet alternative to the busier Yorkshire peaks. The terrain is characterized by weathered limestone and rough grass, providing a rugged, desolate feel. Nearby Parson’s Pulpit dominates the skyline to the southwest on this high, windswept plateau.
Key Statistics
Rank
155th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Yorkshire Dales
Prominence
?
24.2m
Nearest Town
North Yorkshire
Geology
Back Scar is built from stacked layers of limestone. You are walking across the Danny Bridge, Hardrow Scar, and Hawes formations that create the fell's foundation.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SD861644
Latitude
54.0753°N
Longitude
2.2139°W
Did You Know?
- •The name 'Scar' is derived from the Old Norse 'skjer', meaning a cliff or rocky outcrop, which reflects the Viking influence on the naming of the Yorkshire Dales landscape.
- •Positioned on the high watershed between Wharfedale and Littondale, the summit sits within an area noted for its extensive limestone pavements and complex subterranean drainage systems.
- •The summit provides a clear perspective of the Three Peaks, with the distinctive profiles of Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent visible across the Ribble Valley to the west.
- •Despite the name, walkers expecting a dramatic, sheer precipice may find the gentle, grassy gradients of the approach somewhat underwhelming compared to the famous limestone scars found closer to Malham.