Lake District
Little Sca Fell
633M
2077FT
About Little Sca Fell
Often overlooked in favour of its taller neighbour, this gentle grassy dome sits comfortably in the 'Back o' Skiddaw' fells. It offers effortless walking on short turf and a distinct sense of solitude, with clear lines of sight stretching across the Solway Plain to the distinctive profile of Criffel in Scotland.
Key Statistics
Rank
228th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Northern Fells
Prominence
?
9m
Nearest Town
Ireby and Uldale
Geology
You are walking across layers of sandstone, siltstone, and mudstone. These sedimentary rocks form the solid foundation of the fell beneath your feet.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY289342
Latitude
54.6979°N
Longitude
3.1040°W
Did You Know?
- •The name derives from the Old Norse 'skalli', meaning a bald head or a shieling on a hill, which accurately describes the smooth, treeless character of the Uldale Fells.
- •Unlike the rocky, crag-filled Scafell and Scafell Pike in the southern Lakes, this fell is part of the 'Back o' Skiddaw' group, defined by rolling ridges and thick carpets of grass.
- •From the summit, the view north is dominated by the Solway Firth, while the southern panorama provides an unusual, bulky perspective of the Skiddaw massif's northern slopes.
- •The most direct approach typically begins at the hamlet of Longlands, following the track through Charleton Gill before branching off to gain the ridge between Brae Fell and Great Sca Fell.
- •It provides a much gentler afternoon than its more famous namesakes to the south; bagging this 'Sca Fell' requires only a pair of sturdy boots and a bit of puff, rather than a rope or a head for heights.
- •As a Birkett and a Synge, it is a mandatory stop for peak-baggers completing the full list of Lake District summits, even though it was excluded from Alfred Wainwright’s primary seven volumes.