Walna Scar

About Walna Scar

Rising above the historic packhorse route from Coniston, this is the highest of Wainwright’s Outlying Fells. It offers a rugged, moorland character with industrial heritage etched into its slopes. The summit provides a clear, earned perspective over the Duddon Valley towards the distant Irish Sea.

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Did You Know?

• •The name likely derives from the Old Norse 'völlr', meaning field, referring to the lower grazing lands. The 'Scar' suffix describes the steep, rocky escarpment that drops away toward the Duddon Valley, a stark contrast to the gentler slopes facing Coniston.
• •Alfred Wainwright designated this as the highest of his 116 'Outlying Fells'. He was particularly fond of the 'ancient highway' of the Walna Scar Road, suggesting that walkers continue south from the summit to include the neighbouring top of White Maiden.
• •The Walna Scar Road was a vital medieval artery for the wool trade, serving as a primary conduit between Furness Abbey and the interior fells. Evidence of much older use exists, with Bronze Age remains suggesting this has been a key crossing point for millennia.
• •The western slopes contain a rich, distinctive seam of 'striped' slate. Heavily quarried until the early 20th century, this unique stone was a prized export from the area and remains a common flooring material in many historic North of England homes.
• •The summit offers a specifically rewarding dual perspective: to the north-west lie the formidable silhouettes of the Scafell massif and Bowfell, while to the south-west, the fells subside into the winding sands of the Duddon Estuary.
• •Despite being the 'king' of the Outlying Fells, the summit is only about 20 feet higher than the pass itself, meaning you have effectively finished the climb before you've even left the main track.