North Pennines
Little Asby Scar
356M
1168FT
About Little Asby Scar
Rising from the Westmorland limestone plateau, this hill is defined by some of the most extensive and pristine limestone pavements in England. The terrain is a complex jigsaw of clints and grykes that demands careful footwork. From the summit, you gain clear, uncluttered views toward the Howgill Fells and the North Pennine escarpment.
Key Statistics
Rank
252nd Highest in Region
Parent Range
Yorkshire Dales
Prominence
?
Data coming soon
Nearest Town
Newbiggin on Lune
Geology
You are walking upon the Ashfell and Potts Beck limestone formations. These layers of limestone provide the solid foundation for the entire fell.
Classifications
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY691089
Latitude
54.4709°N
Longitude
2.4766°W
Did You Know?
- •The name 'Asby' is rooted in Old Norse, combining 'askr' (ash tree) and 'by' (settlement), while 'Scar' derives from 'skjer', referring to the terraced limestone outcrops and cliffs that characterise the area.
- •The summit forms part of a National Nature Reserve, protected specifically for its karst geology; these pavements have avoided the historical 'stone-lifting' that depleted similar sites elsewhere in the Yorkshire Dales for Victorian rock gardens.
- •Little Asby Scar is a designated Tump, a classification for hills with a drop of at least 30 metres on all sides, making it a distinct, if modest, high point on the broad Orton Fells plateau.
- •Looking south-west from the summit, the distinctive 'sleeping elephant' shapes of the Howgill Fells are prominent, while to the north-east, the skyline is dominated by the high Pennine tops of Cross Fell and Great Dun Fell.
- •The terrain offers a unique navigational challenge where the horizontal distance is often less important than the vertical depth of the cracks between your boots.