Lake District
Scam Matthew
519M
1701FT
About Scam Matthew
Situated in the quiet Far Eastern Fells near Shap, this 518-metre summit offers a remote experience far from the central Lakeland crowds. The terrain is typical of these eastern fringes—broad, grassy, and often damp. As a Synge-classified fell, it provides a grounded moorland walk with expansive views over the Eden Valley.
Key Statistics
Rank
384th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Far Eastern Fells
Prominence
?
14.5m
Nearest Town
Shap Rural
Geology
You are walking across ancient lava flows and layers of compressed volcanic ash. This rugged mix of volcanic rock and sandstone forms the sturdy foundation of Scam Matthew.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY516105
Latitude
54.4879°N
Longitude
2.7483°W
Did You Know?
- •The name 'Scam' likely derives from the Old Norse 'skammr', meaning short, though in this corner of the Lake District it often refers to a shelf or a ridge. 'Matthew' is almost certainly the name of a historical local farmer or landowner who held grazing rights on this common land.
- •Though it didn't make the cut for Alfred Wainwright’s pictorial guides, the hill is a recognized 'Synge', a classification by Tim Synge that identifies every Lakeland summit over 1,000 feet with at least a 50-foot drop.
- •The summit provides an excellent vantage point for looking east; on a clear day, the entire profile of the North Pennines is visible across the Eden Valley, including the distinctive radar station on Great Dun Fell.
- •Walkers often combine this peak with the nearby Wasdale Pike, but the ground between the two is notoriously boggy; it is the kind of terrain where the path is frequently more of a suggestion than a reality.