Smearsett Scar

About Smearsett Scar

Rising within the Yorkshire Dales, this rugged limestone escarpment near Sedbergh offers a vantage point far exceeding its 363-metre elevation. Its dramatic "scar" edge overlooks the Ribble Valley, providing an unobstructed view of Pen-y-ghent’s iconic profile and the vast karst plateaus that make this Hump a quintessential Dales summit.

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Did You Know?

• •The name Smearsett originates from the Old Norse words smjor (butter) and setr (a mountain pasture or shieling), suggesting that Norse settlers valued these limestone uplands for the rich grazing they provided for dairy cattle.
• •The summit provides an exceptional vantage point for viewing the 'Big Three' peaks, offering a particularly clean perspective of Pen-y-ghent and the stepped, gritstone-capped profile of Ingleborough to the north-west.
• •Geologically, the hill is a classic example of a limestone scar, featuring extensive pavements where the rock has been weathered into 'clints' (flat blocks) and 'grykes' (deep fissures) over thousands of years.
• •Because it is classified as a Hump, the hill is recognized for having a prominence of at least 100 metres, a status that ensures it feels like an isolated, significant peak despite its modest height.
• •The limestone pavements at the top require a specific kind of 'Dales dance' to navigate; it is one of the few places where a seasoned walker can be completely outmanoeuvred by a six-inch gap between two rocks.