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Nab Scar
450m (1477ft)

The Eastern Fells, The Lake District, Cumbria, England


Record Nab Scar as Bagged, Climbed & Conquered


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Wainwright
(No. 190)

Walk Nab Scar walking UK Mountains in The Eastern Fells The Lake District National Park Cumbria, England

The view from the summit of Nab Scar

Photo: Peter Inglis

You can find Nab Scar & all the walks that climb it on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps: (click/TAP to select)

The Lake District National Park


1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (the ones with orange/yellow covers):

OL7 The English Lakes - South Eastern area


1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Map (the ones with pink/magenta covers):

90 Penrith & Keswick, Ambleside


See Nab Scar and the surrounding tops on our free-to-access 'Google Style' Peak Bagging Maps:

See Nab Scar and the surrounding tops on our downloadable PDF Peak Bagging Maps:

NB: Whether you print off a copy on to paper or download it to your phone, these PDF Peak Baggers Maps will prove incredibly useful when your are up there on the tops and you cannot get a phone signal!


You can walk to the top of Nab Scar by using any of these 3 easy‑to‑follow route maps:
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Walk c247 The Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside

A classic lakeland horseshoe walk

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 11ml (17.5km)
Ascent:3,633ft (1,107m)
Time:7.75hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 7 Icon (Hard)
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Walk c389 Great Rigg, Fairfield and Hart Crag from Ambleside

A variation on a classic route

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 12.25ml (19.5km)
Ascent:3,984ft (1,214m)
Time:8½ hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 8 Icon (Hard)
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Walk c230 The Scandale Beck Horizon from Ambleside

Fabulous high level route

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 12.5ml (20km)
Ascent:3,411ft (1,040m)
Time:8 hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 8 Icon (Hard)

Other walkers who hiked, climbed, bagged and summited Nab Scar Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Nab Scar

Paul Roddam walked up Nab Scar on September 14th, 2024 [from/via/route] From Ambleside [with] Bri and Barber [weather] Wet

Kate Peacock climbed Nab Scar on May 18th, 2024 [from/via/route] Helen & Amber walked to this one with me. Anti-clockwise. Great walk. Busy due to events but people were friendly [with] Me & Skye [weather] Sunny with a nice breeze - Sunburnt as the breeze made me think it wasn't as hot

Melfyn Parry bagged Nab Scar on November 21st, 2023 [from/via/route] Followed route C247 - walked out of Ambleside on the A591 & just after Scandale Bridge we crossed the road to follow the lane into the Rydal Hall estate, went passed the cafe & the Hall & then turned right to pass Rydal Mount. Here we veered left to take the stone steps path to the top of Nab Scar, again following a well defined path we were soon on Heron Pike. Continuing along the path with a slight detour to ascend Heron Pike north top. Continuing on to Great Rigg & onwards to Fairfield. We stopped here for lunch & the clouds lifted to give great views over towards Helvellyn & Sunday Crag. After pausing to take some photos we retraced our steps for a few metres before heading left to follow the ridge line to ascend Hart Crag, then Dove Crag & then High Pike. The undulating ridge takes you through some quite boggy areas & on to Low Pike & then down to High Sweden Bridge (a fascinating old bridge). All that was left to do from here was to follow the trail downwards in to Ambleside returning to the village by the Salutation Hotel. [with] DS [weather] Visibility was very good below 800m. By lunchtime the cloud had lifted even more to give clear views of the whole horseshoe. A dry day with sunny intervals, quite cold above 600m but very pleasant below this level. - Doing the walk in a clockwise direction as per C247 is best as the ascent anticlockwise would be much more of a cardio vascular workout.

David Higginbottom hiked Nab Scar on February 8th, 2023 [from/via/route] Route 247 [with] Carolyn [weather] Very poor

James Hughes summited Nab Scar on June 26th, 2023 [from/via/route] Nab Scar, Heron Pike, Great Rigg, Fairfield, Hart Cragg, Dove Cragg, High Pike, Low Pike [with] Solo [weather] Four seasons in a day. Unsettled with showers at times, cold & misty around Fairfield, improved on descent into Ambleside. - Chatted with Andrew from Littleborough. Outraged by parking cost & then toilet fee. Pint at Golden Rule (Robinsons Cumbria Way) at end.

Rob Prikanowski conquered Nab Scar on June 21st, 2023 [from/via/route] c247 [weather] Cloudy but dry, strong wind.

Nina Adams scaled Nab Scar on May 7th, 2023 [from/via/route] Stickle Tarn - Easedale Tarn - Grasmere - Alcock Tarn - Nab Scar [with] Craig [weather] Partly Cloudy 16C

Sarah Moore walked up Nab Scar on December 5th, 2022 [from/via/route] c247 / The Fairfield Horseshoe (from Ambleside) [with] On my own [weather] Beautiful start with a cold edge... turning to icy cold with sleet & minimal visibility between Great Rigg - Fairfield - Hart Crag. - This one scared me. The realisation that if I slipped up at Fairfield then I don't know that I could have waited an hour plus for mountain rescue was very scary. Used the GPS & was proud of myself but major "eeek"

Martin Hartshorne climbed Nab Scar on September 14th, 2022 [with] finley [weather] Low cloud then sunshine to finish

Ian Ashton bagged Nab Scar on August 20th, 2022 [from/via/route] Failed Fairfield horseshoe [with] Stevie H [weather] Bad

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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Nab Scar

The setting sun from Nab Scar on The Fairfield Horeshoe

The setting sun from Nab Scar on The Fairfield Horeshoe

Photo: Mike Walker (351)

Helm Crag, Gibson Knott and Steel Fell from Nab Scar

Helm Crag, Gibson Knott and Steel Fell from Nab Scar

Photo: Christine Shepherd (110)

The Fairfield Horseshoe from the summit of Fairfield with Dove Crag (left), Rydal Beck, Ambleside, Windermere, Nab Scar and Heron Pike (prominent right)

The Fairfield Horseshoe from the summit of Fairfield with Dove Crag (left), Rydal Beck, Ambleside, Windermere, Nab Scar and Heron Pike (prominent right)

Photo: Christine Shepherd (116)

Helm Crag, Seat Sandal,  Grisedale Hause, Fairfield, Great Rigg, Stone Arthur, Heron Crag, Nab Scar, Loughrigg and Grasmere above The Pass of Dunmail Raise from the top of High Raven Crag

Helm Crag, Seat Sandal, Grisedale Hause, Fairfield, Great Rigg, Stone Arthur, Heron Crag, Nab Scar, Loughrigg and Grasmere above The Pass of Dunmail Raise from the top of High Raven Crag

Photo: Alan Wainwright (206)

Looking down to Ambleside from Nab Scar with Rosie dog

Looking down to Ambleside from Nab Scar with Rosie dog

Photo: Reasons Togonorth (5)

Loughrigg Fell (left), Rydal Water and Nab Scar from High Sweden Coppice

Loughrigg Fell (left), Rydal Water and Nab Scar from High Sweden Coppice

Photo: Raymond Brown (27)

Nab Scar summit cairn on The Fairfield Horeshoe

Nab Scar summit cairn on The Fairfield Horeshoe

Photo: Mike Walker (349)

Rydal Water (centre) with Lake Windermere (top left) and Grasmere (right) from Nab Scar on The Fairfield Horeshoe

Rydal Water (centre) with Lake Windermere (top left) and Grasmere (right) from Nab Scar on The Fairfield Horeshoe

Photo: Mike Walker (350)

*Heron Pike and Nab Scar from Fairfield

*Heron Pike and Nab Scar from Fairfield

Photo: Wayne Hill (35)

Rydal Water and Grasmere from the shoulder of Nab Scar

Rydal Water and Grasmere from the shoulder of Nab Scar

Photo: Andy Malcolm (15)

Steve Taylor and Ian Matthews Golledge looking back over Ambleside & Lake Windermere as we ascended Nab scar and on up to Fairfield

Steve Taylor and Ian Matthews Golledge looking back over Ambleside & Lake Windermere as we ascended Nab scar and on up to Fairfield

Photo: Steve Gilmore (5)

Lake Windermere, Nab Scar, Heron Pike, Heron Pike (North Top) and Great Rigg (far right) from the summit of Low Pike (Scandale)

Lake Windermere, Nab Scar, Heron Pike, Heron Pike (North Top) and Great Rigg (far right) from the summit of Low Pike (Scandale)

Photo: Mike Walker (318)

Nab Scar, Heron Pike, Great Rigg and Fairfield from Rydal Park

Nab Scar, Heron Pike, Great Rigg and Fairfield from Rydal Park

Photo: Wayne Hill (39)

Ambleside and Windermere from Nab Scar

Ambleside and Windermere from Nab Scar

Photo: Peter Inglis (10)

Loughrigg Fell and Rydal Water from Nab Scar

Loughrigg Fell and Rydal Water from Nab Scar

Photo: Christine Shepherd (109)


Send us your photographs and pictures on, of, or from Nab Scar

If you would like to add your walk photographs and pictures featuring views from, on or of Nab Scar to this page, please send them as email attachments (configured for any computer) along with your name to:



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